Fiction Adaptation Unit: Research - Dissecting the Question

With my essay question chosen it's time to dissect it and see exactly what it's asking me.

"In adapting a novel the adaptor inevitably infringes the integrity of the original text – discuss with reference to at least one text adapted for broadcast on television."

Key words to pull from this:

1. Inevitably - This states that it's a guarantee.
2. Infringes - Breaks, bypasses, disobeys.
3. Integrity - Quality, status.

Basically: the question is asking me to discuss whether the statement is true or not.
"The adaptor, without fail, spoils the quality of the original text."

The main word though is "adapting". I need to understand the definition of this word before I continue:

Adapt: Alter (a text) to make it suitable for filming, broadcasting, or the stage:

'the film was adapted from a Turgenev short story'

(Oxford Dictionary online, http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/adapt)

The word 'adapt' comes from the Latin words 'ad' (to) and 'aptus' (to fit).

So adapting something is to make it fit; make it suitable.

It also mentions "at least" meaning I should prepare a couple of other main texts to write about that provide another side of the argument.


Major Texts

- The Walking Dead
- House of Cards
- Hannibal
- Elementary

Minor Texts

- Garfield and Friends.
- The Adventures of Tintin.
- Watchmen
- James Bond

I'm going to need to look at how these adaptations were received and what the originals' creator thought about it.