“[T]he practice of maintaining a commonplace book and exchanging texts with others also served as a form of self-definition: which poems or aphorisms you chose to copy into your book or to pass on to your correspondents said a lot about you, and the book as a whole was a reflection of your character and personality” Standage
Over the course of the semester, developing and progressing my commonplace book has been one of the main takeaways as to analyzing and developing a deeper meaning for sections of Victorian literature. By comprising my commonplace books, I have become a more observative and careful reader as I try to find themes throughout the novel as well as connecting back to our original themes of monsters from class. My commonplace book is more of a reflection compared to an roadmap, or brainstorming ideas. My entries are a combination of taking a visual image from a specific chapter, and then using written text to describe the importance in my point of view of the specific image. This gives a sense of the setting as well as helps brainstorm the overall purpose of either the anti-hero or hero of the story. I feel by analyzing and picturing a scene in a novel, and describing it, I was able to describe in more detail the importance of a certain symbol, or image connected to a person or by itself. I feel like this addresses a more general and relatable audience because of the relatability other readers could have as they progress through novels drawing similar ideas or images in their head. Along with the novels, I found myself drifting a lot towards more historical sites, reading real life events that could have inspired the given events in the novel. For example, analyzing Vlad the Impaler and comparing it to Dracula was one of the more in depth and encouraged I have been about writing an entry. Along with connecting the fictional realm of movies to novels, connecting reach world historical events I find make this course so much interesting because it connects the fictional and non-fictional world.
Some of my favorite ways to analyze the novels we read is comparing them to well-known movies with similar themes, settings, or even prominent events that will lead to the downfall of a character or has an important role within the novel or book. This is first seen in my second commonplace book when we first started to read Jane Eyre. At the beginning of the novel, I saw numerous connections to the movie, or book Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. By connecting Jane Eyre and Harry Potter, I got a better understanding of Jane’s upbringing as I could visually picture it thanks to the resemblance Harry Potter showed to Jane Eyre. This included parents dying early leaving her with her rude and abusive aunt and uncle. The connection of Jane and Harry going to school is also prevalent as they both show difficulty adapting but overall is happy and welcomes the change. By connecting Jane Eyre to a similar character in Harry Potter, who I was more familiar with, I feel like I was able to draw a better understanding of the series of events in my head and I have an easier time picturing it.
Another entry that I connected to a movie was the connection between The Beetle by Richard Marsh and Pennywise from Stephen Kings It. Growing up a horror movie buff, I was very familiar with the movie It before attending this class, especially with the newer updated versions of it as well as being an avid reader and lover of Stephen Kings novels. While progressing throughout the novel of the Beetle, I found myself almost trying to connect the Beetle and Pennywise because of the similarities that already exist from the publishing. Both of these entities of evil are shapeshifters and bring a hypnotic and curious deaths throughout the novels that are unable to find the reasoning for. For me, movies are a fantastic way to completely visualize a scene so that everyone reading or possibly considering reading have symmetrical ideal of the given scene. I feel being able to visualize the setting, scene or actions taking place give a further understanding of character background as well as understanding any further characters or symbolic development that one might not be able to get from a novel.
My favorite entry from this semester would absolutely be my most recent commonplace book entry comparing Vlad the Impaler, the real-life Dracula, to Dracula in the novel. Seeing the connections between Christianity and Dracula and the influence Vlad had on Christianity is incredible to see because of all the “coincidental” instances that correlate with the real life Dracula. The connections of religion, impalement, the name given by the Hungary Order of the Dragon, as well as his overall suave persona. Not only was this surprising to learn about such a vicious tyrant, but it was intriguing to see how Stoker could have gotten inspiration from such a devastating man.
Analyzing my commonplace books, I tried to visualize and map out any real world connection between the novels we read in class. This can be from movies inspired by movies, or similar themes, or having a real life inspiration like Vlad the Impaler makes me curious about the Victorian era and other novels that were published. Are there any other novels that have been reimagined into modern day films or were they inspired by past nonfictional people. I see myself pulling examples from the real world or movies because I feel like people can relate more to a specific theme or section, in terms of analyzing compared to an entire novels big idea.
