Semi-Daily Scribbles

Not My Nature

Fantasy and Science Fiction: The Human Mind, Our Modern World - Coursera Assignment 4
Frankenstein

When Victor Frankenstein cobbled together his creation of disparate flesh, he neglected to give the being a name. Monster, Creature, Fiend, and Devil are used throughout the novel when referring to the re-animated man. However, because of a chance find of a portmanteau (1), it can be deduced that Frankenstein’s unnatural offspring chose to think of himself as Werther, after the character in “The Sorrows of Young Werther” by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Similarities exist between Frankenstein’s creation, and that of Goethe’s, and it is not surprising that the monster of Mary Shelley’s imagination identified with Werther’s anguish.

An element that forms a bond between Frankenstein’s nameless man and Werther is their relationship with nature. They are both more at home within the natural world than communing in the society of men. Bird song and the rising of the sun provide the creature with an understanding of the mysterious environment in which he’s been released, but nature’s lessons also inform him of his limitations (2).

In a similar sense, Werther’s delight and torment comes from the loveliest woods and the music of birds. He can’t understand why mankind would turn away from these gifts, and it pains him to be in the company of those who do not appreciate nature in all its glorious forms (3). Werther and Frankenstein’s creation view the savage beauty of nature as being more constant than human nature, which neither is adept at understanding.

By observing the natural world, the creature learns that he is something unnatural. There is no place for him amongst humanity. Likewise, Werther’s place in society is questioned because he can’t articulate his sentimental feelings about the world he inhabits. Neither can communicate his suffering, and this is what rips each of them away from those whom they love.

Works cited:

(1) Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
Chapter XV
I found a leathern portmanteau, containing…some books…they consisted of  “Paradise Lost,”…“Plutarch's Lives,”…“Sorrows of Werther.”

(2) Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
Chapter XI
I tried to imitate the songs of birds, but was unable. I wished to express sensations in my own mode but inarticulate sounds which broke from me frightened me into silence again.

(3) The Sorrows of Young Werther, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Letter, August 18
Everything is alive with infinite number of forms…mankind fly for security to petty houses…they rule in their imaginations over the wide-extended universe.

The Studious Type

I've been working on the essay feedback received over the past two weeks. I'm fortunate that the students who've read my work have been thoughtful in offering constructive criticism. Submitting anything for review can leave one feeling exposed and vulnerable, but a little discomfort is well worth the price for the opportunity to learn. On the topic of learning, I've recommended Coursera to my family and friends. Despite growing pains, I'm enjoying my sojourn into MOOC-dom and plan on becoming a returning Courserian.

Here's how my peers assessed my Unit 3 assignment ~

FORM

student1 → Good form for the most part, but it's "the count who must be must be vanquished," not, "that must be vanquished," because you're talking about a person. Also you need a hyphen between "vampire" and "slaying" in your second sentence.

student2 → good language, proper sentences. The right level.

student3 → You illuminated a new and interesting topic beautifully. I love this essay!

student4 → Excellent essay. Interesting and varying vocabulary, complex but clear sentences, focused content, appropriate references: all of these things made this by far the best essay I've reviewed. I actually worried about the possibility of plagiarism so I googled what seemed to me a sentence that could have been copied with no direct reference to Dracula. When I found this exact essay on the net I was sorely disappointed until I realized that it had only been posted yesterday. Thus, I conclude you are Theresa Largusa.

Score from your peers: 2.5

CONTENT

student1 → I really liked how you tied Dracula's appearance, fear of the other, and phrenology together. It was quite a nuanced argument, and you presented it vey well. I'd never thought of that spin before and especially enjoyed your footnotes; it was sort of an "Aha! moment" for me. And, yes, I definitely agree that we practice our own version of phrenology today. Just look at how many Americans view President Obama as "the other!" So well thought out! Congratulations! ("Bloodsucker Watch List," indeed!)

student2 → If, as you say, phrenology was something that was "big" in the time that dracula was written, it would be a reason that it is stated several times as a science that our main characters as scientists practice. The dichotomy between beautiful and ugly people and their being perceived as good or evil is something that dates back to older times, though. It is an interesting point that phrenology is used in the book, but I would say only a minor plotline.

student3 → Simple, smart, well-played. Thanks!

student4 → Your observations about phrenology and how it influenced people's (and Stoker's in particular) views of others and how that matched up with how the characters of the book are presented seem spot on. Sufficient explanation about phrenology (appropriately referenced) make clear that it was known and respected in the author's time frame. The way this reinforced stereotypes and prejudices is clear and (to my mind) accurate. Well done!

Score from your peers: 3

Please write here any other comments which you feel might be of use to you or the writer of this essay.

student4 → I'm glad I got to review your essay. After some of the other (too often awful) essays I've seen it was a pleasure to read.

Off the Top of My Head

Fantasy and Science Fiction: The Human Mind, Our Modern World - Coursera Assignment 3
Dracula

The fear of “the other,” or a mistrust of people, places, and customs of a foreign nature, is a thread that runs throughout “Dracula.” In the 19th century, a woman or man deemed to possess a questionable physiognomy would have had a tough time gaining the trust of Professor Van Helsing and his vampire slaying colleagues. Although the nefarious Count that must be vanquished is from exotic, faraway Transylvania, it would seem that anyone with a flat, narrow forehead would have been placed on the Bloodsucker Watch List.

The brain science of phrenology (1) had many proponents within and without the scientific community when “Dracula” was first published in 1897. Phrenology attempted to associate specific character traits with distinct regions of the brain. The skull was believed to fit over the brain, like a plaster mold, allowing one to see areas of intellectual aptitude and deficiency based on bumps and ridges along the cranium.

Practitioners of phrenology claimed to identify predilections or personality flaws by employing this method, and complimentary studies of human anatomy sprang up and dovetailed to create a rather colorful psychological diagnostic tool. A passage from Mina Harker’s journal dated 25 September (2) is the finest example found in “Dracula” of assessing a person’s character using phrenological evidence. A conversation between Jonathan Harker and Van Helsing documented in Harker’s journal dated 26 September echoes Mina’s observations (3).

By defining a standard of moral perfection using one’s physical attributes as criteria, phrenology bolstered generalizations, stereotypes, and the rejection of the unfamiliar. It also enforced a rigid code of what is considered beautiful and truthful. Bram Stoker created his characters to abide by this black-and-white worldview, and the underlying message of the dark, exotic, unknown being untrustworthy is still resonant in the 21st century.

Works cited:

(1) Head Masters: Phrenology, Secular Education, and Nineteenth-Century Social Thought by Stephen Tomlinson

(2) Dracula, Bram Stoker
I rose and bowed, and he came towards me, a man of medium weight, strongly built, with his shoulders set back over a broad, deep chest and a neck well balanced on the trunk as the head is on the neck. The poise of the head strikes me at once as indicative of thought and power. The head is noble, well-sized, broad, and large behind the ears. The face, clean-shaven, shows a hard, square chin, a large resolute, mobile mouth, a good-sized nose, rather straight, but with quick, sensitive nostrils, that seem to broaden as the big bushy brows come down and the mouth tightens. The forehead is broad and fine, rising at first almost straight and then sloping back above two bumps or ridges wide apart, such a forehead that the reddish hair cannot possibly tumble over it, but falls naturally back and to the sides. Big, dark blue eyes are set widely apart, and are quick and tender or stern with the man’s moods.

(3) Dracula, Bram Stoker
The groove ceased to avail me, and I mistrusted myself. Doctor, you don’t know what it is to doubt everything, even yourself. No, you don’t, you couldn’t with eyebrows like yours.

He seemed pleased, and laughed as he said, So! You are a physiognomist. I learn more here with each hour.

In a Sense

This has been a very positive and productive week. On the WIP front, I'm a day away from letting the ink dry on the first run-through of my novel. I'm excited about a 4th quarter filled with revisions, re-writes, hair pulling (my own, no one else's...I hope), addition, subtraction, multiplication, and any other magic I can conjure.

On the literary enrichment front, I'm happy that my fellow Courserians commented that my "Alice in Wonderland" essay contained good ideas that were unusual and original. I didn't support my thesis in a cogent manner, but there's always room for improvement, and I'll utilize this week's feedback as I take a stab at "Dracula." At least I didn't get called out for committing the "P-Word." Plagiarism has left a nasty stain on some of my fellow student’s essays, and we shall see how the Coursera staff addresses this unfortunate turn of events.

Here's how my peers assessed my Unit 2 assignment ~

FORM

student1 → The sentences used in this text are grammatically correct, which is not surprising, as many of them are by Lewis Carroll. Punctuation, grammar and spelling are well used. The exposition and argument, however, are not clear. It seems that the writer tried to write about too many things at once.

student2 → Do not use the contractions in formal writing. I also appreciate bigger paragraphs, but tastes differ. Your spelling and grammar are good.

student3 → The form is good, all the paragraphs have a beginning, a middle and an end. However, a think the author could use the space to write more and use less citations, or use the "works cited" box.

student4 → I like the form, very fresh, in certain way. But your argument is not enough clear.

Score from your peers: 2

CONTENT

student1 → This essay contains a fine display of quotations from the book, too many, perhaps. It is difficult to understand the argument chosen by the writer. The idea of Alice as a book where science and physics are explored, is an interesting one. The deviation, however, into travels of shamans and open-mindedness of the young, distracts and confuses the main theme. The writer would benefit from quoting less and writing more, as he/she has good ideas that would be valuable contributions to the appreciation of the story.

student2 → I liked your analysis very much. It is rather unsual, and definitely differs from everything I have read. Great job! However, do not get carried away with quotes. They make almost a half of you essay.

student3 → The content was good too, we had similar opinions about the books and how Alice is in a discovery journey and I liked the parts the author focused on.

student4 → The idea of Alice as a scientist is very original and makes sense but for some reason is not enough persuasive.

Score from your peers: 1.5

The Wonder of Science

Fantasy and Science Fiction: The Human Mind, Our Modern World - Coursera Assignment 2
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Through the Looking Glass

“Who am I then? Tell me that first, and then, if I like being that person, I’ll come up: if not, I’ll stay down here till I’m somebody else.” To answer Alice’s inquiry, I suggest she’s a fine scientist. Her inquisitiveness makes her view Wonderland as an anthropologist and physicist would. In dreams, Alice needn’t adhere to Victorian gender roles. She is at the forefront of scientific exploration.

We meet Alice with her sister on a bank, daydreaming, when the White Rabbit appears. Alice the Anthropologist takes a trip to the spirit realm when she jumps. Shamans visualize portals like holes in hedges to travel to the underworld. A tunnel transports the shaman to a reality populated by animals and plants that offer spiritual guidance. The wisdom Alice seeks in Wonderland is how to say goodbye to childhood without forgetting its magic. The impossible is so easily managed when one is seven. “For, you see, so many out-of-the-way things had happened lately, that Alice had begun to think that very few things indeed were really impossible.”

“Through the Looking Glass” offers Alice lessons in physics. Can time run backwards in other universes? According to the White Queen it does.

“The rule is jam tomorrow and jam yesterday but never jam today.”

“It must come sometimes to ‘jam today,’” Alice objected.

“No it can’t,” said the Queen. “That’s the effect of living backwards.”

The great advantage, the White Queen tells Alice, is that one’s memory works both ways. One can say this is the foundation for time travel. Alice also debates cake and backward causation with the White King, a Lion, and a Unicorn. “You don’t know how to manage Looking-glass cakes,” the Unicorn remarked. “Hand it round first, and cut it afterwards.”

Alice achieved muchness when her dreams challenged our perceptions of reality.

Learning Not To Flounder

Publicity and feedback. Some assert that there is no such thing as bad publicity. Can the same be said for feedback? More specifically, peer evaluations for a 317-word essay I wrote for an on-line literature course that I'm taking with my buddy Geoffrey. I'm grateful for the comments that six of my fellow students offered in the spirit of helping me become a better writer and reader. We received our essay assessments today, so I'm still in an absorbing and understanding phase. In a day or two I'll be ready to filter through the comments and put into practice those suggestions that make the most sense in developing my writing skills. In any event, it's gratifying to set loose into the world a creative work, and have it come back perhaps battered, but better for having passed through someone else’s consciousness.

EVALUATION ON ESSAY FORM

student1 → Strong conclusion showing the two different result from the same start. The opening might have been expanded upon a bit but overall it's good and the main body does a good job illustrating your point.

student2 → Logical, firm, well-structured, clear and easy to read. Since English is not my native language I will not state that the form is perfect, but as far as I am concerned it is flawless. It is good that you manage to compare two different tales in consistent manner, giving enough attention to both without interrupting the thought process of the reader.

student3 → I find it very well structured as far as I can tell, the same with grammar and the usage of words :), but I can always miss something (Hopefuly not this time)

student4 → Good work in structure, vocabulary, grammar and syntax

student5 → The grammar is correct and word is used properly. The structure of the essay needs improvement. The author cites some sentences from Grimm brothers' stories. But it isn't clear that who says the sentences.

student6 → This essay has some confusion, some parts have to be read until the end for you to understand if its talking about a new subject or the same.

Score from your peers: 2

EVALUATION ON ESSAY CONTENT

student1 → The two examples used are a great contrast in results and nicely stated. I think the “The Fisherman and His Wife” was stated much more completely than “The Knapsack, The Hat, and The Horn” but overall this is pretty good.

student2 → The logic is there, I can agree with most statements you make. However, I feel that conclusion “Ask, but be careful what you wish for” only suits the first story. The youngest brother in “The Knapsack, The Hat, and The Horn” didn’t wish for anything in particular; his troubles arise not from his greed, but from others who are unwilling to accept him or his sudden rise to power. Also, I’d say that your assumption of fishermen’s wish could use some additional explanation; nevertheless, this is an interesting thought to consider and some good analysis.

student3 → Even thought the essay makes a point and explains it, it's not so straightforward and for foreign readers can be a little bit difficult to understand. On the other hand the use of quotes illustrating the attitude of the characters was excellent because it helped linking them with the point you’re making

student4 → A very good comparison between the common theme in these two stories. I liked the reference to Bible concerning the "ask and you will be given". I didn't know that there was such a passage in Bible. The only relevant story i know is in "The Alchemist".

student5 → Author states that the exposition is greed and quest for power. The two stories discussed in the essay has nothing to do with the biblical passage of Matthew 7:7. Author should remove it from the essay.

student6 → There is no discussion, or insight about the tale, or the work of the Grimm brothers. The writers simply spoke briefly about a few tales and about one specifc tale in the middle of the essay, but didn't had any insight, nor discussed about it in comparsion to todays world, neither talked a little about why those stories were still alive.

Score from your peers: 2

Please write here any other comments which you feel might be of use to you or the writer of this essay:

student2 → It gladdens me to see that some people actually work on their assignment; good job.
student5 → Author may merge some of the paragraphs together to make the essay clear.
student6 → Watch the video of the class/module and tries to follow it.

Some Enchanted Flounder

Fantasy and Science Fiction: The Human Mind, Our Modern World - Coursera Assignment 1 Grimm's Fairytales

Two Grimm’s Fairytales that share themes of dissatisfaction, greed, and the quest for power are “The Fisherman and His Wife” (p. 100), and “The Knapsack, The Hat, and The Horn” (p. 222). These stories also explore the biblical passage "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7). Ask, but be careful what you wish for.

The third brother in “The Knapsack, The Hat, and The Horn” has a hunger that cannot be sated.

“Silver and gold do not tempt me; I will not gainsay fortune, who has better things in store for me." (p. 223).

In this respect, he is a kindred spirit of the fisherman’s wife. The third brother’s ambition is admirable since he ventures out into the world to gain his family’s respect. However, through his actions, we see that absolute power corrupts absolutely. His kingdom is won only after he destroys it. The fisherman’s wife is ambitious, as well, and has designs to rule over the land.

"Well," said the wife, "if you don't want to be king, I will be king." (p. 103).

Her reign is short lived, which makes “The Fisherman and His Wife” an anti-fairytale. Her wish for wealth and power is granted, and then rescinded. Life returns to its humble beginnings in a hovel by the sea. The argument can be made that the fisherman, in the end, has his wish fulfilled, thereby claiming his place of power and restoring balance in the household.

Covetousness, or greed, exhibited by the third brother and the fisherman’s wife, paves the way for very different endings to these tales. “The Knapsack, The Hat, and The Horn” is the triumph of unchecked power, whereas “The Fisherman and His Wife” is the aftermath of power that has been taken away.

Inbox

 
From: Geoffrey
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 11:27 AM
To: Theresa
Subject: Sarum by Edward Rutherfurd

Do you know this book?  It’s FANTASTIC  ….  And it’s $8.99 and pre-orderable for 9/14 release.

 

 

See? One truly can accomplish things at work. You just need to get your priorities in order.