The document discusses various monsters in literature and film and how they represent cultural fears. It describes how Dracula represents fears of disease and foreigners. Werewolves emerged from fears of shape-shifting and serial killers. Godzilla was created as a commentary on the atomic bombing of Japan. The Mummy emerged as Egyptomania grew following King Tut's tomb discovery. Zombies originated from Haitian folklore and have come to represent fears of commercialism and the undead.

1. Ahh…Real Monsters!
Honors English 10

2. The Truth about Monsters
• Not just meant to scare us
• Every monster is based on a deep
social/cultural fear of the group that creates
them.

3. Dracula (1897)
• Not first vampire story ever written
– As early as ancient Persia (BC)
• Porphyra disease
– Sensitivity to sun, acute delirium
– Possible cure: drinking blood
• Based off of Vlad the Impailer (1431-1476)
– Delighted in torture
– Legends developed he drank blood of his enemies
to gain strength
• Dracula actually first feminist novel
– Bite of vampire freed women, gave power

4. Werewolves
• AKA “lycanthrope” = literally “wolf man”
• Based off tradition of human shape-shifters
• Werewolf hunts and accusations occurred
more often than witch hunts through Europe
– Often confessed or accused serial killers
• 1913: The Werewolf, a silent film, comes out
in theaters

5. Godzilla
• 1954: Gojira released in
Japan theaters
– Originally created as
commentary on
American bombing of
Japan
– “Godzilla” = giant lizard
shoots flammable
nuclear plasma out of
mouth onto Tokyo &
other major Japanese
cities

6. The Mummy
• 1922: King Tutankhamen's tomb discovered,
starts Egypt fever
• 1932: The Mummy in theaters everywhere
• “Movie mummies are known for two things:
fabulous riches and a nasty curse that brings
treasure hunters to a bad end.” – National
Geographic

7. Zombie
• 1871: word “zombie” first used in English language
– of West African origin; compare with Kikongo zumbi 'fetish'
• Definition: (1) a corpse said to be revived by witchcraft,
especially in certain African and Caribbean religions.
– informal a person who is or appears lifeless, apathetic, or
completely unresponsive to their surroundings.
– a computer controlled by another person without the
owner’s knowledge and used for sending spam or other
illegal or illicit activities.
• (2) a cocktail consisting of several kinds of rum, liqueur,
and fruit juice.

8. Zombies
• 1929: article about recently dead coming back
to life from shellfish toxin (Haitian voodoo)
• 1943: hit song “I Walked With a Zombie”
released
• 1968: Night of the Living Dead released in
theaters
– Commentary on commercialism

9. Night of the Living Dead

10. Other Media Representations
• Thriller
• Bath Salt Zombies
• New York Times article
• Fox News article

11. Zombies in the Bible
• Jesus = first zombie story?
• Ezekiel 37:1-14
– Dry bones anyone?

12. Zombies in Film

13. Time Enough at Last
• http://www.hulu.com/watch/440802

14. “Time Enough at Last” Discussion
• 1. Why did Henry allow his wife to make him watch TV
and play games with the neighbors instead of reading?
• 2. I think it's fair to say that nobody could have
foreseen what would finally become of Henry Bemis.
Henry finally get his wish, time enough at last to read.
Discuss the irony that occurs at the end of this short
story.
• 3. What do you think the message or theme of this
story is? How does it fit into our “undead” unit?
• 4. Rate the story on a scale on 1-10, 1 being low and 10
being high. Why did you give it this rating?