Monster Book Comments #3 Due by midnight Wednesday 1/7
Three sections
* Label your response to this section 3a
Briefly explain any changes in the monsters, beast, or demon since your first comment. How are the changes in the monster, in the monster's experiences, or in the monster's situation significant? (A paragraph: 7+ sentences.) I'm not looking for plot summary; I'm looking for connections to and development of the monster theme. Along the way convince me that you understand how the monster's situation has developed since "Comments #2" which were due before the holiday break.
*Label your response to this section 3b
Respond to someone else's comment about the book. If no one else is reading your book then compare your thoughts about your monster to someone else's thoughts about the monster in her or his book. Write at least seven sentences.
*Label your response to this section 3c
Write another journal entry as if you were the monster of the book. Write in the monster's voice about the monster's experiences and situation. Convince me that you understand the monster's situation and feelings about the situation. Use at least three details from the last section you have read. Mark the details (1), (2), (3). Write at least seven sentences.
Monster Book Comments #2 Due by midnight Wednesday 12/11
Three sections
* Label your response to this section 2a
Briefly explain any changes in the monsters, beast, or demon since your first comment. How are the changes in the monster, in the monster's experiences, or in the monster's situation significant? (A paragraph: 7+ sentences.) I'm not looking for plot summary; I'm looking for connections to and development of the monster theme.
*Label your response to this section 2b
Respond to someone else's comment about the book. If no one else is reading your book then compare your thoughts about your monster to someone else's thoughts about the monster in her or his book. (A paragraph.)
*Label your response to this section 2c
Write a journal entry as if you were the monster of the book. Write in the monster's voice about the monster's experiences and situation. (A paragraph.)
Monster Book Comments #1 (300+ words) Due by midnight Wednesday (12/10)
Using the definitions of “monster,” “beast,” and/or “demon,” explore how the theme of monstrousness is developed over the first 100+ pages of the book you have been reading.
You might begin by showing how a character or entity fits a particular definition or set of definitions. But do not limit yourself to proving that so-and-so is a monster. Also, do not merely summarize all of the “monstrous” or “beastly” or “demonic” events in the book. That is plot summary. Instead, write an exploratory, explanatory, expository essay.
Show how the author explores ideas about monsters. Here are some possibilities:
- physical monstrousness can be used as a (false?) projection of man(un)kind’s internal monstrousness,
- external beauty (or success, or noble words, or other facades) can mask monstrosity,
- humanity’s inner nature can be seen as naturally and unavoidably “beastly,”
- our intellect (theory-making, pattern-making, meaning-making, civilization-building) can be seen as the source of monstrousness,
- fictional monsters can be interpreted as projections of human fears (about scientific or other progress, about our own inner desires, about nature’s senselessness, about the fragility of our existence, etc.),
- monsters can be used as a way of defining what is human (humane) and what is not-human (inhumane, beastly),
- overcoming monsters (or monstrousness) can be used as a way of defining human heroism, nobility, and even goodness,
- monsters (or monstrous behavior) can be used to explore the issue of nature (innate characteristics that humans are born with) versus nurture (learned behavior): is the monster born or made?,
- monsters can be used as a way to explore the effects of isolation, rejection, exclusion, etc.,
- monsters can be used as a way of exploring whether good and evil are absolute or whether they are only a matter of perception (Hamlet says, “nothing is good or bad but thinking makes it so,”
- and on and on and on…
7 comments:
Monstrosity
In The Taking by Dean Koontz, monstrosity is depicted in an abstract way. As I have only covered roughly the first one hundred pages, the story could easily (as most of his novels do) take a sudden turn leading into a new, greater, more though-provoking subject. However, the point in the story which I am at so far has left much open for interpretation. The suspected “labeled monsters” of the book have not been formally introduced yet, but have been mentioned. Also, reactions from people who have supposedly seen these creatures and the some of the destruction they can cause have been seen briefly. Contrastingly, there is a slight intonation that the real monsters of the book may in fact be humans. The television that plays as the main characters look for news pertaining to the event going on around them begins to loose channels. The characters flip through each channel, and mention how crude some of the shows are. Reality shows, violence in movies, and sex are all prominent, and it seems as though only these shows are left before the television is completely void of any shows. The main characters are trouble by this, and mention that “This is a lie, this isn’t what we are. This isn’t all we are.” They have a sense of something happening, and believe that these events cannot be all consequence. Surely this idea will develop further as the book goes on, leading the reader (that’s me!) to decide who the real monster(s) is(are).
One compelling theory made in the picture of dorian gray is that all of what is perceived to be evil is established by rules set by man. The argument goes so far as to say that it is bad for your soul to deny yourself of sin. Regret is what satisfies our natural instinct to break rules. The luxury of a regret can be a good thing in moderation because without it ones life would become tedious (which is the worst pain) and not a life well lived. Dorian Gray is a very naive man, with an allure so powerful that every man that he meets tries desperately to befriend him. Each person that Dorian meets is given the opportunity to influence him. Dorian can not be called a monster because he is only a product of those around him coercing him into bad decisions. Dorian is responsible for his actions but for that reason others do not see consequences as a problem for Dorian. Dorian is told to "live the wonderful life that is within, be afraid of nothing, and search for new sensations" as described in the idea of "new hedonism". Dorian Recognizes that there is little that he could not do between his wealth and inherent charisma, and is lead down a treacherous path. Dorian is cursed with qualities that are coveted by others, in the sense that he never has to experience a life in which all people around him are not delighted to see him. Dorian does not have his own strong opinions about things, and is therefore very impressionable. There is a lot of power that comes with beauty but too much beauty can become a burden.This poses the question: can one be beautiful without being naive?, how much of ones actions are influenced by others?
2A
One significant change in the monster is that he is becoming more and more influenced by lord Henry. Lord Henry notices that he has the power to influence Dorian and uses this to his advantage. Lord Henry becomes a mentor to Dorian and advises him based on what he thinks would be a good thing to do without thinking of the consequences. To Lord Henry Dorian is only a pretty face. Lord henry does not care about Dorian and believes that superficial beauty is all that exists. Some may consider Lord Henry to be the true monster because he knows that he has control over Dorian and because he is so vein he uses this to his advantage.
2B
In Jon's comment he says that "monstrosity is depicted in an abstract way". I believe that monstrosity is abstract and cannot be easily defined. There is no way to prove someone to be a monster and therefore anyone can accuse anyone of being a monster. Monsters can come in many different varieties: monsters can have physical characteristics that personify who they are on the inside. or a monster can be a regular person who is ignorant to the fact that they are a monster.
3B
I had told Basil that i would meet him for lunch, but lately i have grown tired of Basil. I would rather go to lunch with Lord Henry. Lord Henry has much to say and is always more interesting. I am going to tell Basil that i will not be able to attend lunch with him today.
2a
Since my first comment on Dean Koontz' The Taking, there have been many changes throughout the story. Previously, the main characters had just begun to notice the changes taking place. Newscasts from around the world were reporting violent and sudden weather patterns that could not be explained, electronic signals such as those that serviced phones and TV’s were losing strength and even clocks were going haywire. Now, roughly 100-150 pages further into the book, the mysterious events have only become more murderous and malicious. However, these murderous and malicious ways have not been completely mysterious, and not acted out solely by these alien invaders. Friends, neighbors, people who once appeared as average citizens were now showing their darker sides. Their survival instincts were kicking in, and those who thought that they had fully assessed the problem did what they could to convince others, regardless of opposing ideas. Some decide that boozing up and awaiting their eventual death was the way to go, others pledged to stand and fight. A few had no idea what to think, fence-sitters, who could not make up their minds. The main characters take on the roles of fighters, and plan on doing whatever they can to rescue not only themselves, but also the children of the town who had been left behind or stranded without parents. Each group of people seems to represent different aspects of human nature, and some of the individuals have monstrous aspects of their own. The main characters are represented as Good, and are put through several tests trying their ability. Most of their tests come not from these “alien invaders”, but from those who are not as “Good” or “pure”. They are lulled into a trap by a couple of men (who get what they deserve) who appear to need help, for example. All in all, the author appears to by capitalizing on the idea that perhaps these invaders are not the only Evil or monstrous beings, and that humans can be just as deceitful and destructive towards each other.
2b
Christian’s writing explains that Dorian Gray’s naivety is because of his good looks, and that it is also behind his “wrong-doings” and title of monster. Christian also says that “Dorian can not be called a monster because he is only a product of those around him coercing him into bad decisions.” While Dorian is a naïve fellow, there has to be a point at which he is judged by his actions without the ability to pass on his mistakes as the faults of others. Certainly there are some things, as a gorgeous and naïve person, that he can simply not avoid, and personally, I can understand such a problem. But at one point or another, he has to eventually notice that he is continually doing things wrongly, that he is doing things that others see as Monstrous.
3b
•Humans: [Fighters]: We will do whatever we can to prevent whatever it is out there from taking over. No matter what it takes, we’ll fight off as much of this menace as we can, and won’t be satisfied with what we’ve got ‘til we’ve given it all we’ve got.
[Drinkers]: This isn’t worth fighting for, there’s no way that we can fight off… whatever it is out there that’s coming. After seeing and hearing what’s happening across the globe, it’s hard to believe that any few people could take control over this situation. The world has slipped into chaos and will inevitably end quickly. So, we may as well sedate ourselves and, full of alcohol, wait for our deaths to come to us.
[Cowards]: No matter what it takes, I have to find a way to spare myself. Even if it means leading others to their deaths, I must find a way to save myself.
•Creatures: At this rate, the humans will have long destroyed each other by the time our plans here are finished. The way they’re acting, fighting against, tricking and deceiving each other, this will be much easier for us.
Freddy's Book, by John Gardner
This book is one of the most confusing, thought provoking stories I have ever read. It is deceptively simple yet, so complicated at the same time. It is a story within a story. A novel whose character writes a novel. Again, like in Grendel, Gardner asks questions about life. About life's morals, values, etc.. What is heroism? What is the difference between wrong and right? He also goes back to the idea of having strong values vs. nihilism. The story itself is simple since it's a story about a characters story, but what makes it complicated is it's questions, ideas, and twists.
The first part of the novel begins when Jack Winesap, a "psycho-historian," visits a Scandinavian medievalist Sven Agaard, who is "trying to learn history from fairy tales" and prefers the "old fashioned ideal of history. Hard-won facts, incontrovertible proofs." Agaard's house and career are haunted by a "monster" locked away in a room, a son with some kind of condition who writes somewhat about history and turns his father's scholarship into fairy tales.
I am getting into the second half of the story where the Novel inside the Novel becomes the story... If that makes sense. So far, characters that have been introduced are: Gustav, his cousin Lars Goren, Bishop Brast, and the Devil.
3a
There have been little to no changes in Lord Henry but Dorian has had many changes that have been significant to Lord Henry. Dorian falls in love with an actor which makes Lord Henry skeptical as to weather she is worthy of Dorian Grey. Lord Henry assumes the role of a mentor to Dorian which could become a problem because Lord Henry does not consider Dorian's feelings and would find it interesting if he were to leave his new love and fall in love again every couple of months or so. To Lord Henry Dorian is an object of study first and a friend second. Lord Henry's infatuation is made stronger when he learns of Dorian's tragic background. Dorian proposes to Sibyl Vane, his new love. Dorian's excitement makes Lord Henry excited as well and wants to meet her. little does Dorian know that he will be berating her and deciding weather it makes Dorian more or less interesting, and weather or not to try and break them up.
3c
When Dorian told me that he was soon to be married I did not know what to think, which is why I am excited to meet Sibyl Vane. If Sibyl Vane is at all how dorian describes her I will be thrilled. I fear that Dorian has chosen someone who will not do justice to his beauty. It would make Dorian most interesting to see him fall in love multiple times because it is inevitable that people will grow accustomed to each other and no longer infatuated. To see Dorian in a constant state of infatuation would make him a very interesting study of human behavior. I believe that for that reason that unfaithful people are the true romantic ones. The important thing is that Dorian's beauty weather it be physical or mental is not diminished by Sibyl.
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