just choose and answer two questions for each book, and each response should be around 250 words including the support from the original text. Please finish it as soon as possible.
1. Choose one of the following questions according to “The Vampyre” written by John Polidori, and the answer should be around 200 words which including the support from the original text (just answer one question) 1) Context John Polidori's short story: "The Vampyre: a Tale" was based on "A Fragment of a Novel" by Lord Byron (a project he chose not to complete), and has a rather a complicated publication history. In fact the story was first published, anonymously, without Polidori's consent, causing most to credit Byron with the tale. Question Read Lord Byron's "Fragment of a Novel"(1816), and create a list of comparisons between the two works. After doing so, consider the following question: Do you think Polidori’s story is completely his own? Does it matter? What might the relationship between these two works suggest about the romantics and their writing? 2) Context Additionally, as stated in the biographical introduction: "The Vampyre had a tremendous influence on those vampire tales that followed, most notably in definitively transforming the vampire from a folklore figure to an aristocratic fiend who makes high society his prey. But this debt long went largely unacknowledged, and Polidori’s audience essentially abandoned him; when he was mentioned, it was usually only as the sometime-companion of Byron and the uncle of the founder of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, the painter and poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and his sister, the poet Christina Rossetti. Today, however, there is no doubt that the rich history of the vampire narrative in English literature begins with Polidori" (2) Question: Consider Polidori's role in shaping the vampire figure and narrative in Western culture, and his not receiving credit for it. What do you recognize in this story from other vampire tales/cultural artifacts you’ve encountered? What does it mean to have been the first or the initiator of such a popular and important figure in our literary and cultural landscape? Does it matter that he not often acknowledged or credited for this? 2. Choose one of the questions which from “Christabel” written by Coleridge, answer should be around 200 words and including the support from the original text (just answer one question!!!) 1) What connections do you see between this poem and other gothic works we’ve studied? In what ways does he subvert the gothic or challenge our expectations? 2) In an earlier draft, Coleridge labels Geraldine a “witch”—but is she the evil figure in the poem or is Christabel? She’s also been read as a vampire, is there any evidence of this in the poem? 3) Christabel and Geraldine share an interesting relationship in the poem.. How would you classify it? Geraldine and Christabel have often been read as lovers, whose love is somehow forbidden and unspeakable. Consider how female sexuality, in particular lesbian sexuality, has been “created” as an unspeakable horror? 4) Many people read Christabel and Geraldine as doubles of each other―two sides of the same coin. What evidence is there for this reading? Do they switch roles at the end, Christabel ‘turning’ into something more like Geraldine? The Vampyre TheVampyre By JohnWilliamPolidori IthappenedthatinthemidstofthedissipationsattendantuponaLondon winter, there appeared at the various parties of the leaders of the ton a nobleman,moreremarkableforhissingularities,thanhisrank.Hegazedupon themirth around him, as if he could not participate therein.Apparently, the light laughterof thefaironlyattractedhisattention, thathemightbya look quell it, and throw fear into those breasts where thoughtlessness reigned. Thosewhofeltthissensationofawe,couldnotexplainwhenceitarose:some attributedittothedeadgreyeye,which,fixingupontheobject'sface,didnot seemtopenetrate,andatoneglancetopiercethroughtotheinwardworkings oftheheart;butfelluponthecheekwithaleadenraythatweigheduponthe skin it could not pass. His peculiarities caused him to be invited to every house;allwishedtoseehim,andthosewhohadbeenaccustomedtoviolent excitement, and now felt the weight of ennui, were pleased at having somethingintheirpresencecapableofengagingtheirattention.Inspiteofthe deadlyhueofhisface,whichnevergainedawarmertint,eitherfromtheblush ofmodesty,orfromthestrongemotionofpassion,thoughitsformandoutline werebeautiful,manyofthefemalehuntersafternotorietyattemptedtowinhis attentions,andgain,at least, somemarksofwhat theymight termaffection: LadyMercer,whohadbeenthemockeryofeverymonstershewnindrawing- roomssincehermarriage,threwherselfinhisway,anddidallbutputonthe dress of a mountebank, to attract his notice:—though in vain:—when she stood before him, though his eyes were apparently fixed upon her's, still it seemed as if they were unperceived;—even her unappalled impudence was baffled, and she left the field. But though the common adultress could not influence even the guidance of his eyes, itwas not that the female sexwas indifferenttohim:yetsuchwastheapparentcautionwithwhichhespoketo the virtuous wife and innocent daughter, that few knew he ever addressed himselftofemales.Hehad,however,thereputationofawinningtongue;and whetheritwasthatitevenovercamethedreadofhissingularcharacter,orthat theyweremovedbyhisapparenthatredofvice,hewasasoftenamongthose femaleswhoformtheboastoftheirsexfromtheirdomesticvirtues,asamong thosewhosullyitbytheirvices. About the same time, there came to London a young gentleman of the nameofAubrey:hewasanorphanleftwithanonlysisterinthepossessionof greatwealth,byparentswhodiedwhilehewasyetinchildhood.Leftalsoto himself by guardians, who thought it their duty merely to take care of his fortune,whiletheyrelinquishedthemoreimportantchargeofhismindtothe care of mercenary subalterns, he cultivated more his imagination than his judgment.Hehad,hence, thathigh romantic feelingofhonourandcandour, which daily ruins so many milliners' apprentices. He believed all to sympathisewith virtue, and thought that vicewas thrown in by Providence merely for the picturesque effect of the scene, as we see in romances: he thoughtthatthemiseryofacottagemerelyconsistedinthevestingofclothes, whichwere aswarm, butwhichwere better adapted to the painter's eye by theirirregularfoldsandvariouscolouredpatches.Hethought,infine,thatthe dreamsofpoetsweretherealitiesoflife.Hewashandsome,frank,andrich: for these reasons, upon his entering into the gay circles, many mothers surrounded him, striving which should describe with least truth their languishing or romping favourites: the daughters at the same time, by their brightening countenanceswhen he approached, and by their sparkling eyes, whenheopenedhislips,soonledhimintofalsenotionsofhistalentsandhis merit.Attachedashewastotheromanceofhissolitaryhours,hewasstartled atfinding,that,exceptinthetallowandwaxcandlesthatflickered,notfrom thepresenceofaghost,butfromwantofsnuffing,therewasnofoundationin real life for any of that congeries of pleasing pictures and descriptions contained in those volumes, from which he had formed his study. Finding, however,somecompensationinhisgratifiedvanity,hewasabouttorelinquish his dreams,when the extraordinarybeingwehave abovedescribed, crossed himinhiscareer. He watched him; and the very impossibility of forming an idea of the characterofamanentirelyabsorbedinhimself,whogavefewothersignsof his observation of external objects, than the tacit assent to their existence, impliedbytheavoidanceoftheircontact:allowinghisimaginationtopicture every thing that flattered itspropensity toextravagant ideas,hesoonformed thisobjectintotheheroofaromance,anddeterminedtoobservetheoffspring of his fancy, rather than the personbefore him.Hebecame acquaintedwith him, paid him attentions, and so far advanced upon his notice, that his presence was always recognised. He gradually learnt that Lord Ruthven's affairs were embarrassed, and soon found, from the notes of preparation in ——Street,thathewasabouttotravel.Desirousofgainingsomeinformation respecting this singular character, who, till now, had only whetted his curiosity,hehinted tohisguardians, that itwas time forhim toperform the tour, which for many generations has been thought necessary to enable the young to take some rapid steps in the career of vice towards putting themselvesuponanequalitywiththeaged,andnotallowingthemtoappearas if fallen from the skies,whenever scandalous intriguesarementionedas the subjectsofpleasantryorofpraise,according to thedegreeofskill shewn in carrying them on. They consented: andAubrey immediatelymentioning his intentions toLordRuthven,wassurprised to receive fromhimaproposal to joinhim.Flatteredbysuchamarkofesteemfromhim,who,apparently,had nothingincommonwithothermen,hegladlyacceptedit,andinafewdays theyhadpassedthecirclingwaters. Hitherto, Aubrey had had no opportunity of studying Lord Ruthven's character, and now he found, that, though many more of his actions were exposedtohisview,theresultsoffereddifferentconclusionsfromtheapparent motivestohisconduct.Hiscompanionwasprofuseinhisliberality;—theidle, the vagabond, and the beggar, received from his handmore than enough to relievetheirimmediatewants.ButAubreycouldnotavoidremarking,thatit wasnotuponthevirtuous,reducedtoindigencebythemisfortunesattendant evenuponvirtue,thathebestowedhisalms;—theseweresentfromthedoor withhardlysuppressedsneers;butwhentheprofligatecametoasksomething, nottorelievehiswants,buttoallowhimtowallowinhislust,ortosinkhim still deeper in his iniquity, he was sent away with rich charity. This was, however, attributed by him to the greater importunity of the vicious,which generallyprevailsovertheretiringbashfulnessofthevirtuousindigent.There wasonecircumstanceaboutthecharityofhisLordship,whichwasstillmore impressed upon hismind: all those uponwhom itwas bestowed, inevitably foundthattherewasacurseuponit,fortheywerealleitherledtothescaffold, orsunktothelowestandthemostabjectmisery.AtBrusselsandothertowns throughwhich they passed,Aubreywas surprized at the apparent eagerness withwhichhiscompanionsoughtforthecentresofallfashionablevice;there heenteredintoall thespiritofthefarotable:hebetted,andalwaysgambled withsuccess,exceptwheretheknownsharperwashisantagonist,andthenhe lostevenmore thanhegained;but itwasalwayswith the sameunchanging face,withwhichhegenerallywatchedthesocietyaround:itwasnot,however, sowhenheencountered the rashyouthfulnovice,or the luckless fatherofa numerous family; then his very wish seemed fortune's law—this apparent abstractedness ofmindwas laid aside, and his eyes sparkledwithmore fire thanthatofthecatwhilstdallyingwiththehalf-deadmouse.Ineverytown,he lefttheformerlyaffluentyouth,tornfromthecircleheadorned,cursing,inthe solitude of a dungeon, the fate that had drawn himwithin the reach of this fiend; whilst many a father sat frantic, amidst the speaking looks of mute hungry children, without a single farthing of his late immense wealth, wherewithtobuyevensufficienttosatisfytheirpresentcraving.Yethetook no money from the gambling table; but immediately lost, to the ruiner of many, the last gilder he had just snatched from the convulsive grasp of the innocent:thismightbutbetheresultofacertaindegreeofknowledge,which wasnot,however,capableofcombatingthecunningofthemoreexperienced. Aubreyoftenwishedtorepresentthistohisfriend,andbeghimtoresignthat charityandpleasurewhichprovedtheruinofall,anddidnottendtohisown profit;—buthedelayedit—foreachdayhehopedhisfriendwouldgivehim someopportunityofspeakingfranklyandopenlytohim;however,thisnever occurred.LordRuthveninhiscarriage,andamidst thevariouswildandrich scenes of nature,was always the same: his eye spoke less than his lip; and though Aubrey was near the object of his curiosity, he obtained no greater gratification from it than the constant excitementofvainlywishing tobreak thatmystery,whichtohisexaltedimaginationbegantoassumetheappearance ofsomethingsupernatural. They soon arrived at Rome, and Aubrey for a time lost sight of his companion; he left him in daily attendance upon the morning circle of an Italiancountess,whilsthewentinsearchofthememorialsofanotheralmost desertedcity.Whilsthewasthusengaged,lettersarrivedfromEngland,which he opened with eager impatience; the first was from his sister, breathing nothingbutaffection;theotherswerefromhisguardians,thelatterastonished him;ifithadbeforeenteredintohisimaginationthattherewasanevilpower residentinhiscompanion,theseseemedtogivehimsufficientreasonforthe belief. His guardians insisted upon his immediately leaving his friend, and urged, that his character was dreadfully vicious, for that the possession of irresistiblepowersofseduction,renderedhislicentioushabitsmoredangerous tosociety.Ithadbeendiscovered,thathiscontemptfortheadultresshadnot originatedinhatredofhercharacter;butthathehadrequired,toenhancehis gratification,thathisvictim,thepartnerofhisguilt,shouldbehurledfromthe pinnacle of unsullied virtue, down to the lowest abyss of infamy and degradation:infine,thatallthosefemaleswhomhehadsought,apparentlyon accountoftheirvirtue,had,sincehisdeparture,throwneventhemaskaside, andhadnotscrupledtoexposethewholedeformityoftheirvicestothepublic gaze. Aubreydetermineduponleavingone,whosecharacterhadnotyetshowna single bright point on which to rest the eye. He resolved to invent some plausiblepretextforabandoninghimaltogether,purposing,inthemeanwhile, to watch him more closely, and to let no slight circumstances pass by unnoticed. He entered into the same circle, and soon perceived, that his Lordshipwasendeavouringtoworkupontheinexperienceofthedaughterof the lady whose house he chiefly frequented. In Italy, it is seldom that an unmarriedfemaleismetwithinsociety;hewasthereforeobligedtocarryon his plans in secret; butAubrey's eye followed him in all hiswindings, and soon discovered that an assignation had been appointed,whichwouldmost likelyendintheruinofaninnocent,thoughthoughtlessgirl.Losingnotime, he entered the apartment of Lord Ruthven, and abruptly asked him his intentionswithrespecttothelady,informinghimatthesametimethathewas awareofhisbeingabouttomeetherthatverynight.LordRuthvenanswered, that his intentions were such as he supposed all would have upon such an occasion; anduponbeingpressedwhetherhe intended tomarryher,merely laughed.Aubreyretired;and,immediatelywritinganote,tosay,thatfromthat momenthemustdeclineaccompanyinghisLordshipintheremainderoftheir proposed tour, he ordered his servant to seek other apartments, and calling uponthemotherofthelady,informedherofallheknew,notonlywithregard to her daughter, but also concerning the character of his Lordship. The assignationwasprevented.LordRuthvennextdaymerelysenthisservantto notifyhiscompleteassenttoaseparation;butdidnothintanysuspicionofhis planshavingbeenfoiledbyAubrey'sinterposition. HavingleftRome,AubreydirectedhisstepstowardsGreece,andcrossing thePeninsula,soonfoundhimselfatAthens.Hethenfixedhisresidenceinthe houseofaGreek;andsoonoccupiedhimself in tracing thefadedrecordsof ancient glory upon monuments that apparently, ashamed of chronicling the deeds of freemen only before slaves, had hidden themselves beneath the sheltering soil or many coloured lichen. Under the same roof as himself, existed a being, so beautiful and delicate, that she might have formed the modelforapainterwishingtopourtrayoncanvassthepromisedhopeofthe faithful inMahomet's paradise, save that her eyes spoke toomuchmind for anyonetothinkshecouldbelongtothosewhohadnosouls.Asshedanced upontheplain,ortrippedalongthemountain'sside,onewouldhavethought the gazelle a poor type of her beauties; forwhowould have exchanged her eye,apparently theeyeofanimatednature, for that sleepy luxurious lookof theanimalsuitedbuttothetasteofanepicure.ThelightstepofIantheoften accompanied Aubrey in his search after antiquities, and often would the unconscious girl, engaged in the pursuit of a Kashmere butterfly, show the wholebeautyofherform,floatingasitwereuponthewind,totheeagergaze ofhim,whoforgotthelettershehadjustdecyphereduponanalmosteffaced tablet, in thecontemplationofher sylph-like figure.Oftenwouldher tresses falling,asshe flittedaround,exhibit in thesun's raysuchdelicatelybrilliant and swiftly fading hues, it might well excuse the forgetfulness of the antiquary,wholetescapefromhismindtheveryobjecthehadbeforethought ofvitalimportancetotheproperinterpretationofapassageinPausanias.But whyattempt todescribecharmswhichall feel,butnonecanappreciate?—It wasinnocence,youth,andbeauty,unaffectedbycrowdeddrawing-roomsand stiflingballs.Whilsthedrewthoseremainsofwhichhewishedtopreservea memorialforhisfuturehours,shewouldstandby,andwatchthemagiceffects ofhispencil,intracingthescenesofhernativeplace;shewouldthendescribe tohimthecirclingdanceupontheopenplain,wouldpaint, tohiminall the glowing colours of youthful memory, the marriage pomp she remembered viewinginherinfancy;andthen,turningtosubjectsthathadevidentlymadea greaterimpressionuponhermind,wouldtellhimallthesupernaturaltalesof her nurse.Her earnestness and apparent belief ofwhat she narrated, excited the interest evenofAubrey; andoften as she toldhim the tale of the living vampyre, who had passed years