King Arthur

Romances, in general, are intriguing to read when there is drama. In fact, most stories become popular and interesting only when drama between characters occurs. It is the unknowingness that makes all readers want to read on, and the stories become even better when the author throws an unexpected twist on the ending. Romance stories must include some mystery, or else they would all be the same. If authors didn't add a few twists, each story would consist of a pretty girl meeting a handsome, famous young fellow, both of whom fall in love at first sight and after a few complications they live happily ever after. However, this started in the Medieval period with authors such as whom who wrote "Sir Gawain and The Lady Ragnell". Lady Ragnell was not your typical storybook princess, she was "almost as wide as she was high, her skin ws mottled, green, and spikes of weedlike hair covered her head" (Anonymous, 20) and yet Sir Gawain still managed to see the good in her.

Medieval stories also began the mystery aspect of romances. Also in "Sir Gawain and the Lady Ragnell", the question of "What is it that women most desire, above all else" (Anonymous, 20) is asked. Throughout the entire story readers are being led to believe that this question has no answer. In this story the answer is found within Arthur, and not in the knights and squires that he has asked. The power of sovereignty and the ability to exercise their own will is the answer Arthur found deep inside of him, after feeling that he will never find the true response. For some people this answer may be different, one's values vary depending on their personality, but for the majority of people, this response holds true.

Lust is a major factor in creating romance stories. It is common in all romances for the two individuals that end up spending their lives together to meet up in an uncommon way and fall in love at first sight. "Le Morte D'Arthur" shows a perfect example of this. King Arthur spots Gwynevere from afar and immediately says 'I want her'. Even after being warned that she is not the one for him, Arthur refuses to give up hope. "Because Gwynevere is destined to love Sir Launcelot, and he her, and many disasters will result rom their love." It is very common for the stars of these stories to confuse lust with love, and thus, many complications are the result.

Appearance always plays a huge role in the ending of a story. If you haven't noticed from reading romances already, it is usually the younger, more handsome and strong male that wins over the young, beautiful woman's heart. This holds true in the film "First Knight" produced in 1995. On paper, King Arthur is merely a young boy, but in this film, he is purposely aged so Gwynevere will easily fall for Sir Gawain. It is clear from the beginning that Arthur was never meant to be with this beautiful young woman, but he is the only person who is unaware of this fate. Appearance and lust can easily distract an individual and can make them make the wrong decisions.

Medieval romances started many trends to romances that follow. Drama and mystery will continue to intrigue readers and there will always be a storybook tale that is usually followed while writing a romance. However, it is the small twists, as seen in "Sir Gawain and The Lady Ragnell" that truly make these stories different and rememberable.

Medieval Romance

These Medieval romances are pure fairytale. These stories are where the people have come up with the concept of the knight in shining armor. Yes, these tales are sweet, and they include a few men that some women always dream of finding, and that is why they are so interesting to read. By reading these tales, the reader's perception of their own fairytale is being shaped, whether they know it or not. It is like watching or reading a Nicholas Sparks movie or book; the characters are what we can only dream of, and sometimes we get so caught up in these fairytales that we can no longer tell the difference between what truly is a fairytale and what is reality. "It is a choice I cannot make, my dear Ragnell. It concerns you. Whatever you choose to be-fair by day or fair by night- I will willingly abide by it"(Anonymous 24). Honestly, how many men do you know that will willingly tell someone straight out that looks don't matter? It is extremely rare because the outside is always what we see first, a first impression if you will, the rest is all learned through exploration, and it is not until we explore what is in front of us that we learn what we truly desire most.

Is Beowulf Selfish?

I think Beowulf is being selfish. He wants to make up for his father's mistakes by killing the demon that has landed on the same grounds his father "had begun abitter feud" on (37). Beowulf wants his family name cleared and believes he is strong and courageous enough to clean the slate. However, everyone wants a little fame in their lives, and Beowulf just happens to be going through this stage of his life when Grendel appears. He "longed only for fame" (71), and felt he could not live without it. The thought of being famous drove him to become brave and fierce enough to fight and defeat the demon. An entire land praising him and believing he was a true hero was all that Beowulf needed to satisfy his demands, and that is exactly what he got. And once Beowulf defeated Grendel's mother, his demands were satified to the extreme. "And I promise you that whoever sleeps in Herot...they, and you may now sleep without fear of either monster, mother or son" (75). His two defeats rose Beowulf's spirits and he now feels he can defeat anything or anyone that steps in his path.

Which Cover?

I feel the fourth cover, the one with Ben looking out the window with a sad expression, fits this story the best. I feel it best expresses how Ben is feeling throughout the entire story. He is different from everyone else "...like a goblin or a dwarf or something..." (Lessing 56). Ben is trapt inside himself. He tries so hard to act normal and get along with his family, but his body just won't let him. He didn't kill Mr. McGregor on purpose, it was an involuntary action. Most of the things Ben does are not the things that Ben really wants to persue, they are actions that Ben sees others do and when trying to mirror their actions, his brain interprets their actions in a negative way. When Ben strangled Mr. McGregor, it was merely Ben's brain interpreting another family member's hug with the dog into them strangling it. It is impossible for Ben to escape himself. This cover expresses the emotions Ben is feeling. Harriet basically trapt him inside of their house and he is extremely eager to escape and explore the outside world like a normal being.

By reading the title of this novel, you can expect something different is going to happen to the Lovatt's fifth child. This cover foreshadows what to expect in the novel and portrays what Ben is feeling. He is incapable of escaping himself, let alone his house, and this cover expresses Ben's character the best.

Mary Shelley's Monster Lives On!

Stephen Witty discusses the significance of the monster in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein". He easily relates the story from centuries ago to this century and the generations to come. Sara Karloff states, "The story of Frankenstein applies itself to every generation" (Witty). Witty then accentuates her quote by saying "...the feeling of being ostracized...And I think people have always felt that, and so they can feel for the monster too." Every being can relate to the monster's emotions; ostracism is inevitable.

Unfortunately for the monster, he receives isolation to the extreme. Very rarely do you find a case this severe. The extreme lonliness of this creature takes over him and essentially turns him into someone of the contrary. "The more I saw of them, the greater became my desire to claim their protection and kindness; my heart yearned to be known and loved by these amiable creatures; to see their sweet looks directed towards me with affection was the utmost limit of my ambition" (Shelley 120). The monster had no one. Everyday thousands of kids are isolated because of their looks, sometimes they are even bullied. The same thing happened to the creature in Shelley's story. Because he looks different from the "normal" person, he was shot for saving a girl's life. It's not often do you hear of that sort of reward for a good deed. It is the children that live every day, fearing school and leaving their house, knowing that they are going to get picked on at school, that can relate to this monster the most because they know what it is like to have no one.

Witty makes it apparent that Shelley wrote about the realities of life, not only the progression of science in everyday life. By reading her novel, each reader can relate to the monster when he confronts Victor for the first time. Ostracism is a huge problem in the world and if anyone was going to exploit it to the world, Shelley is the right person; she knew what isolation feels like better than anyone.

Reaction Thus Far

Hollywood has created an image for me of what the novel Frankenstein is really about. Reading this horror novel, I have come to realize how much of a story is actually changed by Hollywood to make a more dramatic, interesting movie. For instance, the 1974 version, called Young Frankenstein, is a parody that changed all the details Shelley worked vigorously to include in her novel and created a comedy. Her novel was not meant to be portrayed as a comedy, and I'm sure if she were alive to view this film, she would not think very highly of it. Hollywood also shows Victor using electricity to give life to his being, and that the first sign of life for the monster, which Hollywood named Frankenstein, is his finger moving instead of "...the dull yellow eye of the creature..." (Shelley 43) openening.



I was drawn in to this horror novel by its plot as a whole and the interesting way Shelley decided to write it. I find it interesting how the opening of the novel is letters being written from a sailor, Robert Walton, who happens to be lonely like the monster, to his sister back home. It intrigues me how Victor becomes "...the shape of a man, but apprently of gigantic stature..." (Shelley 9) that Walton befriends, however it is still a mystery to me how Victor ends up in the glaciers with a sleigh of dogs.



I can relate to how Victor feels once he gives life to his monster. Creating a being, and giving it life, is greatly overwhelming, especially for someone who has isolated themselves from the outsid e world for such an extended period of time. Looking back in the novel, after Victor chose to run from his monster and abandon it, his reaction to the creation of his monster should have been expected. Victor clearly states when talking to Robert Walton "how dangerous is the aquirement 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" (Shelley 39). This statement foreshadows Victor's reaction to the novel, but speaking from experience, is probably overlooked by many of Shelley's readers so his reaction probably comes as a suprise to many.

So far, it has become apparent to me that Shelley is portraying her main characters as lonely. Robert Walton was lonely, thus he searched for a friend aboard his boat until he discovered Victor. Victor isolated himself to create this monster and now only has the people of Ingolstadt and his monster to look to, since he hasn't seen Elizabeth in a while and debating whether to marry her or not. Also, the monster is lonely, hence why he is asking Victor to create another monster. This reoccurring theme of lonliness may be reflecting Shelley's life where her children didn't survive and her husband passed on, leaving her all alone.

Victor should create another monster, and is stuck in a hard position. If he creates a female monster, and the original will "... instead of injury...bestow every benefit upon him with tears of gratitude at his acceptance" (Shelley 135). The monster claims that his violent and malicious actions are the result of his lonliness, since no one will look at him and give him a chance. Victor is also faced with a threat from the monster whom he gave life to. "I will revenge my injuries; if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear, and chiefly towards you my archenemy, because my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred" (Shelley 135).

Overall, I am intruigued by the plot and themes of this story. I do think Shelley's personnal life has effected some of the reoccurring details of this horror novel and am excited to see which path Victor chooses to walk.