Jessica Parker, Sarah Benson, McKaley Clark, Tayte Pollmann

ART

Nicky Barkla -- "Everybody But Me"

 Barkla's portrayal of Frankenstein's Monster brings out more of a somber tone. The droopiness of his eyes shows the pain of being alone. The single nostril shows one of the deformities of being nonhuman. The darker color scheme of blues and purple represents to me a bruised and troubled past.This monster looks older and the strokes of paint look like wrinkles upon his sunken-in face. Overall, this piece makes me feel depressed.

MUSIC

Ludwig van Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata"

 This song portrays nature in a delicate way. It opens very soft and quite. It starts to crescendo but still keeps the same soft feel. I think it's trying to show how delicate and beautiful nature can be. The song builds and fades, allowing the song to never feel too intense. It ultimately gives it a calming sense like many Romantics found in nature. Also, the fact that the piece only uses one instrument gives the song the feeling of being alone in nature.

LITERATURE

Frankenstein

Edward Field

The monster has escaped from the dungeon

where he was kept by the Baron,
who made him with knobs sticking out from each side of his neck
where the head was attached to the body
and stitching all over
where parts of cadavers were sewed together.

He is pursued by the ignorant villagers,
who think he is evil and dangerous because he is ugly
and makes ugly noises.
They wave firebrands at him and cudgels and rakes,
but he escapes and comes to the thatched cottage
of an old blind man playing on the violin Mendelssohn's "Spring Song."

Hearing him approach, the blind man welcomes him:
"Come in, my friend," and takes him by the arm.
"You must be weary," and sits him down inside the house.
For the blind man has long dreamed of having a friend
to share his lonely life.

The monster has never known kindness ‹ the Baron was cruel --
but somehow he is able to accept it now,
and he really has no instincts to harm the old man,
for in spite of his awful looks he has a tender heart:
Who knows what cadaver that part of him came from?

The old man seats him at table, offers him bread,
and says, "Eat, my friend." The monster
rears back roaring in terror.
"No, my friend, it is good. Eat -- gooood"
and the old man shows him how to eat,
and reassured, the monster eats
and says, "Eat -- gooood,"
trying out the words and finding them good too.

The old man offers him a glass of wine,
"Drink, my friend. Drink -- gooood."
The monster drinks, slurping horribly, and says,
"Drink -- gooood," in his deep nutty voice
and smiles maybe for the first time in his life.

Then the blind man puts a cigar in the monster's mouth
and lights a large wooden match that flares up in his face.
The monster, remembering the torches of the villagers,
recoils, grunting in terror.
"No, my friend, smoke -- gooood,"
and the old man demonstrates with his own cigar.
The monster takes a tentative puff
and smiles hugely, saying, "Smoke -- gooood,"
and sits back like a banker, grunting and puffing.

Now the old man plays Mendelssohn's "Spring Song" on the violin
while tears come into our dear monster s eyes
as he thinks of the stones of the mob the pleasures of meal-time,
the magic new words he has learned
and above all of the friend he has found.

It is just as well that he is unaware --
being simple enough to believe only in the present --
that the mob will find him and pursue him
for the rest of his short unnatural life,
until trapped at the whirlpool's edge
he plunges to his death. 

This poem is about Frankenstein's Monster. It touches on the theme of ugliness and loneliness in recalling the trials the creature has endured. This poem deeply emphasizes the kindness given to the monster by an old blind man, who gives him food and wine. The beginning of this poem portrays the book by Mary Shelley of how the monster had a difficult time in society. However, in the novel, the old blind man never gives the monster bread and wine, only compassion to his story of the prejudices he's received. The symbolism of fire brings the importance of life, survival, and an allusion to Prometheus.

SIMILARTIES

All of these pieces include a sense of loneliness. Mystery and darkness are also common elements. Throughout these pieces, you can see the changes in the monster's demeanor. Each of these express themes from the book; the painting has the themes of darkness and ugliness, the song has the theme of nature, and the poem expresses the theme of a desire to fit in with society. All of these show a sense of softness, or a bit of sadness in relation to the monster. In the painting, the monster has a mournful expression on his face. The song has a soft, disconsolate sound. In the poem, the reader begins to feel sorry for the fate of the monster. Additionally, these address the theme of solitude.