Frankenstein's creation and God's creation of man

So let's begin by saying that I am currently discussing this novel in two different English classes. That's to be expected, right? I mean, it's a classic and a damn good one at that. Mary Shelley really did a lot here, and it's really more than any regular (Student) reader can understand in their first read through.

                                                     

                                           I never knew how much I needed to use this photo in an academic setting

This is an introduction level course so we cover the surface level meaning of the story itself without having to rely too much on outside sources or reference material. It's pretty good alone with just that take...but it's not living up to its full potential that way.

M. Shelley wrote this piece at the height of romantic era poetry being made, her own husband one of the most famous poets of the time. Blake, Byron, Coleridge, Wordsworth, Goethe... she had quite a bit of human inspiration surrounding her, as well as the perilous and looming peaks of Mont Blanc. We have to look about a hundred years prior, however, to Milton's 'Paradise Lost' to find true reference and inspiration. I would even argue that this is the most famous 'fan-fiction' produced of all time, as it is Shelley's own take on PL that formed this novel.

Shelley parallels Frankenstein and his creation to the creation of Adam by God... man playing God, and that subsequent creation being monstrous and outside of what it was intended to be. The biggest twist in this piece is that where Adam had paradise and a lover, Eve, he still spurned the 'love' of his creator, ultimately forfeiting his own paradise. The creation of Frankenstein was 'born' despised by his master, and feared by the one who should have loved him. Even when asking for a partner Frankenstein began the process and the literally through it/her away at the last minute in front of his monster. I'd be a little pissed off too if I was this thing.

Adam and the creature are parallel side of a coin. This is what happens when you are born into an environment of hate instead that of love. Ultimately, however, were both not still miserable? But whereas Adam chased after God when he was thrown from his paradise, Frankenstein followed his creation into his own hell. 

Crazy fork in a road there, am I right?

David Sedaris' 'Jesus Shaves'

Jason Sedaris is an openly gay, radio talk show hosting, world-renowned comedian with a specialty in writing. Damn, what a combination.  

I originally knew Sedaris from his columns in The New Yorker. The man has a way with words that are both relatable and humorous in a way that only he would be able to polish them to a fine finish in print.

In his piece 'Jesus Shaves' we encounter Sedaris who is taking French language classes, and a very humorous exchange of language barrier breaking explanation occurs. I do, however, have one huge bone to pick with this work being included in our Norton Anthology.

Sedaris is meant to deliver these pieces aloud. The humor of this piece in particular is the butchered delivery of explanation that the non-native French speakers try to give about what the Easter holiday means. When we read we scan the sentence and form the proper vision of it in our mind...and then quickly move on. The humor in 'Jesus Shaves' is meant to be linguistically delivered, and our minds don't linger enough on the individual sentences for the real punchline to be effective.

 "He nice, the Jesus.", "He make the good things, and on Easter we be sad because somebody makes him dead today."

This needs to be delivered verbally. 

I believe that the...lackluster response from the class about this piece just helps cement that in my mind. It is easy to read a piece. It is much more challenging to actually analyze what you read. Having a verbal delivery cuts out the middle man of the written, in this case, and would allow the listener to focus on the message and humor more.