Note: Your teacher will grade your responses to questions 20 and 21 to ensure that you receive proper credit for your answer.
Choose two of the "other worlds" described in the unit. "Nethergrave and The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World" Compare and contrast the ways these other worlds impacted the real world for the
characters.
Both "Nethergrave" and "The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World" depict characters who encounter surreal and fantastical worlds that have a profound impact on their understanding of reality. However, the ways these other worlds impact the characters in the stories are quite different.
In "Nethergrave," Jeremy chooses to escape his bleak real life by immersing himself in an online virtual reality game called "Nethergrave." This virtual world offers him companionship, adventure, and a sense of belonging that he lacks in his everyday life. The impact of this other world on Jeremy is that he becomes increasingly detached from his real life, neglecting his schoolwork, friendships, and even his health. As a result, Jeremy's obsession with Nethergrave isolates him from the real world, ultimately leading to a sense of emptiness and regret.
On the other hand, in "The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World," the other world is thrust upon the characters unexpectedly when a mysterious corpse washes ashore in a remote fishing village. The appearance of this extraordinary drowned man fills the villagers with wonder and transforms their mundane lives. The impact of this other world is that it drastically changes the villagers' perceptions of themselves and their surroundings. They are captivated by the drowned man's beauty and imagine a life for him that is far more glorious than their own. This prompts them to reevaluate their own lives and strive for a higher sense of beauty and fulfillment. The drowned man's presence offers the villagers a temporary escape from their harsh realities, inspiring them to dream and imagine a better life.
In both stories, the impact of the other worlds is evident in how they influence the characters' perspectives and actions. Jeremy becomes so consumed with the virtual world of Nethergrave that he loses touch with reality, ultimately feeling immense regret for the time he has wasted. Conversely, the presence of the drowned man in "The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World" opens up a new realm of possibilities for the villagers, inspiring them to seek beauty and transformation in their own lives.
In conclusion, the other worlds portrayed in "Nethergrave" and "The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World" have contrasting impacts on the characters. While the virtual world of Nethergrave isolates Jeremy and leads to a sense of emptiness, the extraordinary other world of the drowned man in the fishing village sparks a profound transformation in the villagers' lives, inspiring them to dream and strive for a higher sense of beauty.