Why Do Monsters Lurk

Like all words, “monster” has multiple definitions, and more than just these two. But what monsters really are are tools that society uses. Monsters are a storytelling tool used so we can reflect on ourselves, others, and society, without directly comparing specific living people or cultures. By using monsters to reflect on ourselves, we can analyze our own actions, decisions, and morality. How would someone act when getting attacked by a monster?

Oxford dictionary defines monster as, “Originally: a mythical creature which is part animal and part human, or combines elements of two or more animal forms, and is frequently of great size and ferocious appearance. Later, more generally: any imaginary creature that is large, ugly, and frightening. (Oxford English Dictionary)” This definition is basic in nature. What must be added is whether it is nature that makes the monster what it is or is it nurture that makes it what it is. In both Beowulf and Frankenstein the monster complex engages, complicates and has an effect on us. Beowulf has to battle Grendel, his mom, and the dragon to do his duty as a warrior, but the monsters only make it more difficult to tell

In the article “Monsters and the Moral Imagination,” Stephen Asma, a professor of Philosophy and Distinguished Scholar at Columbia College Chicago, argues that the existence of monsters have a purpose in our lives. It is not only to reveal our deepest fears, but to question our moral instincts. Being attacked by fictional monsters seems impractical, however, chaos and disasters do happen and exist in the real world. The creation of monsters is due to our reaction of our fears and the inability to control the world we live in.

What defines a monster? Is it their grotesque, unnatural appearance that separates them from the rest of mankind, or is it their lack of remorse and compassion that makes them different? The word monster conjures up figures from gothic horror of exotic peoples with horrifyingly exaggerated features, and the kinds of impossible delusive beasts inhabiting the pages of medieval bestiaries. Well at first I thought exactly that. When I used to hear the word “monster”, my mind immediately pictured the petrifying beast that took residence under my bed for a substantial portion of my childhood. It had demonic beating red eyes, razor sharp teeth that glistened with fresh blood and amphibian like scales covering every inch of its enormous body. However, as I got older, I started to realize that there was no such thing as monsters and that it was all just a figment of my imagination. Accordingly, the fear of the monster under my bed slowly dissipated. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until after reading a quote by my favorite author, Steven King, that I was finally able to fully comprehend what the true definition of the word “monster” really was. “Monsters are real, ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes they win”. It had taken me awhile to truly grasp what King had meant, but then it clicked. Everyone has a monster inside them, dormant or not. That monster is the voice we hear in the back of our heads, urging us to cheat or to steal, and in some instances, worse. That monster

Finding a single interpretation of the word monsters is very challenging because of the numerous forms, ranging from folk stories to current movies and books.

When monsters are thought of a very distinct picture comes to mind. An ugly creature that is out for blood, born into a life where causing misery is his driving force. Do these features really define what a monster is; works of literature like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Shakespeare’s Othello tell quite a different story. Monsters are not born but made just as people are not born evil but can sometimes end up there. Othello and the Monster start of as good men looking to be part of society but were pushed out because of what others perceived them to be. This caused them to mentally and physically isolate themselves from everyone allowing hatred to take over. Iago and Frankenstein also helped to instill thoughts

Find the definition of what a monster is and it means multiple things. Two definitions that are applicable to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein define monster as an imaginary monster that is large, ugly, and frightening or; as a person of repulsively unnatural character that exhibits extreme cruelty or wickedness as to appear inhuman (Oxford English Dictionary). While both meanings differ, the latter definition seeks to give negative character traits to an inhuman monster. However, the creation of a monster should not imply that monsters are inherently cruel or wicked. The traits associated with the term monster are a construct of what people believe inhuman monsters possess. By this logic,

A monster is something that causes a person to stray away from their original plan or lifestyle. It makes them feel as though they need to restrict themselves to fit the needs of the monster. These restrictions are displayed in changes in character, prejudicial thoughts, and self-confidence. In The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus and Telemachus are haunted by a variety of monsters, predominantly themselves and their companions.

What is a monster? The word "monster" causes one to imagine a hideous, deformed or nonhuman creature that appears in horror movies and novels and terrifies everyone in its path. More importantly, however, the creature described generally behaves monstrously, doing things which harm society and acting with little consideration for the feelings and safety of others. "Thus, it is the behavior which primarily defines a monster, rather than its physical appearance"(Levine 13).

Throughout the novel, the monster starts as a harmless creature then becomes the villain of the story but in the end he is the lonely creature once again. The monster is not evil, he is just a lonely creature wanting affection from those around him. However, no one will show him any love because he looks like a terrifying, huge, ugly nightmare. The monster develops feelings about people and events, becomes insightful and

Monsters have proven to be more than just the fiendish appearance or the evil within such creatures – their monstrosity symbolizes, more or less, the characteristics that define mankind and/or our innermost fears. Prior to this Exploration of the Humanities course, I have interpreted monsters for what they are: heartless and destructive creatures that generate fear. However, I never bothered what the true cause of such fear is – only associating the gruesome presence with a psychological reaction of horror. But taking this class allowed me to broaden my perspective on monsters and monstrosity: humans fear the “Other” because we as individuals have an “Other” within us (subconsciously) that we are not willing to show to those in our

A monster is a type of negative threatening force; it threatens a person’s well-being. For me, my monster is the characteristic of ignorance, and I encounter it inside of people each and every day. Conor faces his monster in A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness every day, similar to myself. Conor pushes himself against ignorance throughout the novel, as well. I can always escape ignorance if I want to, but, it will always linger inside of people.

Monsters, the creatures of the night who prey on our fear. The ones who have no sense of emotion and lack the ability to show remorse. The big, the bad, and the ugly that lurks within all of us. The term “monster” has been around for centuries, throughout the years the view on monsters has changed, but the one thing that has stayed the same is the fact that we have always viewed them as something negative. We view monsters as evil and scary. Personally, I think of blood and murder when I hear the word monster. A monster brings out our darkest and weakest sides, whether it’s the anger that they cause or the fear they bring upon us. The term monster can be defined in many different ways, depending on how we view them, but I feel like the

Monsters lurk in places where people can not see them. Monsters lurk in dark and mysterious places to avoid contact with the outside world unless they plan to go out and create chaos. Basically, monsters lurk in areas where others may sense fear or evil. Although monsters may have their own preferences on where to reside, most monsters prefer the reclusive lifestyle. Why do monsters choose to hide in these creepy and dark places? Usually if they have characteristics such as greediness or jealousy, they tend to want to live far from others.

Where do monsters lurk? The answer depends on whom is being asked; for instance, if a kid is asked, then he or she will respond somewhere between the lines of “under the bed” or “in my closet.” An adult, on the other hand, will say that evil creatures creep in forests or caves. However, there are those who tend to believe that evil prowls in places where it is least expected, making this idea a more sinister one when compared to the places a monster would habitually hide. Also, throughout history and still to this day, society has learned that evil can take the silhouette of objects or people that emit feelings associated with security, pleasure and happiness. Those type of monsters cause a severe threat for the following reasons: it would