Arthurian Legend

Arthurian legends have withstood the test of time and have become famous works which people today still enjoy reading. The legends of Arthur and other knights have kept interest in many people because these instances are not everyday happenings, some of it could be classified as fantasy. The Arthurian legend allows people to use their imagination to create works based on these pieces. It was one person's fantasy that created these ideas, that are put together with such great language and composition. What makes them so fascinating to all generations is the chivalry, comedy, action and the battle of good vs. evil. These stories have all the components that make people want to keep reading on.

Chivalry is something women, and some men, like to read about because it creates a good feeling. Today, women want to have that chivalry, and by reading about it, it creates somewhat of a sense of fulfillment. In "Sir Gawain and the Lady Ragnell" Gawain becomes caring of other people and he marries Lady Ragnell, not for her beauty, but for her personality. He is very chivalrous when she asks him to make a decision whether she should be ugly by day or by night. he replies, "'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'"(Phelps 24). By being caring and loving to others he is able to get what he wants. He broke the spell by letting her choose and she became a beautiful woman all the time. Examples like this put people in awe. It is that a man can be so thoughtful to a woman that he would do anything for her. That is how we all want to feel and by adding this into these pieces, it makes people want to read and fulfill their fantasy.

Comedy is also a big component in the Arthurian legend. For example, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a almost a parody of the King Arthur. It pokes fun at the legend by adding in small silly, elements such as, King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table pretend they are on horses and use coconuts to make the sound of their horses' hooves. If the legend was not so famous it would not have been turned into a parody. Even in some other works there are comedic aspects that contribute to the fame of the King Arthur legend. It is the way these authors incorporate comedy into the pieces so that they are not always so dismal and dark and to the liking of everyone.

The Battle of Good vs. Evil is a timeless controversy. People of all generations like to read about the good winning over the bad and getting revenge. The action itself makes people want to read it. If there is fighting and drama it makes it a good story but the addition of the language makes the action scenes even more entertaining and graphic, which is the basis for all generations. Always having a opposer in these stories keeps it fresh and new. These authors keep adding to the legend to show the depth of King Arthur's life and his successors. There are so many stories about Arthur that make his life so rich. He is always battling a knight and he never seems to have to chance to do anything else besides provide for himself and his people. If he won against all and got the girl in the end it would be a plain story. But he uses his life for the good instead of just getting what he wants and ending it there. He is there to teach other people and be the "good" in the good vs. evil. Even before he became "King Arthur" in T. H. White's The Once and Future King, there were stories about him wanting to fulfill his dreams of becoming a knight. No one could tell he was going to be the future leader. After he pulls the sword out of the stone, Merlyn is the first one to call him King Arthur, "' Yes, Wart,'...'Or rather, as I should say, Yes King Arthur'"(White 209). He became such a good King because of his dreams and aspirations. He used his power to help people before himself and he was reward for his good doing.

King Arthur legend is so powerful to readers because it is something no one has experienced. Reading about what people think happened or could happen sparks people's imagination and thought process. A good book impacts your life. Reading about these legends give readers happiness that lets them get away from reality and get into the story. These legends make a big impact on all generations because they are powerful to the reader in the comedic aspect as well as chivalry and the battle of good vs. evil. It is easy to get lost in these readings.

Chivelry

As I have been reading excerpts about King Arthur and Sir Gawain I couldn't help but notice the little chivelrous acts that these knights do. The biggest act I have read so far is "Sir Gawain and The Lady Ragnell". He marries an ugly woman, so that his uncle would be saved, and he treats her with respect! He treats her as if he chose her and if he loved her! In the end when she asks him to make the decision whether to be ugly by day or by night, he says "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). Sir Gawain is letting her choose because he sees the beauty inside of her and he does not feel that he should make her decision. He feels she is strong enough and that she should know he will be true to her either way. Also in "The Tale of King Arthur" King Uther, Arthur's father, had recongnized the beauty of Lady Igraine and he had been sneaky about getting her. He dressed up as her husband and then came Arthur. Her husband had died and then he came to her rescue, to comfort her. Even though his act can be saw as decieving it was an act of chivelry if you look at the big picture. In these stories you can see that these men will give there lives for their women. These women were suppose to be protected and in the time period it was the proper thing to do to save your lady.

Desire for Fame

Beowulf's desire for fame is not selfish. Beowulf just wants the fame he deserves. Beowulf has done many brave acts and he wants to be recognized for them. He has put his life on the line to protect the people of Herot. If you fought off a monster who was "indestructable" wouldn't you want the fame and fortune?

Beowulf deserves to be hailed for all of the trouble he has had. He was very brave in the first place to even want to go to this town and fight Grendel.

"In his far-off home Beowulf,... heard how Grendel filled nights with horror and quickly commanded a boat fitted out..." (194-198) As soon as Beowulf heard of this monster he knew he wanted to defeat him in a battle and he quickly prepared to journey to Grendel's town.

The narrator also describes Beowulf's want for fame as a fight. "But Beowulf longed only for fame, leaped back into battle" (1529-1531). If Beowulf was being described as selfish it would say he longed for fame and commited a crime or scandal instead of going in to battle risking his life to try and help the people who do not have the force to kill Grendel.

Beowulf's initial goal was to defeat Grendel not to become well-known; but after, he knows he deserves it and it would be an extra to his victory!

The Fifth Child Covers

Out of the four different covers of "The Fifth Child" there are two that can suit the book the best. Both of them have different views the book can be seen as.
The first cover that has potiental to be the best all around cover is

This cover seems to be a good choice because the child in the photo can be seen as having not many feelings or emotion or as being sad. The child also looks like he is trapped. Even though he does not appear to be begging to come out, he looks hopeless and seems as inside he is dying to explore the outside world, just as Ben was most likely feeling; even though no one will really know what his wants and needs were.

"Now Ben was almost always in his room, like a prisoner... Heavy bars were put in, and there Ben would stand in the sill, gripping the bars and shaking them, and surveying the outside world, letting out his thick, raucous cries" (Lessing 59).

The boy on the cover represents Ben because he looks as if no one will try and understand his feelings. He looks like he has been punished for the wrong reason, possibly because no one takes their time to talk and listen to him and he keeps acting up because of this. That describes Ben in the best way because maybe Ben does not understand his feelings and the destruction he is creating because of a mental issue he wa born with.

The second cover is one that will interest people more than it represents the book.

This cover does represent the book in many ways. It represents Ben and his struggles. When you read articles about children that have disabilities, such as autism, which is best way to describe Ben, you see pictures of children looking depressed and unsocial. When I first saw this cover that is exactly what I thought of, a person who has social issues. The cover looks more modern and sophisticated which would draw in a wider range of readers, who want a book that is about struggles that can happen or they can relate to in their society today.

The best cover would have to be the first one explained, although the second one is close in the race.

Mary Shelley's monster lives today

Times are changing as is Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Victor's creation still relates to changing societies. People have seen the fear they feel in their lives, in Frankenstein. "Fright flims represent our fears, and those fears change to match our times" (Whitty 13). If you look and compare what people fear now as opposed to the WWII era you can tell society's priorities have changed drastically. Then, they were fearful about war and the Depression but now, even though we might still have a fear of war, we are more prepared and don't always have to worry about those problems.
'"Mary Shelley was not writing about the evils of science and progress,"..."But suffering and loss and pain, the feeling of being ostracized..."' (Schildt 13). Everyone has pain whether or not its a big deal. Small incidents can add up and cause anxiety; that is how anyone can relate to the creation. These feelings bring us to have sympathy for this creature, no matter if you have more sympathy for Victor or for the creature there are still some events that make society understand and feel for the creation.
Science is also a big part of our lives today. All the new technology has both positive and negetive points. As referred to in the article, technology can be our enemy. We are making great advances but in the long run they change us as a society . Sometimes we are forgetting about the true meaning of things because we are so caught up in all the new "creations". That is what Victor's creation was like, something new and interesting. Hollywood has gotten bored with Frankenstein and added twists and sequels to progress with the technology; which allows us to even see these films on tape. What the writer of the article is suggesting is that people always have the old ideas but they are not really thinking about the simple things that make this story, they are focusing on the new advances.

Frankie

WOW! Frankie has been a drama filled journey so far. This book has been written so well that some of the time i can't even understand it. It is such a good book but every time I dig deep into the meaning I always think about how unrealistic the plot of the story is. I don't think that anyone would be able to recreate a person with all different body parts. Mary Shelley must have been going crazy. She had to have a twisted mind to write about this "monster" creating scientist. But, that i think is what makes the book such a classic. Her life actually ties into the book by some of the same depressing events, such as, Victor's mother dying as well as his brother. Since Mary Shelley had a complicated life this must have let her let go of her feelings.

I have a feeling that the "creature" is going to come back and kill Elizabeth. She is Victor's most prized possesion. "I felt a wish for happiness and thought with melancholy delight of my beloved cousin or longed,... that had been so dear to me in early childhood"(173). In chapters 20 and 21, Victor's outlook is changing and he seems very enveloped in Elizabeth. But, who knows? This book has gone if many different ways then i expected. So what is going to be the next event that happens?