Week Three

So, this week we're talking about Frankenstein, which has lead me to think a lot about the differences between the way movies and popular culture represent Frankenstein and what the book is really like.

In the movies, Victor Frankenstein is usually depicted as a creepy mad scientist.


In the book, Victor isn't crazy. He's just super depressed and spends a lot of time crying and feeling sorry for himself.

In the movies, Frankenstein's creation is depicted as a mindless, zombie-like monster that randomly murders people.

In the book, Frankenstein's monster is surprisingly intelligent and misunderstood. He just wants to be loved. It's not his fault he's so scary looking. He's only driven to kill because everyone, including his creator, has shunned him.

Week Two

The main thing I noticed this week while reading these Romantic poems is that the Romantics write mostly about the same things that Realists write, life, love, loss, etc. The main difference I found is the way in which the Romantics approach these topics. Their descriptions tend to be exaggerated and and dramatic, and they even make the mundane seem beautiful.

Week One

I think my favorite poem from week one was William Blake's "The Chimney Sweeper." I found that the poem was especially effective through its use of irony in getting its message across. An outrightly sad poem is less likely to grab one's attention. Instead, Blake turns things around, discussing some of the drearier aspects of being a chimney sweeper and pointing out the "positive" aspects of them. Rather than simply depressing the reader, this poem about a very sad topic becomes intriguing and leaves a solid impression on the reader, causing one to really think about the horrible fate of children made to do such a terrible and dangerous job.