“Life is like a box of chocolates”: Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is the story of an incredibly kind and gentle person who is also what some people might call “mildly retarded.” Forrest is born and raised in rural Alabama, in the Southern United States. He grows up with his mother, who rents out rooms in the family house to people traveling through the area.

Despite his lack of sophistication, Forrest manages to become personally involved in most of the critical events that take place in American History from the late 1950s until the early 1980s. This includes the Vietnam War, the Watergate Scandal, the Civil Rights and Anti-Vietnam War protest movements, and the Computer Revolution. Forrest even meets three American Presidents as well as Elvis Presley and John Lennon. In a way, this movie is a look at a period of American history through the eyes of a gentle soul who lacks cynicism, but simply accepts things for what they are.

Ultimately, the film is about the relationships that Forrest develops through his life. With his mother, who will do anything for him, with his two best friends from his days in the army, and most of all, with Jenny, his true childhood sweetheart. Jenny —who is a temperamental political activist— experiences the changes in American culture from a totally different perspective, but in the end, she is faithful to Forrest Gump whose sincerity, kindness and loyalty she would find in no other person.

Adapted from: “Plot Summary: Forrest Gump” by Raymond Weschler (1999)

Add True or False, quoting the relevant information from the text to justify your answer.

1. Although Forrest Gump was born in Alabama, he grew up traveling through the United States with his mother.

• FALSE:  "Forrest is born and raised in rural Alabama, in the Southern United States. He grows up with his mother, who rents out rooms in the family house to people traveling through the area".

2. According to the text, no less than three American Presidents, such as E. Presley and J. Lennon, appear in the movie.

• FALSE:  "Forrest even meets three American Presidents as well as Elvis Presley and John Lennon."

3. Forrest had already met his girlfriend Jenny before his days in the army.

• TRUE: "(...) the film is about the relationships that Forrest develops through his life. With his mother (...) with his two best friends from his days in the army, and most of all, with Jenny, his true childhood sweetheart."