Post Six

A classic never fades. The Arthurian Legends are tales that will always be known and taught to future generations. It's funny that our teachers continue to teach us the legends of Arthur and the round table while in one story, "A Candle in the Wind", Arthur gives great responsibility to a young boy to pass down his story. It is as if the myth has come to life and will always live on because who can pass up a story of damsels in distress, a bit of magic, and knights in shining armor?

Many written works of art surfaced around the time of 1450 when "Morte d'Arthur" written by Sir Thomas Mallory was published. His story spoke of the tales and adventures of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Their compelling stories are filled with the magic of Merlin, the devious feats of Mordrid, and the back stabbing of Morgan Le Faye. People love reading about drama, it is addicting and interesting.

The Arthurian Legends not only include handsome young Lancelot, but they throw in a moral or lesson to be learned. One of my favorites, the story of Lady Ragnell, has a very sweet message towards women. Gawain is faced with a challenge from a mystical knight and it is to find out the truth of what women really desire. In a years time, Gawain must have the answer or else he will die. Long story short, he discovers the answer after marrying a grotesque woman of the forest who has the answer to what he is looking for. He marries her and in return for his nonjudgmental ways and he not judging the book by its cover, is surprised when a beautiful woman under a spell is revealed. The one thing woman desire most is to be given free will and the choice to do as they please. I think people enjoy reading insightful tales that can spice up their own lives and even make a few of them rethink the way they live. That is what I feel a story or book should do, question your own beliefs, make you think a little.

So if the Arthurian legends are continuing to be passed down through many different pieces of literature then chivalry really isn't dead.

post 5

We've read quite a few passages from Le Morte D'Arthur written by Mallory and we are in the middle of reading Sir Gawain and the Green Knight translated by Raffel. The stories are full of passion, adventure and romance; what isn't there to like ? Most of the tales resemble each other but they do have their own qualities that make them very interesting. For example, one story we read was Sir Gawain and Lady Ragnell and it included a great life lesson about how to treat a lady, as well as some danger and action. I like reading these stories and I enjoy the whole vibe of the medieval time period. The way the tales are written aren't overly outrageous either, the story lines are easy to follow. A hint of mystery is painted through the texts, " And now Gawain: think, danger is yours to overcome and this game brings you danger. Can the game be won? " (Sir Gawain and the GK. 62). I love the way I have to wrap my head around some of the writing and I am entertained by the characters and their gallivanting.

fame glutton

Beowulf is a man of many words and many actions. I feel his desire for fame and glory overrides his want of peace and prosperity for the lands. Granted, he does want to help Herot out, he merely is doing it to help his own resume. He is selfish definitely because he wants to be a singled out hero, but you still have to give him a little credit for being a great fighter and protector. I think that he would be more considered a hero if he had the peoples' lives and peace first on his mind, not his own personal gain from all the battles and what not. Beo is cocky and loves to be told how great he is, a present day airhead in my opinion. "Wear these bright jewels, beloved Beowulf; Enjoy them,...oh fortunate young warrior; grow richer, let your fame and your strength go hand in hand; and lend these two boys your wise and gentle heart! I'll remember your kindness. Your glory is too great to forget. Spread your blessed protection..." (pg. 61-62).

Cover With the Best Fit

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on which book cover they feel best suites The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing. Their taste of which cover would most likely be based on how they feel about the theme and tone of the book. I feel that the fourth cover best fits the story and theme of it all because Lessing was touching on the way that society looks at disabilities and differences ( in that time period ). Society shunned all that were different and ostracised them so they could only look on at all the fun of life but not be part of it. The family left Ben to witness fun times but never really be included, or even understood. "Sometimes it seemed to her that she spent her life trying to understand what Ben was feeling, thinking"(Lessing 67). In the cover picture, the little child is looking through the window with a longing, hopeless look on his face. His hand is placed on the window and that gesture shows that he's reaching for what the others have and just knows that there will always be something, a miscommunication, in between him and the others. The window represents that barrier.

2nd Post

Even after 183 years of the creation of the Frankenstein Monster, he still lives on strong. Mary Shelley has written a novel capturing the beauties of nature and passion of romanticism as well as drama, science fiction, horror, and a relative factor. Christopher Schildt feels that the monster is a symbol of a feeling in all of us, the feeling of nonacceptance that most of us feel regularly. "Monsters are metaphor, and the subconscious symbolism of Dr. Frankenstein's creature has changed over the generations"(passage from article). The metaphor of the monster reflects our time periods take on life in this generation. The article goes on to explain how during the different eras of the past, the horror industry had films that were relative to what the world was going through or interested in at the time.

Now a days, we seek more into depth of science and technologies but really, subconsciously, we could be more intrigued by the fact that we coincide with the monsters feelings of being left out and lonely because yet again we are not all perfect and have feelings of loneliness at times and what not. "I am alone and miserable, man will not associate with me, but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me" (103 Shelley). Sometimes we feel we are not good enough for anyone just as the creature did very consistently in this story.

The creature represents a wanting of companionship, a loneliness, and a need for love. Nobody enjoys being ostracized and many of us deal with this feeling every day. Others may not even notice because our world is selfish and insensitive a good portion of the time. Mary Shelley's story encloses a great deal of things to think about and grasp while reading. The article analyzes many of these things including the symbolism of the monster(loneliness), science fiction horror, romanticism and debates over nature vs. nurture.

1st post !

A tale of horror intertwined with romanticism makes up Mary Shelley's classic novel Frankenstein. Known to be one of the greatest horror stories of all time, Shelley encompasses a new aged feel of fervent ideas and curiosities with sci-fi twists as well as bitter sweet moments of true humanity.

Conflict between the new born creature and his creator, Victor, starts up right away as the monster is unleashed due to regrettful feelings and remorse of what a science experiement should never turn out to be. This on going chain of action and reaction between Victor and the monster creates suspense and an appealing plot to the story.

The element of romanticism captivates readers and holds them in even through the dryer sections of the novel. Shelley's poetic way with words brings the artisian out in anyone and makes each own being think outside of the box a little. She has a way of wording things that is just so earthy and passionate that the reader can't but help to be drawn into her work.


"Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow." (Shelly 38)