Intertextuality Throughout Literature

 In his intertextuality essay Zach talks of the way Dante challenges the characteristic of epic heroism in Achilles and Odysseus by putting them in hell. He first gives good examples of the characteristics the two heroes posses that make them epic heroes. These include for Achilles, a heroic fighter, honest, and straightforward. Odysseus is smart, a good fighter and is capable of overcoming challenges. Zach does a good job of then comparing the characteristics they are given in Inferno. He also does a good job by showing the reasoning for Dante doing this as Dante is biased towards the Greeks. He grew up in Italy, which was formed by the Trojans. Zach does a good job explaining the reasoning behind the intertextuality in Homer’s and Dante’s poem’s.

            Shannon talks of the similar qualities of Odysseus in The Odyssey and Satan in Paradise Lost. She shows the different characteristics including their power over people. She also explains a crucial difference where Odysseus follows the gods yet Satan is against God. Odysseus also has a more fortunate ending compared to Satan’s. She also points out a big similarity I had personally never notice which is that the two had to disguise themselves in order to trick others. Shannon shows that these similarities and differences are being used to show power. Milton wants to make Satan appear to be as an epic hero. Shannon shows the intertextuality in The Odyssey and Paradise Lost and the reasoning behind it.

            Melissa takes a different comparison of Satan than Shannon as she compares him to Achilles. Milton borrows three characteristics from Achilles as Melissa states in her essay. These are pride, rage, and determination. Satan shows pride, as he believes he is as powerful as God. Achilles also shows pride when Agamemnon tries to take Brisies and Achilles shows anger. Melissa also shows rage and Satan shows revenge in making human kind fall. Achilles shows rage in refusing to fight. There determination is comparable as Satan still fights even after being cast down and Achilles avenges the life of Patroclus. Through these comparisons, Melissa shows the reasons for Milton’s use of Intertextuality.

            Each of these students successfully show the affects of intertextuality. They each talk of the different characteristics that are similar in two different books. 

A Smelly Encounter

Ladies, try to imagine being on a nice date. The boy is really cute and funny. You are sitting in the movie and you can feel him getting closer. He lifts his arm in the air as if to stretch and slowly allows his arm to slip onto your shoulder. And then, it hits you. The stench of body odor is released as his arm was lifted. Men, how embarrassing would that be? To see your date utterly disgusted as you try to make your move. This is why I would recommend deodorant.  I feel as though some people just pass it up. I don’t know if it’s because they forget to put it on in the morning, or they just don’t buy it but this is one of the most important investments you can make. It uses anti-perspirant to stop the sweat from your under arm. It covers up the disgusting smell of body odor and allows you to smell nice and clean the rest of the day.

A Smelly Encounter

Ladies, try to imagine being on a nice date. The boy is really cute and funny. You are sitting in the movie and you can feel him getting closer. He lifts his arm in the air as if to stretch and slowly allows his arm to slip onto your shoulder. And then, it hits you. The stench of body odor is released as his arm was lifted. Men, how embarrassing would that be? To see your date utterly disgusted as you try to make your move. This is why I would recommend deodorant.  I feel as though some people just pass it up. I don’t know if it’s because they forget to put it on in the morning, or they just don’t buy it but this is one of the most important investments you can make. It uses anti-perspirant to stop the sweat from your under arm. It covers up the disgusting smell of body odor and allows you to smell nice and clean the rest of the day.

A Smelly Encounter

Ladies, try to imagine being on a nice date. The boy is really cute and funny. You are sitting in the movie and you can feel him getting closer. He lifts his arm in the air as if to stretch and slowly allows his arm to slip onto your shoulder. And then, it hits you. The stench of body odor is released as his arm was lifted. Men, how embarrassing would that be? To see your date utterly disgusted as you try to make your move. This is why I would recommend deodorant.  I feel as though some people just pass it up. I don’t know if it’s because they forget to put it on in the morning, or they just don’t buy it but this is one of the most important investments you can make. It uses anti-perspirant to stop the sweat from your under arm. It covers up the disgusting smell of body odor and allows you to smell nice and clean the rest of the day.

In Trouble for Nothing

             As me and my friends get bored a lot on campus, we often try and find ways to entertain ourselves. Just a few nights ago we were throwing candy into each other’s mouths and trying to catch it. It then turned into a food fight with candy corn and gummy bears. We were throwing them as hard as we could, pelting them at each other. A few of our other friends walked by and we started pelting candy at them. We were all laughing and had forgotten it was past curfew. Our RA came out and gave us a warning that if we weren’t quite we would receive hours. Suddenly I felt as though I shouldn’t be there. I didn’t want hours of service required of me and so I went to my room to do laundry and get some studying done. One of my friends came with me. We were both in the room when my roommate came in and stated that there was a spider on my friend’s bed and everyone was afraid to kill it. She ran out of the room to go get the spider. About two minutes later my friend came in sad and begging me to kill the spider. Unwillingly (because I hate spiders) I grabbed a plastic cup from my cupboard and walked over to the room. I was asking question like who was watching the spider to which they answered nobody. That actually made me a little angry because if you don’t watch the spider, how am I supposed to know where it was. They were expecting me to search for it. Is started walking toward the bed and out from the corner one of our other friend jumps out and scares me. Naturally I scream and everyone starts laughing. Unfortunately they had forgotten that our RA lived right across the hall. The next thing we knew, her door was open and she was assigning us each three hours of service. Now you can see how this would make me mad. I had purposefully avoided the hallway in order to not obtain service hours and what happens? I get pulled out in a moment that it seems as though I’m doing a good thing and I get in trouble for absolutely nothing. I'm not necessarily mad at my friends but I was at the moment. It made me mad that they didn’t stand up and say it wasn’t my fault. Even though I was given hours for no reason I just try and remind myself that I love my friends and whatever happens we will still be friends.

Adam, Hamlet, Edward, and Frankenstein

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley can be related to many different works of literature. Shelley tells a story filled with the trials of rejection and lost feeling. The story can be related to the biblical story of the creation. The rage of the monster is relatable to the rage of Hamlet in the book Hamlet by William Shakespeare. His rejection by society is related to Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands. Shelley wrote a story that not only related to those in the past, but also influenced stories to come.

One story that can be related to the story Frankenstein is the biblical story of creation. In the creation of earth, God created man and woman, Adam and Eve. After disobeying a commandment by god, they were cast from the Garden of Eden, left with the trials and tempting’s on earth. Dr. Frankenstein uses his scientific capabilities to create life. Although he has created it, he fears it. The monster runs away from his creator. He becomes educated but after being mocked and scorned, starts seeking revenge. He ends up killing those close to his creator. This can be related to the story of creation because like god, Frankenstein has created life. Also, the people god has so willingly given life, sometimes turn against him through trials. The monster did just this; he threatened his creator and shamed him.

            Another book that is closely related to Frankenstein is Hamlet by William Shakespeare. In Hamlet, revenge is very important. The young Hamlet is to avenge his father’s death after being killed by his brother. Hamlet was close to his family and he is devastated to find that the man who was to marry his mother killed his father. Through rage he even kills a close family friend. Like in Hamlet, revenge is a prominent theme. Frankenstein’s monster seeks revenge on him for refusing to create a female partner for him. He is alone and will not allow Frankenstein to be happy while he is miserable. Through rage he kills those Frankenstein loves.

            Lastly, The story is closely related to that of Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands. Just like Frankenstein’s monster, a scientist created Edward. He was created and forced to use scissors for hands due to the scientist’s death. Edward faces the disapproval by society because he has scissors for hands. Many misunderstood him because they didn’t take the time to get to know him. Frankenstein’s monster went through the similar thing. He was not accepted by society as well due to his appearance. In heart he was a kind being but nobody took the time to get to know him. People judged both Frankenstein’s monster and Edward Scissorhands by their appearance instead of who they were on the inside.

            Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is closely related to other works of literature. Through different themes and allusions, she is also able to influence later works.