Coursera: Fantasy and Science Fiction (Summer 2012) discussion

Wow. Really enjoying the lectures for the Poe & Hawthorne unit - 5.6 & 5.7 are fascinating. I wondered what was behind the selections of these particular tales and now I know! Coming from a science background these mechanisms of literature are completely new to me.

I have been enriched. :D

Which are your favourites and what have you learned?

I liked the one about the "Eden's complex", because it actually makes sense in the light of the older science fiction, not so sure about the later or modern sci-fi, though...

Also, at least to me, Hawthorn's allusions were obvious - so the remark about Venus sounded weird: not that I knew what it was as I read the story, but the context suggested a statue or other work of art, to me. Hawthorne was really heavily intertextual - just like Shelley.

I'm enjoying them too, however I have to say I'm not sure I buy the bed as a female symbol....