The Zombie Papers: The Hollow Men Rebooted, Part 2


The Zombie Papers, Part 2


Click here for Part 1


Vampires have appeared in folklore and myth since the Sumerian times, but it was not until Lord Byron penned his Fragment of a Novel in 1816 that the vampire became part of the literary tradition.  Byron’s gentlemanly fiend, feasting on virgins has he made his way across Europe, commented on social manners and sexual repression of the day—in addition to its reflect on Byron’s own wanton behaviors.  While the undead have long been present in myth and folktale, it is not until the last century that we’ve seen this monster become a center-piece in works of literature. Starting with Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend written in 1954s, we now have a canon in progress.  Zombies, as we conceive of then in contemporary pop culture, are at the beginning of a new monster canon.  In Our Vampires, Ourselves, Nina Auerbach wrote that “every age embraces the vampire it needs” (145).  This certainly seems true when one reflects on the variations of vampires we’ve seen since 1816:  from eccentric counts to glimmering high school students.  We might suggest, instead, that every age embraces the monster it needs. Contemporary zombies, in their endless pursuit of oral consumption, are a fitting symbol of modern social ills.
Despite the fact that zombie is the monster du jour, this does not mean that the undead are altogether absent from folklore or earlier works of literature.  In fact, the oldest recorded reference to the living dead occurs in the ancient Sumerian poem, “The Epic of Gilgamesh.” In the epic poem, the Goddess Ishtar threatens to:
break in the doors of hell and smash the bolts; there will be confusion of people, those above with those from the lower depths. I shall bring up the dead to eat food like the living; and the hosts of dead will outnumber the living (12).
The undead’s rightful place is in the “lower depths,” and their presence in the world of the living would be an incursion on the order of the Sumerian world-view.  They would not consume the living, but would eat food and outnumber them.  Their presence amongst the living is a threat to cosmology. The dead’s presence amongst the living raises questions often considered in zombie literature: if the undead are rising, what does that mean for my immortal soul?  What has happened to the after-life?  The dead mixing with the living breaks taboo allowing a cross-over of worlds. Questions about mortality and immortality, a significant theme in “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” are called into question. Such questions are still relevant in the discussion of zombie literature today. 



            Early Slavic and Russian folktale also contains references to the undead.  One of the most common undead characters is Koschie the deathless, an undead—often skeletal—prankster who tempts unwitting maidens and Russian bogatyrs.  In many folktales, Koschie is bound by chains and locked in a closet.  When discovered, he begs to be released. Usually an innocent maiden will set him free only to be abducted. Defeating Koschie the deathless usually involves hacking him to pieces, burning his body, and scattering his ashes.  Encounters with the undead usually spell trouble for the living.  In The Dead Mother, an undead mother returns from the grave to nurse the baby she left behind.  When the undead mother is discovered, however, the child dies.  Another tale, The Fiend, features a young woman charmed by a handsome stranger only to find him feasting on a corpse.  Slavic and Russian traditions have very strict rules regarding burial ritual.  The appearance of the undead is often the result of failure to follow ritual. The undead are cursed spirits and those who encounter them often die as a direct result of witnessing the undead walking.


            Cannibalistic and zombie-like creatures appear in the folk beliefs of many cultures.  Native American folktales include the figure of the windigo (weendigo).  The windigo has a variety of descriptions: from a wolf-like creature that devours humans, preferably immoral ones, to something akin to the contemporary Slender Man.  One of the main qualities of a windigo is cannibalism.  This concept is so prevalent that it has been termed as windigo psychosis, a culture-bound psychopathology attributed North American Native American tribes from which the windigo legend emerges. (citation)  While windigos are often described as flesh eaters, Ojibwa author Basil Johnston explains the motivation of a windigo in different terms:
The Weendigo has no other objective in life but to satisfy this lust and hunger, expending all its energy on this purpose. As long as its lust and hunger are satisfied, nothing else matters--not compassion, sorrow, reason, or judgment. Although the Weendigo is an exaggeration, it exemplifies human nature's tendency to indulge its self-interests, which, once indulged, demand even greater indulgence and ultimately result in the extreme--the erosion of principles and values (224).
What is being described by Johnston is not exactly cannibalism nor is this a fanged creature stalking campers in the woods.  In this case, qualities of the windigo are depicted much like the zombies of today—beings who were once human now consuming endlessly without satisfaction.  But when do these zombie like legends begin to make the jump from the monsters of folklore to the monster of literature? We'll explore this more in the next edition of The Zombie Papers!

56 comments

  1. At this page we collected plenty of various tips and articles on topics similar to this one

    ReplyDelete
  2. Through either group or private instruction, we teach Hebrew, holidays, Jewish values, Israel and Bible. We also train children (and adults!) for bar/t mitzvah, and we are available for officiation at the venue of your choice. Buy Online In Pakistan

    ReplyDelete
  3. I’m glad you share this info cause it’s helpful for my how to write a satirical essay

    ReplyDelete
  4. Scamfighter knows everything about the speedypaper essay writing service. All reviews are written by real customers. No paid feedback. Come round to find out the truth.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I came to 123helpme service searching for information on kibin.com and coursehero.com. From the first sight, they seem to be very similar service except for one crucial thing. They don't have any contacts. Some people like them for their grading tool which is similar to Grammarly online checker, the others for the huge essay sample database. They claim to have more than 400,000 samples for all kind of essays, term papers, course works, etc. If I were a student, I would definitely use them at least once. However, the major part of the essay examples are not free, and you have to but a prescription for them. Moreover, those papers are for paraphrasing only, and it is not easy to cancel the prescription if you signed up for it. See the full review to decide if https://scamfighter.net/review/123helpme.com
    is a scam or a decent service.

    ReplyDelete
  6. In DIGITALMARKETING: We offer link Building, Pay Per Click, Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing, Search Engine Optimization Service in Delhi & across India You can reach us: Digital Marketing Services in Delhi, Digital Marketing Company in Delhi, Digital Marketing Company in India, Digital Marketing Services in India, Smart Digital Work, Visit at
    Digital Marketing Company in India

    ReplyDelete
  7. hello, this is Tina from Tanzania. I really like your post and every time I am following your posts. please continue this it's a great job.
    Content Marketing Services Delhi

    ReplyDelete
  8. Forget the telly, we’ll just go to the crib/and watch a movie in the Jacuzzi, smoke L’s while you do me page.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I know that many students like to spend their free time watching TV shows. But for students, it is important not to forget to complete the tasks in college. Therefore, I would like to recommend CustomEssayMeister site. There you will find a lot of useful information and examples of the most varied essays: expository essay, argumentative essay, admission essay

    ReplyDelete
  10. Nice article. You may pretend to be a good writer. Oh, by the way, do you know how to write a response paper in college? It'll be great if you give me an answer.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hello! To be honest, I am not excited about such kind of things and prefer not to watch similar pictures. Instead, I like to work on business persuasive topics for those who want to get completed writing.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Looking for a London courier service? If yes so you are at the right place. Speedy sprint courier service makes finding the right Online Courier service for you easy. As the Best Speedy Sprint Courier across London. We offer a wide range of parcel collection with Same Day Pickup and Same Day Delivery services, including expedited and premium options to ensure maximum flexibility for our customers. Speedy Sprint has to be done as fast and headache-free as feasible so let’s goodbye to search Speedy sprint courier near me.

    ReplyDelete
  13. How much time do you think would spend on Facebook or Angry Birds if he lived today? Most of his time was spent working https://essaysprofessors.com/business-essay-writing-service.html , studying, daydreaming, or practicing his violin. Don’t dedicate your time or your valuable brain resources to time-wasters, but cut them out of your life. You don’t have to fill every hour of your day with work or study, but instead do things that sharpen your brain--such as puzzles, crosswords, Sudoku, Rubik’s cube, and more.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Many students do not even know how animals testing essay should look and what it might include. Since there are different types of essays (persuasive, informative, process- analysis, descriptive, etc.), students get confused what writing patterns to choose and, in the end, get a failing score.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Such a piece of good information. I'm a student and of course, I want to have money and I decided to work as a freelance writer. Our essays writers.net has been rated the best in completing diverse writing tasks given to students at their educational institutions, such as colleges, high schools, and universities.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hello, thanks, for sharing this interesting information. I appreciate reading it. the material which is mentioned here is strange about, the makeup technique is awesome. I like it. I don't' quite like watching such movies, nevertheless, some tips mentioned here will be useful in my risk for aspiration care plan. Thanks a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  17. What are the signs of infertility in females?
    In women, signs of infertility may include:
    Pain during sex.
    Heavy, long, or painful periods.
    Dark or pale menstrual blood.
    Irregular menstrual cycle.
    Hormone changes.
    Underlying medical conditions.
    Obesity.
    Not getting pregnant.
    best ivf center in pakistan

    ReplyDelete
  18. Fantastic blog and great design and style 무료야설 . Good write-up, I am regular visitor of one’s website, maintain up the nice operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a long time.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I will recommend your website to everyone.토토 You have a very good gloss. Write more high-quality articles. I support you.

    ReplyDelete
  20. For the reason that the admin of this website is working, no
    doubt very shortly it will be well-known, 바카라사이트 due to its quality contents.

    ReplyDelete
  21. 카지노사이트 That is really interesting, You're an overly professional blogger.

    I've joined your rss feed and look forward to searching for extra of your
    great post. Additionally, I have shared your site in my social networks

    ReplyDelete
  22. I visited various sites but the audio feature for audio songs present at this website
    is genuinely superb. 토토사이트

    ReplyDelete
  23. Everyone loves it when people come together
    and share opinions. Great site, 토토사이트 continue the good work!

    ReplyDelete
  24. It's truly impressive. I marvel you composed such a great write-up. I'm still delighted. Consider the response of these individuals currently. Every person agrees with me. As an individual that can truly connect, I do not wish to conserve praises. You must constantly be an author. 바카라사이트

    ReplyDelete
  25. Aw, this was a very nice post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to make
    a very good article… but what can I say… I put things off a whole lot and don’t manage to get nearly anything done. A very cool post, i actually love this web site, carry on it stays on topic and states valid points. Thank you.
    온라인섯다

    ReplyDelete
  26. Your website is really cool and this is a great inspiring article.
    성인웹툰

    ReplyDelete
  27. I wonder why people are so fascinated by vampires?

    ReplyDelete
  28. I would recommend your website to everyone. You have a very good gloss. 카지노사이트

    ReplyDelete
  29. It is a great blog post. I am Always reading your blog. Helpful and Informative blog. Thanks for sharing this information with us. 토토

    ReplyDelete
  30. thanks for this really helpful for me as we are in a new generation all things change in a blink of eyes.
    파워볼

    ReplyDelete
  31. There’s certainly a lot to find out about this topic. I like
    all the points you’ve made.
    메이저사이트
    경마사이트
    경마

    ReplyDelete
  32. Your grades are essential to you as they for sure influence your future. During grounds position drives, you will get chosen for the meeting by scouts just when you have an astounding scorecard. In this manner, don't underestimate your imprints and leave your management assignment writing tasks to us. Along these lines, you will get more opportunity to zero in on your investigations too on the grounds that procuring a management degree isn't so natural as tumbling off a log. It requires a solid responsibility and devotion to become familiar with the abilities needed to maintain a business productively. visit - my assignment help

    ReplyDelete
  33. When I read your article on this topic, the first thought seems profound and difficult. There is also a bulletin board for discussion of articles and photos similar to this topic on my site, but I would like to visit once when I have time to discuss this topic. sòng bạc


    ReplyDelete
  34. Your explanation is organized very easy to understand!!! I understood at once. Could you please post about 우리카지노?? Please!!


    ReplyDelete
  35. Your ideas inspired me very much. 크레이지슬롯 It's amazing. I want to learn your writing skills. In fact, I also have a website. If you are okay, please visit once and leave your opinion. Thank you.


    ReplyDelete
  36. A libra rising appearance woman has a direct poking gaze as if she can see inside the soul of a person. These ladies always look younger than they are.

    ReplyDelete
  37. aquarius rising celebrities They're very intuitive · They're unbiased · They have a lot of confidence in their abilities · They're great listeners · They have an offbeat quirky.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Thanks for every other informative site. The place else may just I get that kind of information written in such an ideal means? I have a venture that I’m just now operating on, and I have been on the look out for such information. rolet online

    ReplyDelete
  39. I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post antminer s19

    ReplyDelete
  40. true happiness can be difficult to achieve, you can be rich but still not be truly happ..Great things you’ve always shared with us. Just keep writing this kind of posts.The time which was wasted in traveling for tuition now it can be used for studies.Thanks 먹튀검증

    ReplyDelete
  41. Hi Dear, have you been certainly visiting this site daily, if that’s the case you then will certainly get good knowledge.Very good points you wrote here..Great stuff…I think you’ve made some truly interesting points.Keep up the good work 먹튀폴리스

    ReplyDelete
  42. Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thank you so much, However I am experiencing issues with your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I can’t subscribe to it. Is there anyone else getting similar RSS problems? Anybody who knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanks!! 토토사이트

    ReplyDelete
  43. It is my first visit to your blog, and I am very impressed with the articles that you serve. Give adequate knowledge for me. Thank you for sharing useful material. I will be back for the more great post.This is a fantastic website, thanks for sharing. There’s no doubt i would fully rate it after i read what the idea about this article is 스포츠토토

    ReplyDelete
  44. Iím amazed, I have to admit. Seldom do I come across a blog thatís equally educative and amusing, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The problem is something that not enough people are speaking intelligently about. I am very happy I stumbled across this during my hunt for something regarding this. 안전놀이터

    ReplyDelete
  45. There are incredibly plenty of details like that take into consideration. That is the fantastic specify raise up. I offer the thoughts above as general inspiration but clearly you can find questions such as the one you raise up where the most critical factor will probably be doing work in honest very good faith. I don?t know if guidelines have emerged about things like that, but More than likely that your particular job is clearly identified as a fair game. Both boys and girls notice the impact of a moment’s pleasure 메이저사이트

    ReplyDelete
  46. From the giant stacks of remarks on your articles,I brief I am not utilizing any methods, the only one having all the delight here.At this point you'll find out what is important, it all gives a url to the appealing page..Interesting and interesting information can be found on this topic here profile worth to see it 먹튀검증

    ReplyDelete
  47. You have noted very interesting details ! ps decent site. Excellent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you are just too great. I actually like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it wise. I can not wait to read far more from you. This is really a wonderful site. I think this is an informative post and it is very useful and knowledgeable. I just tripped upon your blog and ached to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog post. Thank you for sharing. Thank a lot. You have done excellent job. I enjoyed your blog . Nice efforts . 메이저사이트

    ReplyDelete
  48. https://www.lotteryyogi.com/nebraska-lottery/
    Nebraska Lottery has a long and storied history. It was created in 1993 to help fund the state’s education system, and it has since become one of the most popular lotteries in the country.
    nebraska-lottery/a>

    ReplyDelete
  49. I see you bought definitely extraordinarily realistic 꽁머니

    ReplyDelete
  50. "I am always searching online for articles that can help 먹튀검증

    ReplyDelete
  51. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  52. If you're looking for ways to deal with insects, there are various methods and products available.
    Here are a few options for insect killers.
    insect killers

    ReplyDelete