Kenneth Tang 402110166

Western Civilization Dr. Murphy

Film worksheet
5 January 2016
The Seventh Seal
1. Discuss how death is portrayed in the film. What qualities and characteristics does Death take
on in the film? What role does Death play in the film in terms of plot? How does Death
influence the other characters? Use specific lines and/or scenes in the film to support your
answers.
Death is portrayed as a white-faced man who wears black rope in the film. He is cold-blooded
and cruel. When he meets knight, Antonius Block, he decides to take his life. Besides, he is
confident and conceited. So when knight challenges him by playing chess to decide if he can alive,
Death agrees. He believes he will never lose in playing chess. Death also influences the other
character. In the film, only Block and Jof can see Death. Different characters have different
response when they face with death.
2. Discuss the character of the knight, Antonius Block. Drawing on your current impressions of
Medieval knights and their ideals, to what extent does Block fit the image and ideas of knighthood?
Is he more of a medieval or a modern character? Use specific lines and/or scenes in the film to
support your answers.
In the film Antonius Block is a knight without any fantasy in his mind. But we can find all of
characters of chivalry. He is brave, honest, powerful and disinterested. He is not afraid of death. He
plays chess with Death to strive for time to do what he want to. He sympathizes with the weak. He
tries his best to save others from death. In the end of the film, he even knocks the chess pieces over,
distracting Death while the family slips away. Therefore, I think he is more of a medieval.

3. Comment on and analyze some observations you have made regarding religion in the film. Does
the writer and director Bergman portray a more positive or negative view of religion? Defend your
response with examples of lines and/or scenes in the film.
In this film, I think the writer and director Bergman portray a more positive view of religion.
Although there is no god appears when people need help in the film, the character face with death in
their own way. Its actual. As Block says: Faith is a torment, did you know that? It is like loving
someone who is out there in the darkness but never appears, no matter how loudly you call." He
says that because the silence of god. In the end, they dont escape from Death. But they accept this

result peacefully. When they have dance of dance, they are happy and in peace.

4. Reflection
I think its an outstanding film, although its a little hard to understand, because the writer and
director Bergman uses too many metaphors in this film. For example, the background of the film is
the Europe under the attack of Black Death. So there is a Death mask appear in many scenes. Its a
metaphor of menace from death. People never know when they will die. He changes the death to a
man. This man catches people and wants to take their life. Different characters have different
responses when they are facing death, and thats the point Bergman wants to discuss in this film.
When people under the menace of death without help, what will they do with their belief. Besides,
there are many compares and contrasts in the film. For example, Block is an idealist with heavy
load. But his servant is a cynic without any pressure. By showing this comparisons, audiences can
see the different kind of human nature. I think that audiences will have a deep self-examination
after watching it.