Cast Away

 Tom Hanks stars as a Fed Ex employee who is stranded alone on a South Pacific island, forced to survive by his wits. Chuck Nolan (Hanks) uses only the materials found on the island, as well as remnants of cargo from his downed plane. All “rules” of life as he knows it are void, and he is forced to analyze and reevaluate even the smallest details of survival. Assignment: Choose ONE of the essay assignments below. This essay should be 600-700 words in length. * Writing more than or less than the assigned limit will result in a lowered grade. You MUST use 2 quotations in your essay. See Content for a link to a site with Cast Away quotations. See The Writer’s Reference and the MLA handouts you received in class. You MUST include a Works Cited page, with Cast Away listed as your only source. The essay MUST be submitted through the Assignment Dropbox for Essay 2 AND in stapled printed form on the assigned date and time. Essay #1 Discuss three problems which Noland (Tom Hanks) must address when he is stranded on the island. Explain in detail the problems he faces, the ideas which he considers as possible solutions, and the final “best” solution he implements for each of the problems. Essay #2 Marooned, Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) discovers that several objects which “no longer work” can prove to be his among his most valuable possessions. A Wilson volleyball A broken pocket watch Shoes which are too small (taken from the deceased pilot) The old life raft The portable toilet Choose three of these items and discuss the role they play in Nolan’s shipwrecked existence. Consider how his frame of reference shifts, as the “rules” of his life no longer function.