Nethya Samarakkodige, 5/3/21, PD 8, Day C

Nethya Samarakkodige
Period 8
Modern Mythology
Day C


Literacy and Learning


Write about your thoughts regarding any of the fiction or nonfiction covered in class.

Since we moved into Interview with the Vampire, I found it interesting to compare my initial perception of vampires to the version told by Anne Rice. Shows and movies about supernatural creatures like vampires and werewolves have been popular since my early childhood, and I was expecting a similar storyline in this book. Just like we read Beowulf before reading Grendel to have a better understanding of the original story, my exposure to vampires from TV shows and movies gave me an idea of what to expect: a mysterious, sexualized, and enticing monster. For the most part, this is an accurate description of Louis and Lestat, but there are many more elements about humanity, morality, and trauma that I was not expecting. Although we are still reading the early chapters, there are complicated aspects of vampirism experienced by Louis and Lestat that are emphasized in the book, such as their constant awareness of their surroundings to protect their identities and their “adoption” of Claudia. These ideas bring about symbolism for homosexuality and a hostile, yet protective relationship between the two main characters.



Reflect on any new information you have learned in English class by considering how that learning influences your critical perception.

This class has taught me that although the cultures we learned about have varied immensely, much of mythological literature follows similar themes and societal norms with overlapping elements such as a courageous but flawed hero and gender roles. In most stories, there are powerful men who go on adventures and battle beasts and women who serve as beautiful side characters. Also, the readings we’ve done in this class often relate to bigger and more general themes such as religion and morality. In every book/culture we’ve studied, there has been an aspect of religion that basically serves as a code of conduct for the characters, specifically for the humans. In Greek mythology, Zeus is worshipped and all humans’ actions are intended to please the Gods. In Norse mythology, there is a similar relationship between people and Thor as well as the rest of the Gods. In Beowulf and Grendel, there are elements of paganism and a growing contempt against Christianity which is most clearly seen with Grendel. In Interview with the Vampire, the vampires are thought to be creatures of Satan and are widely feared because of Christianity. Ultimately, this shows that much of the mythology we’ve read so far coincides with religion and a clear difference between right and wrong.



How is what you’re learning applied to any other classes/the world around you?

Throughout this course, we have seen how perspective can completely change a story and influence a reader’s personal thoughts. For example, reading Beowulf and Grendel, as well as watching the Beowulf Film, showed how the same story can be told in various different ways to create entirely new narratives. This applies to the world around us because it shows how it is important to consider various perspectives and remember that perception is everything, especially during divided issues and current events. This idea also shows that not everything is as it seems so we must be able to adapt and reanalyze issues from different viewpoints. The world is not in black and white, and as we learn how to navigate our thoughts and influences, we grow as people and see the real world.