It is widely accepted that monsters exist as a metaphorical representation of fear, cultural anxiety, and shifting societal trends, amongst other things. The text states, “…we need to investigate how monsters encapsulate those fears and what those fears suggest about us and the values of our time” (Hoffman 14). In this first essay you will serve as a scholarly investigator, connecting the dots between some of the most notorious monsters to ever grace the pages of a storybook with their historical, cultural, and (in some cases) contemporary significance. You are going to choose a monster (any monster really!) and compose a 2-3 page paper discussing said monster in terms of significance and meaning. Questions to consider: Why does this monster exist and who created it? If viewed through a historical lens, did the monster represent a societal or cultural anxiety during the time period it was created? Has our perspective of this monster shifted over the course of time? Are there any new, yet to be considered/discussed, meanings or significances for this monster within the sphere of contemporary society?
