Out of Africa

After watching a movie with your children or students, we encourage parents and teachers to look for education opportunities to teach with movies. Here are a few discussion topics that can help with lesson plans or teaching in the home.

Learn more about the real Karen Blixen and her career as writer Isak Dinesen.

Before their marriage Karen says they never spoke about children. What things should couples discuss before the wedding? Besides a desire for children, what other things would you want to know about your future spouse?

Why do the men at the club rebuff Karen when she first arrives in Africa? What does this say about British society’s attitude toward women at the time? Do the men treat women much differently than they do the natives? Why does the men’s respect for Karen grow by the time she leaves?

Denys asks Karen if a wedding would change their relationship and he says he wants the kind of love that doesn’t have to be proved. Does a person’s commitment to a relationship change with marriage? Is it easier to step away from a relationship that doesn’t include “a piece of paper”? Why does Karen feel like she would be of more worth to Denys if he married her? Does her willingness to be sexually active with him before marriage make it less likely he will marry her? Does real love need to be proved? If so, how can a person prove his or her love?