Beowulf the Boastful

I believe Beowulf is very selfish with his fame. He even says "He who can earn it should fight for the glory of his name; fame after death is the noblest of goals." (1387-1389) Beowulf's main goal is for his name to be remembered long after his deeds. He is not doing these good deeds and battles out of the good of his heart, he is just greedy for fame. For example, in the battle when Beowulf rips off Grendel's arm, when he wins, instead of helping the victims of Grendel's carnage, he makes a point of boasting his great win before anything else by raising the ravaged arm expressing his victory and seeking rewards. Meanwhile, the guards and other victims lay ed helpless on the floor. Beowulf's main motive for his deeds is fame, not good will. Therefore, Beowulf is selfish with his acts.

The Appropriate Cover

I feel that the fourth cover portrays the novel, The Fifth Child, the best. It shows Ben, isolated and alone. The mood the picture sets is very depressing which corresponds with the mood of the book. The Fifth Child is a horror story, and the fourth cover really depicts that much better than all the other covers. Ben's facial expression on the cover can be interpreted as fear, isolation, confusion, anger, loneliness, and bitterness; all themes that are found in several character's in Doris Lessing's novel. Lessing references several instances where Ben would blatantly stare out of the window."Ben would stand on the sill, gripping the bars and shaking them, and surveying the outside world, letting out his thick raucous cries." (Lessing, 60) It is evident that the fourth cover is best choice, and depicts the novel the best.

Frankenstein Reaction

So far, I enjoy Frankenstein. Following along with the creature's different emotions, and pursuit for exceptance has been one of my favorite parts of the novel thus far. Observing the creature trying to figure out who he is and dealing with human emotions with no one to guide him, really has triggered my mind into thinking what I would do if I was in the monster's situation. Quotes such as "These thoughts exhilarated me and led me to apply with fresh adour to the aquiring the art of language. My organs ere indeed harsh, but supple; and although my voice was very unlike the soft music of their tones, yet I pronounced such words as I understood with tolerable ease. It was as the ass and the lap-dog; yet surely the gentle ass whose intentions were affectionate, although rude, deserved better treatment than blows and execration." (Shelley, pg. 103)make me feel a great deal of compassion,and identify with the creature. He realizes he is different, but despite these differences, he requires companionship and acceptance just like everyone else.
This brings me to the point of the creature's request to Victor for a mate. Over the past week with the debates in class, and just from my opinion after doing my reading, I feel that the monster deserves a mate. Mary Shelley has very accuately portrayed Frankenstein's loneliness, and caused me to feel a great deal of empathy for the creature, and longing right along side the monster to achieve happiness somehow. The book drags you right along the creature as he goes through all these emotions that one can identify with, and so far thats what I find most enjoyable about Mary Shelley's Frankenstein so far.