Lesson Plans: A Simple Plan

This film is too dark to be an American blockbuster, but my students have loved the intricate characters, fantastic acting, careful directing, and intriguing plot . Maybe it's the universal appeal of old-fashioned morality tales based on the question, "What would you do if you found a lot of money?" It's Ali Baba in small-town America.

The symbolism itself tells the story; you could watch it with the sound off and understand 90%. The dialog, though, is so carefully constructed that, even though the language is simple, even intermediate language students can discern layers of meaning in almost every sentence.

The director takes his time with the film, and I'd strongly encourage you to do the same. The biggest mistake I've made or seen made in using it is giving in to the student requests to show just a little bit more when the assigned section is over. Chopping the scenes at cliff-hanger spots will lead to the best discussions, and that's where the richness of the film will come out. Don't just focus on the moral or plot issues; explore the symbolism of color, shape, and action. Look at the way the actors' eyes are shown. Talk about everything. It's a piece of art.



Genre: Mystery, Drama, Suspense

Rating: PG13, brief non-sexual nudity, violence, language

English Language: standard and non-standard American, Intermediate

Major Themes: Alcohol/Drugs, Betrayal, Broken Homes, Death of a Family Member, Family, Man vs. Himself, Man vs. Man, Marriage Problems, Money, Murder, Physical Violence, Physical Violence - guns, Power, Search for Happiness, Search for Truth, Stealing, Suicide, Urban vs. Rural

Minor Themes: Business/Economics, Drug Traffic, Education, Farming, Gender Roles, Organized Crime, Poverty



Section 1

Time: 7:25

Summary: The scene opens with crows in the snow. There's a heavy emphasis on black, white, and gray colors. A red fox approaches a chicken coop. Hank, a feed store worker, and his extremely pregnant wife, Sarah, are introduced in an apparently happy marriage. Carl, the sheriff and Hank's friend, is also introduced briefly. Jacob, Hank's brother, and Lou, Jacob's drunkard friend, come by and pick up Hank. Jacob and Hank go to pay respects to their dead parents' graves. There's obviously little friendship between Hank and Lou, and little in common between Hank and Jacob. The section ends with the red fox attacking the chickens in the coop.

Vocabulary:

  1. cover for someone: make up an excuse, take someone's place
  2. until they hang the last dog: until the last person leaves
  3. obligation: something you must do
  4. feed and grain mill: factory where grain is made into animal food or flour
  5. out of the way: off the path
  6. no big deal: not a big problem
  7. whatchacallit: "What do you call it?", a slang term for anything that you cannot remember the name for


Questions:
  1. According to Hank, what is necessary to be happy?
  2. Describe the relationship between Hank and Sarah.
  3. Describe the relationship between Lou and Jacob.
  4. Describe the relationship between Hank and Jacob.
  5. Describe the relationship between Hank and Lou.
  6. What would you do if you had a million dollars?
  7. Describe the colors in the scene. What is the symbolism?
  8. What do foxes symbolize in your culture?
  9. What stereotypes do you have of small towns?
  10. What does it take to be really happy?
  11. What do people in your culture do to show respect for the dead after they have been buried?


For Further Discussion:
  1. Spend a lot of time building context before you turn on the video.
  2. Ask about fables or fairy tales in their culture relating to foxes and chickens.



Section 2

Time: 8:30

Summary: The fox runs across the road in front of Jacob's truck, causing a crash. The three men get out and go in search of the fox on a nature preserve because Jacob and Lou want vengeance for the damage to the truck. They walk under a lot of crows. Animosity grows between Lou and Hank. Then they find the plane. Hank enters and finds crows eating the dead pilot. He also finds a bag full of money. The men try to decide what to do with it. The section ends with Hank looking at the money, wondering what to do.

Vocabulary:
  1. accountant: someone responsible for keeping financial records
  2. nature preserve: a place where farming and hunting are prohibited so that animals may live freely
  3. penny loafers: comfortable dress shoes (not shoes worn by laborers)
  4. weird: strange, unusual
  5. catch something (disease): become infected
  6. insinuation: hint
  7. hint: clue, something that helps someone guess something else
  8. put on airs: act proud
  9. Good grief!: expression of dismay
  10. dirty money: money involved in a crime
  11. counterfeit: fake money
  12. accomplice: someone who helps commit a crime
  13. dope: drugs, stupid person
  14. Robin Hood: legendary hero who stole from rich people and gave money to poor people
  15. pulling down that much: earning that much, wages


Questions:
  1. Why does Lou call Hank, "Mr. Accountant"?
  2. List the arguments they give for keeping or getting rid of the money.
  3. What is "The American Dream"?
  4. Why do they go after the fox?
  5. Why does Hank say that they shouldn't?
  6. Describe the relationship between Hank and Lou. Why does Lou dislike Hank so much?
  7. Why does Lou make fun of Hank for not drinking?
  8. Who has more power, the rich person or the poor person in this movie?
  9. What would be the right thing to do with the money?
  10. Is it stealing to keep the money?


For Further Discussion: If the students disagree about what to do with the money, divide them into teams of like opinions. Later, have the teams discuss what characters should do at decision points. Turn it into a class debate if the chance arises.


Section 3

Time: 10:15

Summary: The men decide to keep the money, on the condition that Hank can hide it until they decide it's safe to spend it. They count it as the sun sets. Carl appears because he sees the truck by the side of the road. Jacob tells Carl that they heard a plane, but they escape without Carl finding the money. They drop Lou off at his home, and Hank makes him promise not to tell his wife, Nancy, about the money. Then Hank returns home with the money and immediately tells Sarah about it, hypothetically. She adamantly says that she would return the money. Then Hank dumps it out on the dining room table. Notice the change in camera focus during this part. The section ends after Hank and Sarah discuss what to do with the money while watching the New Year's Eve celebration on TV. Sarah says that they don't need it and shouldn't keep it.

Vocabulary:
  1. Trans Am: sports car, especially popular in the 1970s and 1980s
  2. tree an animal: force an animal to climb a tree for safety
  3. vanish: disappear, hide completely
  4. for starters: to begin, First,
  5. sit on something (slang): keep something from moving, not do anything
  6. call the shots: be the boss, make the plan


Questions:
  1. What is Hank's plan?
  2. What is Jacob's job?
  3. What is Lou's job?
  4. What does Hank threaten to do?
  5. What does Sarah want to do with the money? What reasons does she give?
  6. What does Hank want to do with the money? What reasons does he give?
  7. Why do they agree with Hank's suggestion?
  8. Is Hank's suggestion good?
  9. Should Hank trust them?
  10. What does the snow symbolize?
  11. Why does Jacob get out of the truck?
  12. Describe Lou's home and family life.
  13. Should they trust Lou?
  14. How does Sarah respond?
  15. Why does the camera change focus during the scene?


For Further Discussion: It might be good to stop the video to discuss the first part right after they count the money, as Carl approaches. It could build suspense and make sure they understand the first part of the section.


Section 4

Time: 11:00

Summary: Hank and Sarah are lying in bed, both awake. Sarah tells Hank that he needs to return part of the money so that suspicion won't be aroused when they keep the majority of the money. Hank gets Jacob the next day, and they return to the plane so that Hank can return some of the money. While Hank is returning the money, a farmer comes to talk to Jacob. When the farmer starts to head toward the forest, Jacob panics and hits him. They think he's dead, and Hank plans to dispose of the body. As they proceed, the farmer awakes, and Hank kills him. Jacob wants to confess to the police, but Hank refuses to let him. Hank then returns home and tells Sarah about it. She assures him that he is not really a bad person, and the section ends.

Vocabulary: Crafty: sly, tricky, having a hidden plan

Questions:
  1. What is Sarah's plan? What are her reasons for this?
  2. What makes something a crime?
  3. How do they plan to control Lou and Jacob?
  4. What does Sarah mean when she says, "From now on, we have to be careful"?
  5. Is it worth it to have money if you have to be careful all of the time?
  6. Why did Jacob kill the farmer?
  7. Why did Hank kill the farmer?
  8. Who is a better person, Jacob or Hank?
  9. Who is responsible for their decision, Jacob or Hank?
  10. How does Sarah respond to Hank's confession?
  11. Does Sarah love Hank? Does he love her?



For Further Discussion: Stop the video after Hank and Jacob fail to wake the farmer and discuss what to do. Then stop it again when the farmer wakes up. Try to get debates going among the students.

 

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