12 Types of Questions in Casablanca

12 Types of Questions in Casablanca To illustrate the various ways that questions can be framed in English, here are 12 memorable exchanges from the classic film Casablanca. In Casablanca, at the beginning of the flashback scene in Paris, Humphrey Bogart pops open a bottle of champagne and then immediately pops a few questions to Ingrid Bergman: Rick: Who are you really? And what were you before? What did you do and what did you think? Huh?Ilsa: We said no questions. Despite that pledge, the dialogue in Casablanca is full of questions - some of them answered, many of them not. With apologies to the screenwriters (Julius Epstein, Philip Epstein, Howard Koch, and Casey Robinson), Ive plucked 12 of these exchanges out of context to illustrate the various ways that questions can be framed in English. To learn more about any of these interrogative strategies, follow the links to our Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms. Wh- QuestionsAs the name suggests, a wh- question is one thats formed with an interrogative word (what, who, whom, whose, which, when, where, why, or how) and that allows an open-ended answer - something other than yes or no.Annina: Msieur Rick, what kind of man is Captain Renault?Rick: Oh, hes just like any other man, only more so.Annina: No, I mean, is he trustworthy? Is his word . . .Rick: Now, just a minute. Who told you to ask me that?Annina: He did. Captain Renault did.Rick: I thought so. Wheres your husband?Annina: At the roulette table, trying to win enough for our exit visa. Of course, hes losing.Rick: How long have you been married?Annina: Eight weeks. . . .Yes-No QuestionsAnother aptly named interrogative construction, the yes-no question invites the listener to choose between only two possible answers.Laszlo: Ilsa, I . . .Ilsa: Yes?Laszlo: When I was in the concentration camp, were you lonely in Paris?Ilsa: Yes, Victor, I was.Laszlo: I know how it is to be lonely. Is the re anything you wish to tell me?Ilsa: No, Victor, there isnt. Declarative QuestionsAs Rick demonstrates, a declarative question is a yes-no question that has the form of a declarative sentence but is spoken with rising intonation at the end.Ilsa: Richard, I had to see you.Rick: You use Richard again? Were back in Paris.Ilsa: Please.Rick: Your unexpected visit isnt connected by any chance with the letters of transit? It seems as long as I have those letters Ill never be lonely.Tag QuestionsA tag question (like Ricks wouldnt it?) is a question thats added to a declarative sentence, usually at the end, to engage the listener, verify that something has been understood, or confirm that an action has taken place.Rick: Louis, Ill make a deal with you. Instead of this petty charge you have against him, you can get something really big, something that would chuck him in a concentration camp for years. That would be quite a feather in your cap, wouldnt it?Renault: It certainly would. Germany . . . Vichy would be grateful.Alternative QuestionsAn alternati ve question (which typically ends with a falling intonation) offers the listener a closed choice between two answers.Ilsa: After Major Strassers warning tonight, I am frightened.Laszlo: To tell you the truth, I am frightened, too. Shall I remain here in our hotel room hiding, or shall I carry on the best I can?Ilsa: Whatever Id say, youd carry on. Echo QuestionsAn echo question (such as Ilsas Occupied France?) is a type of direct question that repeats part or all of something which someone else has just said.Ilsa: This morning you implied that it was not safe for him to leave Casablanca.Strasser: That is also true, except for one destination, to return to occupied France.Ilsa: Occupied France?Strasser: Uh huh. Under a safe conduct from me.Embedded QuestionsTypically introduced by a phrase such as Could you tell me . . ., Do you know . . ., or (as in this example) I wonder . . ., an embedded question is a question that shows up inside a declarative statement or another question.Laszlo: Msieur Blaine, I wonder if I could talk to you?Rick: Go ahead.WhimperativesA blend of whimper and imperative, the term whimperative refers to the conversational convention of casting an imperative statement in question form to convey a request without causing offense.Ilsa: Will you ask the piano player to come over here, please?Waiter: Very well, Mademoiselle. Leading QuestionsIn courtroom dramas, attorneys usually object if the opposing counsel asks a leading question a question that contains (or at least implies) its own answer. In this example, Laszlo is actually interpreting Ricks motives, not questioning them.Laszlo: Isnt it strange that you always happened to be fighting on the side of the underdog?Rick: Yes. I found that a very expensive hobby.HypophoraHere, both Rick and Laszlo employ the rhetorical strategy of hypophora, by which a speaker raises a question and then immediately answers it himself.Laszlo: If we stop fighting our enemies, the world will die.Rick: What of it? Then itll be out of its misery.Laszlo: You know how you sound, Msieur Blaine? Like a man whos trying to convince himself of something he doesnt believe in his heart. Each of us has a destiny, for good or for evil.Rhetorical QuestionsA rhetorical question is one thats asked merely for effect with no answer expected. Presumably the answer is obvious.Ilsa: I know h ow you feel about me, but Im asking you to put your feelings aside for something more important.Rick: Do I have to hear again what a great man your husband is? What an important cause hes fighting for? Commoration In an effort to shake Rick out of his grim mood, Sam employs another rhetorical strategy, emphasizing an idea (in this case, a whimperative) by repeating it several times in different ways. Sam: Boss. Boss! Rick: Yeah? Sam: Boss, aint you going to bed? Rick: Not right now. Sam: Aint you planning on going to bed in the near future? Rick: No. Sam: You ever going to bed? Rick: No. Sam: Well, I aint sleepy either. At this point, if we were in class, I might ask if anyone had any questions. But Ive learned a lesson from Captain Renault: Serves me right for asking a direct question. The subject is closed. Heres looking at you, kids.