How do the makers of Shrek use presentational devices to reverse this tradition, to reveal the ogre as good, and the Prince as evil?

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Shrek

     In traditional fairy tales, ogres are man-eating beasts. The Prince usually rescues the Princess, they marry and live happily ever after.

How do the makers of “Shrek” use presentational devices to reverse this tradition, to reveal the ogre as good, and the Prince as evil?

     This essay is going to be about how the makers of Shrek use presentational devices to manipulate the tradition of fairy tales, by changing the roles of the characters. For instance, in Snow White and the seven dwarfs, Snow White is freed from the spell by a handsome Prince and lives happily ever after. But in Shrek certain events and the use of some presentational devices alter this tradition by making it seem as if an ogre is the hero and the prince is the villain.

     I am going to analyse Shrek’s character in some of the main scenes and try to discover how the makers of Shrek use presentational devices to alter the tradition of fairy tales.

     During the opening scene of Shrek, it starts as if it were a traditional fairy tale, with the story being told of how the Princess will be rescued and how she will live happily ever after. But just as we think the story is about to start Shrek slams the book, which the story is read out of shut and says “as if that’s ever going to happen” which surprises the audience. Modern music then begins to play and the camera zooms out and shows everyone Shrek, then people begin to realise that this is not going to be an ordinary fairy tale.

     Because of this sudden unpredictable change, viewers are surprised as everyone thought it was going to be traditional.

     In one of the main scenes, storybook characters arrive at Shreks’ swamp. Shrek sees them and immediately tries to scare them away, by saying that he will, “Grind your bones for my bread” the storybook characters are not scared by Shrek which surprises him and they then reply to Shrek that Lord Farquaad has sent them here. Shrek then says, “I’m going to go sort out this Lord Farquaad, then get you all off of my swamp” the storybook characters then cheer which again surprises Shrek.

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     Shrek at first seems like a traditional ogre as he tries to be scary and looks ugly, also in one of the opening scenes he scares off a group of men who are trying to kill him which makes the audience think that he is a traditional ogre.

     In another important scene Shrek meets the Donkey. Initially Shrek tries to intimidate Donkey so he roars at him because he is on his swamp, but Donkey is not frightened of Shrek and just replies sarcastically, “You need some tic–tacs” Shrek is yet again surprised by yet another ...

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