We began Frankenstein last night. Our goal in this section of the course is to better understand the Romantic era and the novel’s place within it. To this end, your prompt:

How does Mary Shelley’s argument compare/contrast with the arguments of contemporary works?

When put this way it is fairly straightforward. Indeed, you’ve already practiced this kind of comparison in your previous writings (rebellion and poetry). However, this will take it to another level—we will read contemporary works (poems, philosophy, short stories), discover and compare major themes, and use them to better understand Mary Shelley’s larger work.

If you’re interested in the Prometheus myth (or mythology in general) check out Theoi.com for the most comprehensive collection of stories on the ‘net.

I’m checking journals today, but may not get to all of them. If you need a refresher on what I’m looking for, check out this post from a while back or look over the journal rubric handout I gave you at the beginning of the year.

You should read (and journal) through chapter two by Friday.

Heroes edition.

[By the way, for those who haven’t been watching, Claire is a girl with powers (she’s indestructible) and her father has fought through four seasons to keep her protected and her secret safe. They are currently buried in a trailer underground.]

Claire begins this journey with a dependence on her father: “You have a plan—I know you have a plan,” but rejects his belief that he must protect her from the world.

They speak as equals, and as her father loses hope, she fights to protect him.

Finally, Claire rejects her father’s belief that those with powers should stay hidden (at home, where it’s safe) and embarks on her own journey.

Did you know George Lucas started out as an anthropology major?

Me neither. Check out this interview from NPR’s Fresh Air. The whole story is quite interesting, but if you want to skip it, the last few minutes are discussion of the myths behind Star Wars and Campbell’s influence on Lucas.

In the second half of this course, we’ll be reading selections from Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces as we finish up our reading of Ovid. Be sure to read through book 10 before Monday.

Note: This video contains mild violence from the movie Matrix. Use your best judgment.

On with the show.