Meghan Doherty's weekly posts

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Week 1-3

1. Q.1 What genres do the following texts belong to, and how do their intended period contexts, purposes, and intended audiences differ?

The genre all these texts appear to share is Fantasy/Mythic fiction, however, Völsupá could be seen as a religious text seeing as the author, considering the time period, would have believed just as vehemently in the Norse Gods as modern Christians believe in the existence of their God.

You can tell as these texts talk about Gods and mythical creatures. Völsupá, as stated before, refers to the Norse Gods: “By Odin’s will / I’ll speak the ancient lore” (e.1, l.3) “Far-famed Thor / the son of earth” (e.3,  l.1)

Beowulf has a mythical dragon appearing as the antagonist which automatically fits it into the Fantasy genre: “When the dragon awoke, trouble flared again.” (p.6)

Since the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings are set in the same universe, it would make sense they both share the Fantasy genre, but for different reasons. The Hobbit brings up the existence of the mythical dragon (again as the antagonist), while Lord of the Rings relies on wizards and anamorphic creatures: “The dragon was circling back, flying low, and as he came the moon rose above the eastern shore and silvered his great wings.” (TH, p.28) “'Well do you see and speak,' said the wizard. 'For I am Gandalf. I have returned.” (LOTR, p.37)

2. Q.3 Identify a central incident that happens in at least four of the above texts and discuss how it is both similar and different in each example (remember to cite from the original texts)?

The incident is that of the beasts slaying. All with their own motives to be shown, most turn out victorious. Völsupá is the simplest, having only one sentence dedicated one sentence to “the Snake,” “[...] goes forth to fight the Snake. / Midgard’s defender / dies triumphant.” (e.3, l.2 - l.3)

The Hobbit and Beowulf are very similar as they are both triggered by thievery. However, they end both similarly and differently as the both end with the dragon’s end but one ends with the survival of the protagonist and the other ends with their. “And so [Beowulf] had survived every extreme, excelling himself in daring and danger, until the day arrived when he has to come face to face with the dragon.” (Beowulf, p.8) “And that was end of Smaug and Esgaroth, but not of Bard.” (Hobbit, p.30)

In Volsunga, Sigurd perishes with the dragon, Fafnir. “Sigurd thrust his sword under his left shoulder, so that it sank up to the hilts [...] Now when that mighty worm was ware that he has his death wound.” (p.11)

3. Q.6 Identify some recent films, TV shows and/or games which have brought back some of the old gods and heroes from obscurity.

Percy Jackson is a big one, thirteen books in total and still ongoing. The setting surrounding the series is that the Greek and Roman Gods are still around, influencing the world in small ways while also seducing modern men and women and having demigod children. In the story, Percy, our main character, is the son of Poseidon, the Greek God of the sea. There is Annabeth, daughter of Athena, Goddess of wisdom. Luke, son of Hermes, the messenger God. Clarisse, daughter of Ares, the God of war, etc. All the Gods mentioned also have their Roman counterparts, Neptune, Minerva, Mercury and Mars; they act as a second personality and feature much less than their Greek selves and honestly do nothing except confuse the story.

What place do the old myths have in the modern world?

I feel this is a very subjective question. In the bigger picture, these stories do nothing to advance our society; although they can serve as cautionary tales if read a certain way. Primarily they're inspirations of storytelling, Norse mythology has brought to life media like Marvel's Thor series, Bethesda's Skyrim, SIE's God of War series, Cressida Cowell's' How to Train your Dragon series, etc.

4. Q.8 Discuss what you think any of these texts desire (in the sense of their intention, how they wish to be received, what pleasures they offer, etc).

On a certain level, they want someone to read their stories. That is any authors wish. I state this because it is a hard thing to know just what authors desire you to take from the journey. It’s not as simple as, “this recipe book wants to improve your skills and its desire is to inspire your love of cooking,” no, but if I were to guess what they desired. What they all have in common is mythology, so on a basic level they want to share a mythos, specifically Tolkien, who wanted fill in the gaps of European legend he felt was lacking.

Week 4-6

1. Q.1 Cite some variations in the Loathly Lady fabula across the three tales in your Reader. Focus on the conditions by which the lady is either beautiful or ugly, and the actions of the knight/king/"hero"...

King Arthur meets an ugly woman is the only one where the woman who doesn’t change appearance, she greets herself as an unattractive woman and then is never seen again. “There he met with a lady. She was the ugliest creature that a man ever saw.” (King Arthur [...], p.73) She wishes to be wed and in favour she will save the King’s life, he believes her and asks his knight, Sir Gawain, tells him of his woes and as his loyal servant Gawain agrees to wife her with no qualms.

The Queen commands the Knight to marry a willing woman after he raped one of her maidens, the willing woman was a wretched sight but asked him to wife her all the same. And once they were wed she gave him the option of her to be beautiful and her to be vile, “One of these two things: To have me ugly and old until I die, [...] or else you will have me young and fair.” (Wife of Bath’s Tale, p.72) With a catch that if she young and fair, she would have the freedom to play with whoever she wishes, while if she was ugly she would be loyal. He left the decision up to her.

A ghost haunts him after a successful hunting trip, asking for things that would make a modern man cry. “Nothing less she seemed to be than a fiend that comes from hell.” (King Henry, p.80) She asks for him to kill his horse for her to eat, she asks for his greyhounds for her to consume, asks for his hawks so she may eat; finally, asking for his hand in marriage. He rests with her, unwillingly, and wakes up to “the fairest lady that ever was seen / Lay between him and the wall.” (King Henry, p.80)

2. Q.2 The Wife of Bath's Tale is considered by some critics to indicate that Chaucer may have been a feminist.  Why might they believe this? Do you agree? Remember to cite evidence from the text or some other source.

It surely is a feminist’s piece, but I would think it impossible to decide whether Chaucer is a feminist from one piece alone. Wyves Tales of Bathe certainly does speak of female empowerment, bringing “justice” to a man who raped a maiden by giving total sovereignty to his wife. "Since I may choose and govern as I please?" "Yes, certainly, wife," he said, "I consider it best." (l.1237, 1238) The justice he receives is a debatable topic as some, such as myself, would not see forcing him into marriage as fair justice.

Chaucer definitely had a handle on what language he should use for a piece like this, “Take all my goods and let my body go.” (p.68, l.1061) was said when the knight was pleading to stay a bachelor and not to be wed. An ironic piece of speech, this knight begging for forgiveness of his own body being the same knight who brutalised a woman’s.

3. Q.5 Discuss what you think is the most striking or outrageous example.

Steeleye Span, “King Henry,” was by far the most bizarre. From the language that is used, to the depravity from this ghostly woman, to the nonchalance of the King. “Now swear, now swear you, King Henry, to take me for your bride. / Oh God forbid, says King Henry.” (p.80) This is the first time he speaks in defiance, while he had shown sorrow for what he had done, “though it made his heart feel sore,” he never attempted to stop. Killing things is easy, committal is hard.

Week 7-9

1. Q.1 How is the Romantic notion of the Sublime reflected in the texts under consideration in this Romanticism reader? Discuss one or two examples from Blake's Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience.

The Chimney Sweeper of “Innocence” has a tone of hope from the little boys

perspective. He’s a child slaver who misses his parents and dreads his conditions of work. Sleeping in soot with his friends by his side he watches as they all pass in their sleep, “That thousand of sweepers Dick, Joe, Ned & Jack were all of them lock’d up in coffins of black.” (p.137) and he himself visits an angel who tells him to be a “good boy” for God would be his father and if God is his father, there is nothing to be afraid of. “So if all do their duty, they need not fear harm.” (p.137) The horrific truth of this is, his friends are dead, and he is alone again, whether they had close relationships is irrelevant, they were still there. Now, Tom has created this false hope of happiness when he too passes. He won’t enjoy his life but as long as he’s pure, God will accept him into his wide arms.

The Chimney Sweeper of “Experience” has the opposite tone of another young boy. A boy who has negligent parents as they pray for the next life and leave him to sweep and work. He toughs it out and learns to smile through it all, to gain joy out of the smallest things so his life is worth living, so he can take advantage over the short life he was given. However, his parents seek refuge for him though religion but that refuge has no appeal for him. “God & his Priest & King who make up a heaven of our misery.” (p.145)

2. Q.3 See what you can find out anything about what really happened at the Villa Diodati that fateful summer in 1816…

According to the British Library, Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary Wollstonecraft met with Lord Byron who had impregnated Mary’s step-sister and his mistress, Claire Clairmont, in the Villa Diodati, in Switzerland. The Villa was a desolate and harrowing place that had sparked Bryon’s challenge, “who can write the most horrific ghost story?” All the while emotions were at an erratic high, with desire floating through all the guests, the chilling atmosphere and the constant barrage of thrilling literacy, triggered a nightmare in Mary, a nightmare that would give birth to the mother of Frankenstein.

Mary Shelley, Frankenstein and the Villa Diodati. (2014, May 15). Retrieved from https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/mary-shelley-frankenstein-and-the-villa-diodati

3. Q.4 How many fictional accounts (film and other narrative media) can you find about that? Provide some useful links, including Youtube clips (hint: for a start try Ken Russel Gothic on Youtube).

Gothic (1986), dir. Ken Russel: On a warm summer night in 1816 at the Swiss lakeside chateau of Lord Byron, the poet and his guests -- Percy Bysshe Shelley; his fiancée, Mary Wollstonecraft; her half-sister, Claire; and his private doctor John Polidori -- spend the evening sharing ghost stories while under the influence of experimental compounds provided by the doctor. As the night goes on, reality and the horrific tales begin to commingle.

Haunted Summer (1988), dir. Ivan Passer: In 1816, authors Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, and Mary Shelley (née Godwin) get together for some philosophical discussions, but the situation soon deteriorates into mind games, drugs, and sex. It is a fictionalization of the summer that Lord Byron and the Shelleys, together with Lord Byron's ex-lover and his doctor, John William Polidori, spent in the isolated Villa Diodati by Lake Geneva. It is there they devise a contest to produce the best horror story to kill the dullness of summer. It is also there that one of the world's most famous books was given life—Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

Mary Shelley (2017), dir. Haifaa al-Mansour: The film tells the story of writer Mary Shelley's first love, and her romantic relationship with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, which inspired her to write Frankenstein.

Week 10-12

(Postmodernism)

1. Q. 4: How was Bob Dylan's song Master of War involved in controversy during the Bush administration?

Over a decade ago, in 2004, a band called “Coalition of the Willing” sung Bob Dylan’s song to high school students and right-wingers weren’t too happy with such a political statement. Singing the lyrics: “And I hope that you die, and your death will come soon. I'll follow your casket in the pale afternoon. I'll watch while you're lowered down to your death bed. And I'll stand over your grave 'til I'm sure that you're dead.” Parents and teachers saw this as a reference to Bush’s re-election and the secret service even got involved with an investigation.

Is Bush afraid of a Bob Dylan song? (n.d.). Retrieved from http://socialistworker.org/2004-2/521/521_02_DylanSong.php



1. Q. 7: What kinda protest song/rap/other media have come out in the last decade? Is there a spirit of protest anymore?


There’ll always be protests around the world as we’ll never be such a harmless Eutopia. I can think of several songs from the past year, not even just the decade.


“Earth” by Lil Dicky came out this past April on the 18th, featuring many celebrities, speaking of climate change and pleading for action. “This is America” by Donald Glover, released May 5th last year, is as iconic in song as it is in video. Bringing attention to the excused racism in America, with riots happening in the background, cop cars, and the constant referring to himself as a “black man”. And back in 2017, Eminem released a simple rap video with only his vocals, no big show of production or music, denouncing the start of Donald Trump’s presidency.


Someone will always be unhappy with how the world is progressing (or regressing), someone will always feel slighted, or someone will always be in danger when someone higher up destroys for the sake of convenience.





Lil Dicky - Earth (Official Music Video). (2019, April 18). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvuN_WvF1to


Childish Gambino - This Is America (Official Video). (2018, May 5). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYOjWnS4cMY&list=PLoHQ5hwLfaYl_3ihiTYE2Q2iRoREKi7py&index=6&t=0s
Eminem Rips Donald Trump In BET Hip Hop Awards Freestyle Cypher. (2017, October 10). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LunHybOKIjU