Technology

I find it ironic that this blog post about technology needs to be written for me. I had planned on posting a video but I am having trouble getting my camera to work. Technology is one of those words that imply it will make everything easier, yet it is so frustrating.
For me online learning is very beneficial. Being that I am a firefighter I don't have a traditional work schedule. I work 48 hour shifts with 96 hour off time, so being able to work at my own pace has been very beneficial. In fact, all of my general ed. classes have been online, with one exception. By doing it online I have been able to not have to take anytime off work to go to class, saved money in fuel costs and saved travelling time. It has also allowed me the opportunity to review and comment on other students work. It has been beneficial to me to see that their work reflected that they have had the same struggles as me. A big downside to online class has been getting distracted while working on the computer. With things like Facebook, on line gaming, you tube and etc. it is very easy to find that what should have taken an hour to do chewed up 4 hours of my time. Another downside was not being able to meet new friends in person and not seeing the instructor in the class room setting.

All in all this class has been a good experience for me. I believe that I will continue to use my blog to express myself creatively. With the completion of this semester I will have completed my AAS in Paramedicine. I don't know whats next for me. Original goal was to transfer to NAU and get my BA in Fire Science Management, but now I don't know. A BA in the fire service is really only needed for Fire Chiefs and some federal jobs. Truth is I would never even consider being a Chief, the politics are horrendous and in the current climate they are only two year jobs. As far as federal employment, again it's politics. I like my job, I enjoy providing care to the sick and injured, so I can't imagine not doing so. Besides, I have been a partime student, full time employee, full time daddy and husband for the last 3 years ( longer with out the school) and I am burned out on being so busy. I think I will take next semester off and concentrate an my faith, family and friends.

What Have I Learned?

As I try to decipher what it is I have learned in this class my mind keeps pulling me back to a 7th grade English class. I was 13 years old and just starting to find that I was capable of putting my imagination into words. I was experimenting with a kind of creative literature that was supposed to be poetry. I have had a fascination with poetry from early elementary. So, as a thirteen year old, I was casually experimenting with creating my own works. I'm sure it could hardly be called poetry, it was more like some dumb kid was just randomly writing down paragraphs. My parents should have recognized this and bought me a journal. Then I could just say I was journaling. This was in 1987 though, words like blogs didn't exist yet, computers still had a lot of growing up to do and the internet wouldn't be known to the general public for another decade.. So, I would venture to say that my poetry was probably be more like a blog if anything. Just some ramblings of a thirteen year old kid who was on the verge of discovering love and pain. All in the same day. My point is that the experimental, melodramatic ramblings going on in my head were finding there way through my body and out through the lead of a No.2 point lead pencil.
 Anyways, I was sitting in class, day dreaming about Lord knows what, probably about my future sex life, when my English teacher walked by and placed a graded writing assignment of mine on my desk. I don't even remember the score, based on my life time GPA, it was probably a low C. I don't remember the assignment or the teachers name. What I remember is, as the teacher placed the paper on my desk, she whispered, "Your writing" then made a gasping sound and walked off. That was it. I was left to having to decipher what the hell that meant. Was that an exasperated gasp? Or was it to express her joy and sensation at reading such an epic piece of literature. The grade didn't reflect. Any marks higher than a C would have elated me, cementing the moment into my memory forever. Did her words indicate that I was such an exceptional pupil and capable of properly finishing her thoughts. Or, did she just choose wisely to not finish a cruel thought. Did she want to say ' Your writing makes you sound retarded'. I am also left handed, so anything hand written in ink, or lead, would slightly smear as I drew my hand across the page as I wrote. Righties won't understand, lefties will. Was she just stating that reading through my lead colored paper was tough to do? Whatever she meant, I took it as as a positive, negative. Used it continue exploring my thoughts with a lead pencil to get better and enjoy. I have long since discontinued my creative writing, lost with my innocence I suppose. I know that my words as a young writer grew dark and ominous. I was a troubled teen, from a broken home. I would soon experience pain, addiction and sorrow. So my writing would reflect that. Just thinking about all of that causes me to feel that little tug at my heart. That need to communicate my thoughts creativity. In an effort to express his sorrow about the worlds inability to communicate positively Paul Simon wrote, " Hello darkness my old friend, I have come to walk with you again". These lyrics would be the opening words in the Sound of Silence. A song that would propel the careers of Simon and Garfunkle. Kind of how I feel at the moment thinking about all of that.( Song Facts).

I have rambled on. The point that I am trying to make about my learning outcomes in this class is that we began learning what we have just learned when we were children. We began summarizing when we learned to read. We started analyzing when we took our first breaths. Elementary school started to teach us punctuation and structure. This class just stressed those at an accelerated level. I guess for me this class has taught me to explore things in literature a little deeper by exploring them with our minds.

Ever wonder what the paramedics really think? See video.

Works Cited:
Song Facts, http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=796

Final Presentation

Zombies in Film

I found it interesting to read in Kyle Bishop's article on Zombies about the connection to Zombies and film during times of war. It makes me wonder what the populaces connection is with a zombie and war. There seems to be a link between consumerism and war. Anytime America has been involved in war time activities it does appear that war causes a large need in consuming materials, time, money and emotion. During WWII America experienced a shortage in precious metals. This intern caused the need for Americans to donate scrap metal to be used inn the war effort. Even the Deptartment of Treasury saw a need to stop the use of copper in penny production and use steel instead. Many toy manufactures experienced loss of business due to the unavailability to obtain metals used in their toy productions. This also caused an increase use in plastics as many items formerly made of metal were now being made of plastic. Also of note is fuel prices during war time. As we currently experience higher prices for gasoline, the Department of Defense increases its fuel reserves for use in the Iraq and Afghanistan war.
Zombies reflect this increase in consumerism by their constant need to eat human flesh. Could it be that Americans subconsciously view zombies as war? Since war is so consuming of our time and resources. This link is to a web site that has done some research into this phenomena. I find it interesting that between the years of 2000 and 2008 over 120 zombie movies have been produced.

Image Source; http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A2KJkezvLshOHgkAY2aJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?

Werewolf; Blood and Lore

                                                            Werewolf; Blood and Lore

The fear of the werewolf was born with early man and his interactions with nature. Specifically, his loathsome hatred towards the wolf. When considering myths and lore, in regard to werewolves, one must understand the wolves’ involvement with the everyday living of early humans. Stories of human cannibalism and wolf like actions through mental illnesses have created werewolf legends. The werewolf is also said to be closely related to other entities such as witches, vampires, shape-shifters and the devil himself. It is the werewolves thirst for blood and taste for flesh that has instilled fear into mankind since the beginning of time and advanced the myths and lore surrounding werewolf activity.

In order to comprehend the lore of werewolves one must first have a simple understanding of the initial source of that lore. Most scientists that have studied the wolf will say that it is one of the most misunderstood animals on earth and that very little is actually known of the wolf and its habits. Since the dawn of creation people had to live off of the land and that meant living with wolves. The wolf was considered a deadly nuisance. They commonly killed livestock that people raised for their own means of survival. A pack of wolves would sometimes kill more than they needed. In his book ‘Of Wolves and Men’ Barry Holstun Lopez writes “…they sometimes kill in excess” (Lopez). It is not uncommon for wolves to decimate a heard of sheep, ravaging and killing several, often a dozen, some of it for feed, but then mutilate its victims and strew their parts about. In Lopez’s book he also describes an incident in Alaska in which wolves killed over 42 dogs in a year. Biologists would explain to residents that due to an unusually hard winter the wolves had turned to dogs for prey. The Athabascan Indians would not accept this explanation. They believed that this occurred because wolves just hated dogs. Lopez writes of a sled dog team’s owner who “…argued that the wolf was a born killer … Some creatures God put on earth to help man…and others to hinder him, and the wolf was a hinderer”. (Lopez). These are some of the misunderstandings that humans have of the wolf that have helped lead to werewolf legends. There have also been understandings of the wolf that helped aid the creation of werewolf mysteries.

One of the things that have aided in the development of werewolf legends is the wolves feeding habits. Wolves have an adaptive digestive system and feeding habits. They have a feast or famine style of feeding. They are capable of digesting large amounts of food in 2 or 3 hours, leaving a wolf always hungry. They tend to gorge after going for multiple days without food. They will often eat up to 18 pounds of meat at a time, then after digestion, eat again. It is not uncommon for a wolf to go up to 3 weeks without food then start to eat up to one- fifth of their body weight at a time. This would explain why a pack of wolves would kill a dozen sheep at one time, only to kill another dozen a day later if not hours later. Wolves, like most predators, usually kill the weak, old, young or lame out of a heard. In some instances though, they have been known to kill an entire heard of deer without eating any of their quarry. Lopez states that “In cases where wolf populations are small, or where the prey population is outstripping its food supply, wolves may kill indiscriminately across all age classes” (Lopez). It has been peoples witness to this type of destructive killings that have enhanced wolf lore. Rarely have wolves attacked humans, but it has occurred. When wolf populations were large and the most common means of human survival was raising livestock and living off of the land there was reason to fear the wolf. People feared for their safety and they feared for their livelihood. People fear the wolves thirst for blood and taste for meat. Out of this fear myths and lore of werewolves were born.

Cannibalism has always been viewed as one of the most atrocious sins. It is no wonder that the werewolf has always been associated with the devil due to cannibalism. Many people that have professed to be a werewolf throughout history have claimed that they became werewolves as an opportunity to eat human flesh. In Rosemary Ellen Guilley’s ‘ Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves and Other Monsters’ the author gives many examples of cannibalism in association with werewolves.

 In Pyrenees, 200 men, women and children were burned to death after being accused of being werewolves and cannibalizing. (Guilley).  Guilley also claims that there are two types of werewolves; voluntary and involuntary. The voluntary werewolf is one that likes to eat human flesh and therefore transformation is acquired by some sort of magical means. A person may transform into a werewolf voluntarily be obtaining potions, wearing a girdle made of wolf pelts or human skins, drinking rain water out of a wolf’s paw prints, magical prayers, or with the aid of the devil and his demons.(Guilley).  By chance it has been individuals who may have had awkward, wolf like appearances that have spurred the werewolf legends forward. Such is the case of Gilles Garnier.  

Garnier was an awkward looking man living in Amanges, France. He was considered to be a recluse and according to ‘ The Book of Werewolves’ by author Sabine Baring- Gould, Garnier was known as “the hermit of St. Bonnet” (Baring-Gould).  Gilles Garnier had bushy eyebrows that met in the middle, another myth that indicates a person is a werewolf, had pale skin and angry complexion. He wore a long grey beard and had an odd stooping gait, all signs of being a werewolf. In 1873 several small children had become missing from their village in Dole and later were found mutilated and half eaten. Then, in the fall of that same year a wolf attacked a girl. The commotion attracted peasants in the area who came rushing to the girls’ aid. Several of the peasants thought the wolf in question resembled the hermit Garnier. Then a few days later a little boy came up missing. During the trial of Garnier, he and his wife confessed to him being a werewolf. The hermit confessed that he liked the taste of human flesh so much that he brought meat home to his wife to enjoy. While explaining his deeds at trial he spoke of an incident in which he killed a young boy with the intent of eating him but the commotion of the murder attracted people and Garnier ran off. Peasants at the trial that responded to that incident identified Garnier as the murderer, but stated he was in human form and not that of a wolf. Garnier was found guilty and hastily dragged to the site where he would be burned to death. (Guilley ) Werewolf literature is full of lore about were-animals, particularly wolves eating human flesh to satisfy their taste for blood. It is also full of examples of people eating humans then either claiming to be werewolves or being made out to be werewolves by their accusers or society. People’s imaginations may play a part in helping them to understand these horrific crimes.

Mental illness is also a very complex explanation in regard to werewolves and explanation for cannibalism. For many, it is reasonable to think that a person that believes themselves a werewolf is crazy. The same could be said for someone that eats human flesh. When you combine both there is little doubt to a person’s sanity that pursues the opportunity to become a werewolf in order to eat their fellow humans. One mental condition that has been linked to werewolves, or people that believe they are, is Lycanthropy. Deriving from two Greek words lykoi, meaning wolf and anthropos, or man it has been a clinical diagnosis since the second century. The word itself, Lycanthropy, was not seen in the English language until 1584 when Reginald Scott used it in his book ‘ The Discoverie of Witchcraft’. (Scott) At one point Lycanthropy and werewolfism was used interchangeably during the Inquisition.  This disease is closely linked to schizophrenia, personality disorders, mental retardation, necrophilia, drug abuse and bipolar disorders. Some common behaviors of Lycanthropy mimic many of the previously mentioned mental disorders. According to the WebMD.com these behaviors are all signs of schizophrenia and  include; an alienation from society, demonic obsession, the belief that one can grow wolf like features, a blood lust, wolf like behavior, bestiality, hyper-sexuality, and an impaired mental function.(Chakraburtty) Since the invention of modern psychology the diagnosis of Lycanthropy has died out in favor of more reputable and scientific diagnosis of various mental disorders. One example given by Louisiana State University students in a study on Lycanthropy is that of French Peasants Pierre Burgot and Michael Verdum in 1521.

Burgot was a sheep herder who made a deal with a dark stranger for protection of his sheep. All Burgot had to do was renounce God and obey this stranger as his Lord. The unknown demon stranger gave Burgot money in exchange and guaranteed protection to Burgot’s flock. In due time, as the years passed, Burgot became reluctant to maintain his pact. That is when a man named Michael Verdum demanded him to rub a special ointment on his body. When Burgot obeyed he found that he grew hair all over his body among other wolf like features. The two, Burgot and Verdum, then ran amuck in the country side committing crimes. They dismembered a 7 year old boy and murdered a woman. They also ate a 4 year old girl before finally being caught. (LSU)

 A more modern example of Lycanthropy that was reported in a 1975 issue of ‘The Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal’ is that of a 20 year old patient referred to as Mr. H. This young man was in Europe serving in the U.S. Army when he took a dose of LSD and strychnine. Pharmacologically these drugs are what shape shifters used in the past to transform into were-animals, witches, vampires and the like. The drugs had an immediate effect on Mr. H causing, as he claims, fur to grow out of his face and hands. He then spent a few days in the forest chasing and eating raw rabbits. Mr. H returned to his post eventually where he was treated with anti- psychotic medicines and therapy for nearly a year. During this time he continued to have delusional thoughts and heard disembodied voices and experienced satanic visions. Testing indicated that he had acute schizophrenia and toxic psychosis. With continued treatment and medication Mr. H showed considerable improvement and was referred to outpatient care. After a few outpatient appointments Mr. H stopped taking his medicines and stopped going to his therapy appointments. Efforts to contact him failed. (lsu.edu).

American society today has romanticized the werewolf as well as other monsters like Vampires, Zombies and Witches. These once were entities that were only associated with the cult, Satan and demonology. Through the years they became associated with mental disorders, the same of which were and are often associated with evil activities. The monsters were often a person’s only way of understanding and accepting horrible deeds done by their fellow human beings. People need to understand and need an explanation to comprehend horrific atrocities such as dismembering an innocent child and feeding on human flesh. Modern medicine was, at one point, not available to treat the psychologically ill so society had to turn to myths and lore to be able to cope with heinous crimes. I feel that our modern affixation with the surreal is a common progression in society. For most it will continue to be a harmless form of entertainment. For the unknowing, the young and the impressionable it could be a dangerous game that could threaten their sanity and salvation.

Works Cited

Baring-Gould, Sabine. "The Book of Werewolves." Baring-Gould, Sabine. The Book of Werewolves. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1865. 37.

Chakraburtty, Amal MD. Web MD. 2005-2011. 4 October 2011 <http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/mental-health-schizophrenia>.

Guilley, Rosemary Ellen. "The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves and Other Monsters." Guilley, Rosemary Ellen. The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves and Other Monsters. New York: Checkmark Books, 2005. 317.

Guilley, Rosemary Ellen. "The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves and Other Monsters." Guilley, Rosemary Ellen. The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves and Other Monsters. New York: Checkmark Books, 2005. 134.

Lopez, Barry Holstun. "Of Wolves and Men." Lopez, Barry Holstun. Of Wolves and Men. New York: Charles Scriner's Sons, 1978. 4.

Lopez, Barry Holstun. "Of Wolves and Men." Lopez, Barry Holstun. Of Wolves and Men. New York: Charles Scriner's Sons, 1978. 2.

Lopez, Barry Holstun. "Of Wolves and Men." Lopez, Barry Holstun. Of Wolves and Men. New York: Charles Scriner's Sons, 1978. 55.

LSU. lsu.edu. 2003. 4 October 2011 <http://www.lsu.edu/faculty/jpullia/lycanthrophy.htm>.

—. lsu.edu. 2003. 4 October 2011 <http://www.lsu.edu/faculty/jpullia/lycanthrophy.htm>.

Scott, Reginald. "The Discoverie of Witchcraft." Scott, Reginald. The Discoverie of Witchcraft. Yorshire, England: E.P. Publishing, 1973.

Bibliography

Guilley, Rosemary Ellen. "The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves and Other Monsters." Guilley, Rosemary Ellen. The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves and Other Monsters. New York: Checkmark Books, 2005. 317.

            This was what I picked for my first source. I should have switched my sources because this was a wonderful 2nd source and not a very strong 1st. As I read it I picked up on this cannibalism theme in werewolves that I wanted to write about and it was a great source for that. It is actually an encyclopedia of monsters. Full of stories and descriptions of actual cases and provides information on all types of monsters in film and literature.

Lopez, Barry Holstun. "Of Wolves and Men." Lopez, Barry Holstun. Of Wolves and Men. New York: Charles Scriner's Sons, 1978. 4.

           This was a very strong secondary source for me. It's primarlily just about wolves, but does touch on werewolf lore. It is a scientific study on the lives, habits and lore of wolves. It is written in a first person point of view from the author so it was very easy to understand. I plan to use some of the information about wolves habits and how they have aided in the generalization of werewolf myths.


LSU. lsu.edu. 2003. 4 October 2011 <http://www.lsu.edu/faculty/jpullia/lycanthrophy.htm>.


          This is an article I found through the library database. It is a research paper on a disease called Lycanthropy. It gives an over all explanation of the disease and has a some historical value and stories to support the history of the disease.

Final Project Proposal

For my final project I am choosing option # 2, which is to do a study on a specific monster. The monster of my choice is Werewolves. As a child I developed a fear of werewolves after seeing the movie " An American Werewolf In London". I'm sure it is a cheesy movie and I imagine that I would laugh at its context today. I have not seen this movie since I was 8 years old. I remember that night in vivid detail. It was close to Halloween and an older cousin was staying the night. My dad rented this movie for us to watch. Dad had that kind of sick sense of humor. He was always hiding in closets, just to grab your arm and yell "Rawr" when you opened the door. So it was not uncommon for him to bring home scary movies for us to watch. Definitely the soul source of my enjoyment of horror films and literature today. Needless to say, this movie scared the hell out of me. Thankfully, my dear cousin slept with me that night.

Image Source Page: http://werewolvesgamesinforms.webs.com/

I originally was going to pick option one and read Tim O'brien. I had red "The Things They Carried" about 10 years ago and found it an exceptional, intriguing read. But I felt that in order for me to obtain the greatest benefit and gain the most from the learning experience of this project, that it would be best for me to study a subject that I was less familiar with. So, I chose a monster instead. I was leaning towards Zombies, but they don't intrigue me at all. Besides, Zombies and Vampires are big business these days. So naturally, I picked a monster that had actually affected me at one point in my life. I'm still afraid of the Boogey Man and didn't pick him so as not to entertain or increase the source of my fears. There's still a child in us all.

I plan to use the online YC Library resource as my data base. One book in particular that I do intend to read is " The Mysteries of Vampires and Werewolves" by Chris Oxlade. It appears to be a research about the legends of werewolves in different cultures and it also explains some of the scientific reasons behind old werewolf stories. Another book I will research is " The Encylopedia of Vamppires, Werewolves and Other Monsters" by Rosemary Guilley. Honestly I have just randomly chose these reading because they are listed as non- fiction. For old times sake maybe I will rent " An American Werewolf in London". Maybe I can scare the hell out of my 7 year old too.

With this project I hope to discover if there is a common meaning in the creation of werewolf stories culturally. Specifically I would like to see what the significance is in American culture. I imagine its significance comes from the European immigration into America.

Mid-Term Check In

Michael Loza
Eng. 102
Cline
10 September 2011


My biggest challenge so far this semester has been time management. Procrastination has always been an issue for me. I am starting to realize that for me, a husband, father of three, having a full time job and going to school part time, I seem to work best and most efficiently when under the stress of a deadline. Often times that deadline may not be within the confines of an English paper’s due date but, it may be the fact that my children have games over the weekend, or my wife needs a date night desperately. So having seven days to do an assignment may only be three days for me to do so. 
My biggest success has definitely been over coming my procrastinating tendencies but, I am most proud of my ability to overcome my fear of allowing others to read my work. I have always enjoyed writing and think that I do a pretty fair job at doing so. It’s just that I have this fear of being judged through my literary works. I fear that my writing will appear as uneducated, dull and not make any sense to anyone but my own distorted mind. So, having to post my works on the blog for others to read has caused a large amount of apprehension for me. I nearly dropped this class in because of that alone. I would have done so except that at the completion of this semester I will have finished all of the requirements to obtain my degree. Looking back on the first half of this semester I can say that I am proud of what I have done.
The readings in this class, in particular “ Frankenstein”, have been very interesting. Due to the great success and popularity of Frankenstein movies and modern intrigue into the story I assumed that the book would have been this splendid, intriguing, work of art. My experience with it is that I found it rather dull and disappointing. I have always been a huge fan of horror stories and have read a complimentary array of novels from the likes of King, Koontz, Peretti and Stoker. So naturally I assumed that Shelley’s “Frankenstein” would be among the best of the best. I agree that it is a great book but, a horror story it was not.
I don’t really know what my goals for the second half of the semester are. I really am enjoying this class. Mrs. Cline has done a great job teaching and requiring me to broaden my horizons. I just want to finish the class with a high grade and get my assignments turned in on time. I have never been the type to put a lot of value into getting an A in a class. As long as I have done my best and strived for better I am happy with a passing result. With this particular class though I have seemed to raise my standard.

Essay 3 rough draft

Motherless

Mary Shelley’s 1818 version of “Frankenstein” was a thought provoking read for me. I continually had to focus on the time in which it was written and the scientific progress of that era. With that consideration I was able to see why this book was so controversial, popular and pivotal. I still do not have a clear understanding as to horror novels at the time. It is said that “Frankenstein” was a very scary book in its time, at least that was Shelley’s intent, but I did not find it to be so. It is a gothic, romantic novel about the scientific creation and abandonment of life. A theme that I continually noticed being represented in Shelley’s novel is of the motherless.
Many of the key characters in this novel are or appear to be motherless. Elizabeth’s mother died while Elizabeth was just an infant. Victor’s father, out of a gracious heart, took in a girl named Justine to live with them as a servant. Through cruelty and neglect she was dis-owned by her mother. One by one all of Justine’s siblings had died. Out of guilt and remorse Justine was called home to care for her ailing mother who would eventually die, leaving Justine motherless. Another important character in Shelley’s novel is Henry Clerval. There is no mention of Clerval not having a mother, so it would be unwise to assume that he did not. However, Henry’s father is mentioned as being “ well pleased that he should find associates at our house” ( Shelley, pg. 21). In this we see that Clerval spends a great deal of his time with the Frankenstein family, as if it is a better environment for him than his own home. The DeLacey family in Germany also appear to be without a motherly figure. They are a family outcaste from their native lands to live in exile in an unfamiliar country. This is where Victors created monster finds hidden refuge and learns the way and customs of human nature including speech. Even though the beast is a hidden guest to the DeLaceys, he develops a yearning for their affection. Through the story involved around the DeLacey’s we see that there is two very young adults, brother and sister to each other, and an old blind man. There is no mention of the mother figure in this family but it seems clear that she is not a part of their lives. That last motherless figure I feel important to note is that of Victor’s creation. This hideous creation comes to life and is instantly abandoned by its creator. Much like Mary Shelley herself, who’s mother died while giving her life, this beast is completely devoid of any motherly love, affection, and tenderness important to newly acquired life. It is this connection to her own life that Shelley is trying to capture. 
Mary Shelley began writing Frankenstein at the age of 18. She was also pregnant at this time with her first child, that would die soon after birth. Coincidentally, she spent the next five years of her life pregnant, nursing and rearing. All the while she continued to read and write. It was at this influential time in her life that she began creation in life, as well as in fiction. This would cause her to come to terms and analyze her own feelings of abandonment through the death of her mother. Ellen Moers writes 
… nothing so sets her apart [Mary Shelley] from the generality of writers of her own time, and before, and for long afterward, than her early and chaotic experience, at the very time she became an author, with motherhood. Pregnant at sixteen, and almost constantly pregnant throughout the following five years; yet not a secure mother, for she lost most of her babies soon after they were born; and not a lawful mother, for she was not married- not at least when, at the age of eighteen, Mary Godwin [Shelley] began to write Frankenstein. So are monsters born. (Moers pg. 216- 217).  
These thoughts of motherhood and abandonment would lead to Mary creating Victor Frankenstein, who in popular, public and literary thoughts would be known as a mad scientist. This mad scientist, whose early self education would lead him to what is considered occult type beliefs and unproven scientific theories, would then create a ghastly beast and abandon his demon child upon. In Frankenstein Victor says “ Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room”. (Shelley, pg. 34). I feel that this is one of the most powerful passages in the book. Unable to deal with the consequences of his ghastly creation, repulsed by life he has given and dreadful of the dramatic situation he has created Victor flees, leaving his child forever nameless, shamed, grotesque and abandoned. Possibly a direct correlation how Shelly felt at first feeling abandoned by her own mother, even though she died at birth, it may cause one to have feeling of shame and remorse, in that though life was given, it was also taken. Secondly it is an indication of Shelley giving life to a baby that would be born ill and only live a short time. 
Mary Shelley herself would read her famous mothers literature while growing up. This used as an opportunity to get to know her birth mother. This is similar to Victors beast first seeking the love and affection of the De Lacey’s, in an attempt to feel wanted and accepted in this world. The beast, upon rejection of the De Lacey family, seeks his birth creator for validation in this cruel world. The beast studies Victor and compiles evidence indicating that Victor was repulsed at the site of his life given and ran to avoid the necessities of accepting his mistaken scientific ideals and inability to cope with the accident he created. Victor says in his narration that “ The different accidents in life are not so changeable as the feelings of human nature” ( Shelley pg. 34). Essentially he is saying that life’s accidents cannot be changed as easily as our feelings can. Though he knew he could change his feelings toward the beast, he knew that he could not change the accidents of his inappropriate studies and his complete embrace towards the decrepit and unproven sciences that led to the creation of a hideous demon. Written in “ Mary Shelley’s Monstrous Eve” is that “ Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin read her mother’s writing over and over again as she was growing up” ( Gilbert/Gubar pg. 227). This in an attempt to know Shelley’s creator, much like the beast did an attempt to know Victor. Gilbert and Gubar would also write that Mary would read the reviews of the posthumous works of her mother. These reviews would be negative and state that Mary’s mother was “a philosophical wanton and a monster, while her ‘Vindication of the Rights of women’ (Wardle 1792) was called “A scripture, archly fram’d for propagating w[hore]s”. ( Gilbert/ Gubar pg. 227). This had to be very troubling for Mary to read knowing that her mother, who was a feminist writer, as well as an advocate for women’s rights, died upon giving her birth. Mary would often go to her mothers grave to read, study and for pleasurable, sexual affairs with Percey Shelley. This is an indicator of a lost child trying to know, feel and love a mother who gave her own life to give life.
Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein as a source of amusement between friends and fellow authors, it was proposed that each write a ghost story, coincidentally Mary was the only one to complete this challenge. Ironically it became one of the most prolific and popular novels of all time. As the evidence presented suggests Mary had tied the mutant character in her story to herself as a way of telling her own personal story.  Mary was born to two authors who’s works were widely popular and were considered two of the finest authors of the times. One could only assume that their children would also be very involved in literature and would one day become as widely popular as the parents. The death of Mary’s mother at her birth would again shape the child’s destiny. This would cause Mary to spend her upbringing studying her mothers works and create a very unified, loving father, daughter bond. It is no wonder that Mary’s first literature work would become wildly successful for generations to come and that Mary would use the opportunity to tell her own story of longing to be accepted by her mother.


Works Cited
Shelley, Mary “Frankenstein” A Norton Critical Edition. Copyright 1996 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Moers, Ellen “Female Gothic: The Monster’s Mother”, in “Frankenstein” A Norton Critical Edition. Copyright 1996 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Shelley, Mary. Page 34 “Frankenstein” A Norton Critical Edition. Copyright 1996 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. 
Shelley, Mary. Page 34 “Frankenstein” A Norton Critical Edition. Copyright 1996 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. 
Gilbert, Sandra M. / Gubar, Susan Page 227 “Mary Shelley’s Monstrous Eve” in “Frankenstein” A Norton Critical Edition. Copyright 1996 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. 
Wardle, Ralph. Mary Wollstonecraft ( Lincoln Neb.: University of Nebraska Press, 1951) p. 322 in “Frankenstein” A Norton Critical Edition. Copyright 1996 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. p. 227

Summary of a Critical Response

The critical response that I am choosing as my topic in this blog is from Christopher Small titled "[Percy] Shelley and Frankenstein". In it Small is commenting on the characters of Victor Frankenstein and Percy Shelley being of the same likeness. Christopher Small points out that Victor and Percy both had similiar learning objectives in life and that the name 'Victor' itself was at one time a pseudonym that Percy used as an early author and that much of his writingg dealt with victory. Also used in this essay is that at the time the general reading public would always relate the word victory and name Victor with Percy. The character of Elizabeth in Frankenstein was also Percy's mothers and sisters name.

Image Source; http://www.poetsgraves.co.uk/shelley.htm

I think that this is interesting and proof to the fact that authors write about who and what they know, even in fiction. historically there has been much said about Percy's involvement in Frankenstein. Mary claims, as does Percy, that the idea of the book was percieved by Percy and Byron and that it was their discussion about the origins of life that gave Mary the idea. Also of noteworthiness is that Percy was the primary editor and pushed the publication of Frankenstein. I believe that Mary wholeheartedly wrote the book with Percy's encouragement and support.

Click this link for a bio on Percy Small

Revision

Frankensteins Daemon

" The different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings of human nature. I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room, and continued a long time traversing my bed chamber, unable to compose my mind of sleep." (Shelley, chapter IV, page 34)

Image source; http://blogs.qc.cuny.edu/blogs/0909N3144/2009/09/frankenstein_several_images.html

This passage really struck me as unique to the rest of the story. Shelly implies that the accidents involved in our lives cannot be changed like our feelings can.This passage is immediately after Victor has brought life to his creation. Victory immediately feels a sense of dread, fear and remorse of his work. He knows that his two years of toil has become a hideous, evil accident. Victor abandoned his own health and wellness to fulfill his dreams, only to abandon his dream as it came to fruition. Victory sees that this creation had consumed his life and now that he has given life, he sees that his beautiful dream is in fact a monsterous nightmare. A nightmare that has come to life. At the first sight of this beast Victor runs away from his daemon child. He only sees the horror of sight. He does not wait to see if the soul of this being is as hideous as its physical aspect. Could it be that Victor, by running away and abandoning his creation at its birth, caused the beast to be evil? Victor was so afraid of what he saw that he never mentions it to anyone. He also does not make any attempt at finding this demon either. Perhaps this is Mary Shelleys way of telling her own story of abandonment. Her mother died upon giving her birth. Her mom never had the chance to know her creation or what she may become. Could it be that Shelley felt like a horrible accident and caused the death of her mother? As it is, Victor creating this monster has ruined his life. Victor poured his soul into this project, only to create a souless monster.

Deciphering a confusing poem

Deciphering “The Second Coming”

            William Butler Yeats first penned “The Second Coming” in 1919. I feel that in order to begin understanding what this poem may have meant to Yeats or even to his readers at the time, one must understand the era in which it was written and must have some insight into the Author as well. This poem was written after World War I. At the end of the war it was commonly called “The Great War” or “The War to End All Wars” (www.worldwar-1.net). It is now simply referred to as World War 1. Coincidentally, this was all after the Easter Rising in Ireland, a brutal uproar that Yeats also penned a poem about called “Easter, 1916” (poetryfoundation.org). Also occurring within this time frame was the Russian Revolution which resulted in the overthrow of Czars and left a lingering chaotic rage in Russia and Europe as a whole.

             Yeats was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1865. He was educated in Dublin as well as London. Being that Yeats lived in Ireland at the time of these wars, their impact was strongly felt and no doubt left an impression of dread and gloom among European countries. It would be this mind- set that would set into motion the writing of a poem that would convey images of dread and horror leading to the end of the world.

            “The Second Coming” appears to be a reference to the Book of Revelations in the bible, in which Christian prophecies are revealed. The poem begins with a strong metaphor that refers to the world as a gyre, or a cone shaped spiral of wind. Yates writes “Turning and turning in the widening gyre” (Line 1). This indicates that the world is spinning humankind upward and away, detaching us from the world and reality. Using this specific terminology indicates that the poet may be believe that two forces in the world, good and evil, are intersecting causing up-heave and dissention in the world. The Yates then makes a reference indicating that people are like falcons in this “widening gyre”, and that God is the falconer with “The falcon cannot hear the falconer” (Line 2). This is similar to the biblical reference of people, or Christ church, being His sheep, or flock, and Christ the herder. Is it that the poet believes that Christians have spun so out of control and become so detached from the world, and the church, that they can no longer hear God? People are so caught up in the world around them that we have become detached from the world itself. Yates then describes the world as “falling apart” (Line 3) and that “Mere Anarchy is loosed upon the world” (Line4). This is a description about the world being torn apart by its inhabitants. Yates writes “The blood-dimmed tide is loosed…” (Line5). Another indication of a world wrought with war. Also noted is a world that has experienced innocence’s death and the domination of evil forces, “innocence drowned” (Line6) and “The best lack all conviction, while the worst / Are full of passionate intensity” (Lines 7 and 8). The second part of this poem first indicates that a revelation is about to occur, another direct reference to the bible, indicating prophesy is about to become a reality and that “Surely the Second Coming is at hand” (Line 10). This all does appear to refer to biblical prophecy in the book of revelations, in which Christ returns to the world to reign. Perhaps the poet is referring to another great war soon to come. People in this era had hoped that they had seen the worst that war had to offer but biblical prophecy about the end of times was not yet met either. The reason I mention this is that up until this part of the poem it appears to be referring to the Second Coming of Christ, but the rest of the poem contradicts what traditional beliefs are in regard to the Second Coming. After the poet proclaims “The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out / When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi” (Lines 11and12) a reference to the lost morals of the world. The poet then describes the rising of a sphinx like creature being in the world. “A shape with lion body and the head of a man” (Line 14). This creature is then described as a beast devoid of emotion, with slow, calculated movements that cause even the “indignant desert birds” (Line17) of the land, another reference to people, like the falcons, to show anger towards this unjust, unworthy beast. Also the use of a “desert bird” could be biblical reference towards the Middle Eastern peoples of what was formerly Jerusalem at the time of this poems writing. With that we come to what is the last stanza of the poem in which described is a dark and gloomy world that the poet refers to self the first time stating that “The darkness drops again but now I know / That twenty centuries of stony sleep / Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle”(Lines 18, 19 and 20). Is the poet referring to 2000 years of belief proved wrong by the return of a beast like creature that has brought gloom and despair instead of an angelic Christ figure that brings peace and harmony? Or is this another reference to another global war that makes all of the wars earth has seen appear to be mere child’s play. Yates writes “And what rough beast, its hour come around at last, / Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?” (Lines 21, 22) This “rough beast” appears to be a reference to the prophetic end of days that the biblical Book of Revelation refers to. Perhaps a world ending war that eases its way towards the birth place of Christ.

                At first reading I thought this poem to be an easy assignment for me to analyze. It led me to believe that this was purely about what its title implies. Upon analyzing the poem and trying to break down its meaning and language I was then confused by the transition from the biblical references to what I believe is a wrong depiction of what arrives in our world with the Second Coming of Christ. Then as I analyzed the time in which it was created and the history involved, I realized that possibly, to the poet, it was his prophesy about future war. That is also what I feel this poem is about as well. The poet has used biblical prophecy about the Second Coming of Christ and used peoples’ emotions and beliefs to reflect the poets own ideas of how future war may follow biblical prophecy.

Works Cited

www.worldwar-1.net, copyright 2006.

Yates, William Butler “Easter 1916”. Poetry Foundation. 1989. 14 September 2011. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/172061

Yates, William Butler “The Second Coming”. Poetry Foundation. 1989. 14 September 2011. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/search/?q=the+second+coming

"The Second Coming"

Ironically this poem was the first poem I read from the list. As I scrolled through the list of poems this title, "The Second Coming", seemed to jump out at me. I am a Christian, I have believed in my salvation since I was 5 years old, so the meaning in the title alone definately tugged at my heart. After reading this poem, I read all of the others, I found that my mind was thinking of "The Second Coming". Do to this I had trouble understanding all of the others so, naturally, I returned to this one a second time, then a third and after re-reading the others, I turned to this a fourth time.

William Butler Yeats (1865- 1939) was an Irish born lad who also studied in London. He wrote this poem in 1919. Believed to be written due to the aftermath of the first World War, other versions of the poem have references implicating the French, Irish, German and Russian Revolutions.

"The Second Coming" can be read here at this link. To me this poem insights fear, dread and mostly confusion. To begin with Yeats writes "The falcon cannot hear the falconer;" (Line 2). Implying that man does not hear God with the distractions of the world. There is also a direct implication with the return of the Messiah with " Surely the Second Coming is at hand" (Line 10) followed by a description of the loss of our morales and an image of a beast coming to the land. Yeats implication and description of this beast implies that it is what comes with the Second Coming. It is this description that confuses me. In the last 2 lines the poem reads, " And what rough beast, its hour come round at last," (Line 21). " Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?" ( Line 22). It leaves me with the impression that the poem is implying that the Second Coming of Christ will be a beast, demonic in nature, and not Christ that returns. Essentially it contradicts my religious beliefs and the Biblical word. Is the poet involved in the occult? Or, is he just implying that we dont know what returns. Is his description of the Second Coming actually a description of the Anti- Christ and the tribulation that follows?

Also confusing to me is the form of the poem itself. Is it free verse? Or is it iambic pentameter? Some of the rhymes appear to be a coincidence, but hardly rhythmical either, such as "...hold" (Line 3) and "...world" (Line 4), or "...man" ( Line 14) and " ...sun" (Line 15). Either way, if it is iambic pentameter the meter is broken and loose to me.

Nonetheless, it is a very prolific poem to me and I am excited to break it down even further in my essay.

Image Source http://www.dianedew.com/secndcmg.htm

Summary vs. Analysis

When we summarize material we are merely describing its context. This is often done to show the reader, often an instructor, that we fully understand the material reviewed. When summarizing, the story line and plot may be exposed completely. This leaves little detail unexposed to the reader of our summary. This type of summary should be reserved for academic use, such as writing a paper about an item. The student might write a complete summary of their material to be used as notes or study material. Some may argue that summary is a bad thing, but if used properly, and if the audience is kept in mind, then summary can be a very beneficial tool to use. We know when we are summarizing when we are stating the obvious, or when we are describing the what’s, where’s and who’s of a story. Summary will also move through the material in a chronological order. We must be very careful about using to much summary when writing essays, thesis’ and even reviews, because these types of writings want to show their audience that the writer not only understands the context of the material but has also analyzed what the material means.
When analyzing a subject we are breaking the material reviewed into its’ parts, so that we can understand what the individual parts mean when combined together. It is recommended that we begin to analyze things we view, read, or hear while we are reviewing them. This allows us to take notes and think about significant ideas we may have, or themes that we find in the material. When we analyze these we break them down and study their meanings. So when we analyze a poem, book, movie or maybe a play, we break down an idea to explain why we found the material interesting or even boring.
One of my fail safe novelists that I tend to turn to when I know I need a good, entertaining read and dont want to bother with randomly choosing a book is Dean Koontz. He is a popular American novelist whose works could be described as suspense thrillers. One of the recurring trademarks that I have noted in his writings is his description of street lighting being “sodium-vapor lights”.( Some of the titles where he refers to these lights are “ Midnight” ( 1989) , “ The Bad Place” ( 1989) and “From the Corner of His Eye” ( 2000). I have often wondered what the significance was of his use of these yellowish hued lights. In order to see Koontz' meaning in these lights I must first explain the lights themselves, then the importance of his use should be obvious. Sodium Vapor Lights have a gas discharge tube that contain sodium, a small amount of neon and argon. They use low amounts of energy that cast a dull, yellowish light. Objects under these lights are often devoid of color contrast and lack any imagery detail. Materials such as, cars, buildings and people don’t always appear to be dimensional. They leave areas next to, but not in their light path, in heavy, sullen shadow. With this description it is easier for the reader to see that one of Koontz’ ominous characters would appear even darker and mysterious than they would under a bright, white fluorescent bulb light. So it is my belief that Dean Koontz uses this description to build and portray a chaotic or dangerous scene as dark and looming even though the setting may be in a modern southern California suburb.

Image Soure; http://www.gtyurkon.com/MySaabPhotos/index.html

Eng Intro Vid

Sorry the audio on this sucks!!

Good Reader's

Russian writer Vladimir Nabokov believes that a good reader is one that has an imagination, a good memory, vocabulary and artistic sense. A good reader will re- read work, often multiple times. Nabokov refers to literature as art, such as a picture on a wall. The viewer doesn't scan a painting with their eyes in an orderly fasion, left to right, top to bottom. The viewer sees an image whole, not one line at a time. A good reader needs to be able to do the same.  In this sense, a reader should read with their mind, not their eyes. Nabokov also states that a good reader " Should notice and fondle details. ", meaning that the reader should treat literature as if it is a new world, one completely different than ours, with different meanings and interpretations of the obvious. Once the reader has analyzed and studied this new world, with their imagination, using a scientific approach to register and decipher the details, then the reader can make the connections to his own world.

         I do believe with Nabokov on his theory about what a good reader is. I too believe that imagination and the ability to look at literature as an art form is important. As a child I grew up listening to my grandpa telling stories about his life. Without a doubt his imagination embellished what he claimed to be true stories about growing up as a child, orphaned to his grandparents' in the blue hills of Kentucky. I also added my own imaginative twists to their stories. Even though I have never been to Kentucky, in my mind I know exactly what those hills look like. I believe that I am a good reader, not as great as Nabokov would have me be, but good none the less. Here is a link to the 6 characteristics of a good reader according to NCACASI.