Understanding Mythological Monsters Essay

In any classic story about heroes and villains, the monsters involved are often characterized as the evil ones and, consequently, receive no justice under the law. Throughout the epic story Beowulf, the hero of the story encounters three monsters that are threats to society: Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. The monsters in Beowulf are quickly targeted and destroyed because of the harm they cause to society. However, upon further examination of the monsters and the motives for their actions, the reader can view the monsters not as the cutthroat villains they may initially appear to be, but perhaps as victims of society. In today’s society, murderers and robbers are also portrayed as “monsters” because of the atrocious

Everyone has good and bad traits, I think monsters can have good and bad traits too. However I think a lot of people struggle with their own inner monsters, which is a good representation of the monsters we have come across in our myths. People struggle to fight these monsters, figuratively and literally, especially in our myths. I think if our human nature shifted to actually acknowledging our own monsters we could do more in battle to defeat. It takes a lot of strength in people not to lie to themselves, and to admit to themselves that they need help. Just like in our myths, if the warrior needs help fighting a monster it’s hard for him or her to admit to it. Monsters will always be around in life but you can’t let them defeat you. Try to focus on the positives of a monster instead of the negatives, even though monsters are seen as negative. A lot dealing with life’s monsters is just making sure to get in the right mind set and realize you shouldn’t worry about things you can’t change. Some people just have bad human nature, and are judgmental but that doesn’t mean you also have to

Monsters and villains have been a very crucial part in Core 3 and Core 4. We have read some of the most well none villains in Core including Humbaba from Gilgamesh, Polyphemus from The Odyssey, Grendel from Beowulf, and Iago from Othello. Teratology is the study of monsters and throughout Core we have learned some of the characteristics that are monsters have in common. Mostly all the monsters that we have studied reveals society’s fears or something wrong with society. We furthered this discussion by figuring out why these villains did such evil acts. In this paper, I will discuss the monsters we have studied in Core 3 and 4 and then compare and contrast their stories and monstrous

To have a hero there must be a monster to vanquish. Monsters in Greco-Roman mythology are often portrayed as: irrational, nearly impossible to communicate with, often a compound of animal parts or some form of mutation, and are set upon human destruction. “Monsters in the language of mythology were beings of unnatural proportions or parts, usually regarded with terror, as possessing immense strength and ferocity, which they employed for the injury and annoyance of men” (Bullfinch Pg. 143). Mythological monsters are a way for man to explain what he doesn’t understand. They are an attempt to explain ‘why’ to things such as: storms, droughts and other unseasonable weather, unexplained deaths, birth

Back before written history monster stories were passed from person to person by word of mouth. There are hundreds of thousands of stories where monsters are exhibited throughout history. These monsters are just made up to scare or entertain people, the best kinds of monsters in stories are those that have hidden symbolism. The Epic of Gilgamesh and Beowulf, are two stories where there is heavy symbolism associated with the monsters. Both characters form relationships with the supernatural throughout their journeys. The monsters Gilgamesh faces act as distraction on his spiritual journey, while Beowulf’s propel him towards his destiny.

Frankenstein has been depicted in artwork and film over the years in many different ways. Until i actually read Frankenstein, i thought the monster was Frankenstein. I never knew that Frankenstein was the creator. The monster is way more intelligent than the films and cartoons make him out to be. In the book by Mary Shelley, he learns how to speak, write and take care of himself without his creator. He taught himself how to do everything(with little help from the De Lacey family he was watching).

Imagine a superhero, such as Spiderman. Everyday, Spiderman has a different foe he fights against. In Greek mythology, this process works the same way. The gods and goddesses of Greek mythology had many foes, usually being monsters. The monsters in Greek mythology were known to destroy people, damage different cities, or cause all kinds of havoc. The Gorgons, Lamia, and Hydra, are few of many monsters that were menaces to society.

Imagine growing up, and hearing marvelous stories of heroes and their adventures before bed. Do you remember your favorite superhero from when you were younger, or putting on a cape and acting like them? In the epic poem Beowulf, being a hero is the greatest honor to have. In order to become one, you must slay a monster. The Anglo-Saxons define a monster as someone who defies social norms. In result, they need to be shown justice, leading to stories that can be passed down to reinforce the ideal characteristics of bravery, sympathy, and generosity.

Who doesn't love a classic tale of a hero who saves his people from death by gruesome monsters? While this is exactly how many would describe the famous Old English poem, Beowulf, when examined carefully, its plot may not be so clear cut. Contradictory to what one would expect, the author actually creates parallels between Beowulf and the monsters, through character descriptions, situational similarities, and linguistic choices such as the use of ambiguous pronouns. In addition, he or she often gives the monsters human-like qualities and explains their actions in a way which makes their actions seem reasonable, causing the reader to sympathize with them. Through the complex portrayal of Beowulf's enemies, the

After the encounter with each supernatural creature, Beowulf becomes more and more the image of an epic hero. Beowulf battles Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. The features that make the creatures supernatural is what animates Beowulf's image. Beowulf title as an epic hero would be less profound if the monsters were human, and the poem would lose its emphasis on good prevailing over evil. Loving, caring, and honorable Beowulf faces first the terrible

According to Jenny Strauss Clay, in their journal titled “The Generation of Monsters in Hesiod,” there is a “natural hierarchy of men and beasts” (Clay 112). As with any hierarchy, there are usually differences, or in this case “distinguishing features of the divine, the bestial, and the human,” which instinctively place some creatures above others (Clay 108). In the Greek and Roman myths that we read in class, this hierarchy is clearly shown through the relationship between the gods and monsters. As written in Theogony, all monsters derived from Gaia, however it is their appearances that set them apart from the gods. Clay defines being monstrous as being an anomaly. From birth, a monster “does not fit into usual classifications, or

When people think about monsters, they usually assume they could be defeated forever, and the good will resume directly after the monster’s demise. However, as J.J. Cohen argues in Monster Culture (Seven Theses), the monster always escapes from being ceaselessly spurned. Form the footprints of the yeti across Tibetan snow; to the bones of the giant stranded on a rocky cliff, the monster does and will remain. Additionally, no matter how many times King Arthur killed the ogre of Mount Saint Michael, the monster reappeared in another heroic chronicle during the Middle Ages, proving once more that no matter how many deaths monsters endure, no matter how many attempts it took to destroy the monster, they return—with additional force (Cohen 5). Monsters

The relationship between belief, knowledge, mythology, and religion is one that interweaved, where religion, mythology and belief share the most in common, knowledge is just as important. Mythology and religion intersect in their origins; because of the belief in mythology religion grew. I don’t believe you can really have one without the other. Most religions today at least the big 3 rely on a foundation or a belief in a Supreme Being or deity that takes on mythical status and is the bias of those religions. Without the belief in the myth the religions would fall apart. And that leads us to the where they diverge, in to today society more and more people have begun to question religion atheism is one of the fast growing problem facing modern day religions. Where religion once relied and mythology for its origins in today day and age religion itself is being categorized as mythology itself

Among all of the notorious monsters throughout mythology, the Hydra may be one of the most feared. It’s home is the Lake of Lerna in Argolid. As time went on, different versions the Hydra were created. It original never had the ability to grow back two heads for every one that was cut off. The first stories of the Hydra originate around 700 BCE. It is depicted as a sea serpent with 6 heads, and in some renditions 9 heads. In more extreme stories, the Hyrda is given 500 heads, so the characteristics of the monster changed with whatever author was in charge.

Back in high school in one of my psychology classes we were reading an article about the importance of the role of the parents in order for the development of their kid’s social adaptability and skills. The article mentioned how if parents do not interact with the child and the child starts behaving as he was socially excluded they might further develop low symptoms of Autisms.