Four Horizontal Intertextual Connections:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie ( 1998)- Genre: Film
Rudolph is one of the most recognized Christmas characters. He is different and made fun of because by the other reindeer because he has a red shiny nose. Just like Rudolf, Buddy in Elf is different than his peers and is an outcast trying to prove himself.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)- Genre: Film
The Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas can be compared to Buddy the Elf’s biological human dad, Walter Hobbs. The Grinch and Walter are anti-Christmas and holiday cheer. By the end of both movies, both the Grinch and Walter Hobbs overjoyed with holiday spirit.
The Santa Clause ( 1994)- Genre: Film
Much of plots from Elf take place in the North Pole, which looks similar to the North Pole in The Santa Clause.
Home Alone (1990)- Genre: Film
Both Buddy the Elf and Kevin from Home Alone are lost in New York City trying to find their families. Along their journeys they make new friends and find themselves along the way.
Four Vertical Intertextual Connections:
The North Pole- Genre: Geography
Many of the scenes in Elf take place in the North Pole at Santa’s Workshop. They are influenced by the mythology and traditions of Christmas. The North Pole is home to Santa, Mrs. Clause, their reindeer, and elves who work in Santa’s workshop.
Christmas Carols- Genre: Music
Christmas carols originated in 4th century Rome but became secular Christmas songs in the late 18th century. Christmas carols are sung and played throughout Elf to create holiday spirit.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens- Genre: Literature- The struggle of Ebenezer Scrooge to believe and find true Christmas spirit is similar to the movie Elf. Scrooge’s character development is reminiscent of Buddy’s father Walter Hobbs. They both dislike Christmas but in the end they find the true meaning of Christmas.
New York City- Genre: Geography
New York City represents the contrast between Christmas tradition and post modern disbelief in Santa Clause. It also reveals changing of Christmas from a religious holiday to a commercialized holiday.
Two Signifiers:
Santa’s Sleigh- In Elf, Buddy is chosen to help work on Santa’s sleigh. Santa’s sleigh cannot fly without people believing that Santa exists. Santa’s sleigh is symbolic of Christmas spirit.
Two Public Tertiary Texts:
“ I can’t say enough good things about this movie! I’ve seen it twice, and I laughed as hard the second time as I did the first! I consider this to be the perfect holiday present for the whole family! So, you'd better watch out and you'd better not cry! And in keeping with the holiday spirit, I’m gonna tell you why! Give yourself "the gift of 'Elf'" for Christmas and discover the simple pleasure of believing in the spirit of Christmas!”- Holly McClure
“Funny and intelligently made, a film for kids and adults that's both sweet and sardonic.”-
Mick LaSalle San Francisco Chronicle - http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/elf/
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