Second Coursework Ideas...

I was  thinking of writing about the Poem "A Rhapsody on a Windy night" by T.S. Elliot, and linking it with the essay on Metaphor in the Critical Anthology. This is because I don't understand the poem, meaning that I wish to explore why we don't understand it and how metaphors are used to interpret the poem.

I could also interpreting the novel "1984" by George Orwell from a feminist perspective, as Julia is a complex character who is feminist to an extent, but to what extent I could investigate. The essay regarding Gender could be a possible match too.

Another possibility for my Coursework is reading "Catch 22" by Joseph Heller whilst using the anthology to compare the Marxist elements of the novel. It is a novel traditionally associated with the power of bureaucracy, however I could find elements of Marxism within the novel (once I have finished reading it).

Chapters VIII - XVII

Chapter VIII:

• Sad, silent suffering - by Justine, Victor and Elizabeth
• test of personality and strength emotionally?
• Good vs. Evil in courtroom
• Is the law always right?
• Protagonist is narcissistic - doesn't seem to care much for Justine's suffering, only his own.
• "Thus spoke my prophetic soul..." Hamlet - another Gothic play.
• It's Gothic in the sense that the innocent are being condemned unjustly - evil prevails in the court.

Chapter IX:

• Victor considers suicide - selfish, easy way out?
• He leaves his home and wonders towards Chamounix
• Nature - an all healing supernatural power
• mind over matter?
• Victor in oblivion
• does he seek the Alps to freeze his guilt of the murders?

Chapter X:

• theme of sublime nature
• First meeting between Frankenstein and Creature, where the creature shows off his eloquence of rhetoric.
• The creature goes against all laws of nature in Victor's mind - he contradicts the scenery - making him scary and the novel Gothic?
• Frankenstein reluctance shows a form of innocence
• It's the first time Victor understands he has made something better than a living being - the creature thinks and is able to put forth a convincing argument - which, teamed with mass physical strength and ability, shows how scary he is to the world.

Chapter XI:

• The creature begins his tale and talks about how he became aware of his senses - makes the reader realise how sensual a creatures we are. We should take advantage of it and be thankful for what we have been given.
• almost like telling the story of how man has grown into what he is today.
• advanced learning through observation.
• Creature starts to learn about human nature - Cottagers.

Chapter XII:

• solitude through learning about:
• abandonment
• loneliness
• emotion
• history and time
• perseverance
• patience
• is knowledge dangerous - ignorance is bliss?

Chapter XIII:

• nature plays a crucial part - especially the seasons.
• Seasons of life? - Spring = Birth, Winter = death? Romantic.
• The Creature learns about civilisation and human history - does he have a better grasp of human nature and virtues than his creator because he has had to endure and witness them, rather than read about them.
• He has a tougher upbringing than Victor, and he learns from it - is he a better person for it?

Chapter XIV:

• The reader learns more about the cottagers and how they came to be in their social and economical situation.
• The cottagers add another dimension to the novel, making the reader feel like they've been on a journey with the Creature - do we begin to sympathise with him?
• Creature is looking for acceptance from Victor.
• desperation to communicate with others - social needs and desires.

Chapter XV:

• The Creature finds books - Paradise Lost, Sorrows of Werter, and Plutarch's lives.
• Books surrounding the theme of nature, Adam and Eve and the creation/fall of man?? all fictional literature.
• The creature is ever more desperate to show himself to the cottagers
• Shows himself to them and they are horrified - he only ever seems to see the worst side of humanity, thus baking up what he has read and heard about man-kind.
• The creature compares himself to Satan and Adam in Paradise Lost - scolded like Adam and Cursed like Satan.

Chapter XVI:

• As a result of rejection - again - the Creature seeks revenge on his creator.
• "Luxury of sensation"
• The creature still sees nature as beautiful and healing, as well as dangerous and explosive.
• he still feels the natural needs for socialising, hunger, sleep etc... - he is human in every physical and emotional sense.
• He travels towards where Victor rests, and sees Justine - he is able to manipulate the laws of the land in order to make her look guilty for murder - the reader sees for the first time how he is determined and has transformed into a monster through what he has learnt - knowledge really is dangerous.
• he tells Frankenstein that he wants a companion.

Chapter XVII:

• Frankenstein and the creature discuss the idea of "Creature take II" and Victor agrees.
• The creature is fluent in his ability to create arguments and counter arguments - Victors equal intelligently?
• nature humanises the creature and antagonises Victor.
• The Creature seeks solace in the sweet earthy smells and sensation of nature - Romantic: looking for an extension of sensation.