After Thoughts

1- For Discussion

Inner conflict occurs when a person is confronted with a problem that presents difficult choices. He/she must make a decision one way or another. Think about the events of this story, and try to recall a time when each of the following characters experienced an inner conflict.

  1. What was the problem?
  2. The character had to choose between what two difficult choices?

_______________  or _______________

  1. What decision did the character make?
  2. What happened as a result of his/her decision?
  3. Tell your team about a time when you faced an inner conflict and had to make a difficult choice. What was the outcome?

External conflict occurs when the character faces someone else or some situation that is working against his/her own desires or goals.

  1. What does the Von Trapp family want?
  2. What is working against them?
  3. How is their conflict resolved?

2 - Personal Reflection

Write about a goal that you once set for yourself, and you achieved it.

  1. What was your goal?
  2. What stood in the way of you reaching your goal? (Cite internal and external conflicts.)
  3. How did you overcome the obstacles?
  4. What lesson did you learn?

3- Descriptive Writing / Visual Imagery

In your teams

Make a list of five places where the action of this story occurs.

  1. Each person chose one of these places, and list ten details about it.
  2. Write a description of the place including all of your details.
  3. Trade your descriptions with another team to have them illustrate your descriptions while you illustrate theirs.
  4. Display your the illustrations, and see if others can associate the illustration with the description.

4- The Sound of Music

Aside from all the struggles in the story, there is the sheer enjoyment of music. Music has been called the universal language, because it is shared and enjoyed in some form by people all over the world.

  1. Which song did you enjoy most in the film?
  2. How did your favorite song in the film make you feel?
  3. Although music is often in the background, it is very effective in creating a mood or emotional climate that captures the audience in the moment. The next time you watch a movie or a TV show, notice how the music can influence the feelings of the audience as they view a film?