That's right, I write

Lil, XXVI, Creative Writing PhD Student, aspiring author, funny girl. She/Her.

[lillibet]

I sure write a lot of romance for someone who hasn’t even been on a date in almost four years….

[lillibet]

The ‘Theseus’ Thesis

Parallels between the Fantastic Beasts series and William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream

*Spoilers for both of the things mentioned above, you have been warned*

Okay, so I went to see Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore the other day and I couldn't help noticing a few similarities between the series so far and A Midsummer Night's Dream (AMND) so I'm going to talk about them here because J.K. Rowling doesn't really like it when people claim that her stuff is based on other stuff, insisting that she made it all up in her head (see this article about how Diagon Alley is NOT based on The Shambles in York) even though (as Mark Twain puts it) 

“There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope. We give them a turn and they make new and curious combinations.”

Anyway, onto the good stuff:

First up (or the first thing I noticed) is Theseus:

Here we have Callum Turner as Theseus Scamander (who is actually younger than Eddie Redmayne who plays his younger brother Newt, but I digress) and Oliver Chris as Duke Theseus in AMND. So far they just have the same name, but that’s not all. Both of the Theseuses (Thesei? what’s the plural of Theseus?) are celebrated war heroes in positions of power. Duke Theseus is set to marry Hippolyta, and Theseus Scamander is set to marry Leta. Leta, HippoLYTA?

Yes, Leta dies in Crimes of Grindelwald, but anyone who has seen Secrets of Dumbledore can tell that they’re trying to set up a romance between Theseus and Lally (may as well have called her Polly and have done with it). Now, do Leta and Lally both have dark skin because our boy Theseus has a type? (or because J.K. is trying to get some diversity in the cast) or because they’re based on Hippolyta, who, in AMND, is Queen of the Amazons?

in both Fantastic Beasts and AMND we have two pairs of lovers, the first pair who don’t particularly get along at first (Newt and Tina, Helena and Demetrius) and the second pair who want to be together but can’t (Jacob and Queenie, Hermia and Lysander). Hermia and Lysander in AMND are in love and want to be together but Hermia’s father won’t allow it, in the same way that Jacob and Queenie want to be together in Fantastic Beasts but wizarding society won’t allow it because Queenie is a witch and Jacob is a muggle. Luckily things turn out fine for Hermia and Lysander and for Jacob and Queenie, and both couples end up married.

I also want to argue that Dumbledore and Grindelwald are the Oberon and Titania of the Fantastic Beasts universe. Oberon and Titania are the King and Queen of the fairies, they were in love, but now they have fallen out over a changeling boy that Titiania has but Oberon wants (Credence, perhaps?) and they are now locked in a battle (admittedly mostly verbal) that could have serious repercussions in the Fairie Kingdom. In the same way that Dumbledore and Grindelwald, the two most powerful wizards, used to be in love but have since fallen out, and are now locked in a battle that could change the wizarding world forever.

And I could accept all of these things as coincidences, except that we know J.K. Rowling studied Classics at University, so would have been familiar with Shakespeare, as well as Ovid’s Metamorphoses which is one of the sources for A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

[lillibet]

Escapril Day 15: Something Very Gentle

With your happiness you must be gentle,

it's a delicate, fragile little thing,

and although it may be accidental,

if you don't handle with care it's fleeting.

Something else you need to be gentle with

are the feelings of another person.

If you are not very careful forthwith

the damage can be severe for certain.

You never know what someone's going through,

so just make sure that you don't make it worse,

be sure their feeligns not to devalue.

Be kind alwaus and heed these lines of verse.

If you are gentle in thought and action

youll find that this will bring satisfaction.

E. Wright 15.4.22

[lillibet]

Escapril Day 14: Taxidermy

Taxidermy is just preservation

(though I would prefer a less creepy way

to preserve animals for the nation)

something that lasts forever and a day.

There's a lion in Clifton Park Museum,

you can press a button to make him roar

from inside his clear glass mausoleum.

He makes folk jump as they come through the door.

He just looks so very realistic,

his eyes seem to follow you round the room.

And though it's just your mind playing a trick

you're sure he could your whole body consume.

For years and years he's sat there in splendour,

he's the thing everyone can remember.

E. Wright 14.4.22

[lillibet]

Escapril Day 13: Palmful

Palmful to me implies moderation.

A little bit of something in your palm.

Not really enough to cure starvation

but enough that it wont do any harm.

A palmful of chocolate shared with a friend

seems so much more than a palmful to be.

You're sharing more than chocolate in the end.

You're sharing a good feeling guarantee.

Is a palmful enough to change the world?

Can it make it a better, brighter place?

Some little seeds inside your palm are curled

then flowers bloom in a neglected space.

A palmful of seeds plants a lot of trees

and you save the world if you save the bees

E. Wright 13.4.22

[lillibet]

Escapril Day 12: I Think We’re Lost

"We're lost are words no Scout has ever said

(even if they are technically true)

because we know adventure is ahead,

adventures require a wrong turn or two.

When you think that you are lost in the wild

that is the place where you will find yourself,

when nature has you completely beguiled.

Sometimes being lost can bring peace itself.

Though you might be the best at map reading

and think nothing could possibly go wrong,

when on an expedition you're leading

you realise you were lost all along.

If you think the journey's getting boring

tell yourself you're not lost, youre exploring.

E. Wright 12.4.22

[lillibet]

Escapril Day 11: An Odd Number

An odd number of a thing is pleasing,

three ornaments lined on a windowsill

in an arrangement that is appeasing,

five plant pots ready with soil to fill.

An odd number of people not so much,

there's always one who's left out on their own.

A couple and the one who's out of touch,

the gooseberry, the third wheel, the alone.

Three is the magic number so they say.

It takes three to make up a trilogy.

Split your day in three for work, rest, and play.

Three years of study for my PhD.

Which is really better? Odd or even?

I suppose it depends what youre needing.

E. Wright 11.4.22

[lillibet]

Escapril Day 10: Magnification

If you can magnify the things you love

and live your every day with gratitude

the bad things in your life will smaller prove.

It will improve your outlook and your mood.

You can do hard things and that is for sure,

but if you magnify difficulty

the difficulty will become much more,

and your capability hard to see.

It's hard to focus always on the good,

especially when things aren't going well.

It's easy to just get stuck in the mud

and only on the negative to dwell.

When you find yourself lost in frustration

you need to adjust your magnification.

E. Wright 10.4.22

[lillibet]

Escapril Day 9: We’re not alone

Only two possibilities exist,

we're alone in the universe or not.

And with the universe being so vast,

the idea that we're alone is rot.

No-one was really meant to be alone,

though there is comfort in the solitude.

Sometimes we need to just pick up the phone

and allow other people to intrude.

But 'alone' is not the same as 'lonely'

you can be lonely standing in a crowd.

So if you feel like you are the only

person who's under a heavy raincloud,

you are not alone, no need to suffer,

there's someone there if things do get tougher.

E. Wright 9.4.22

[lillibet]

Escapril Day 8: ____ as medicine

So, what is really the best medicine?

Is it laughter, or love, or just fresh air?

Taking the same pills again and again?

Looking after yourelf and taking care?

Preventing illness by getting vaccines

means more than just your own life you can save.

Getting jabbed and maintaining good hygiene

leaves Edward Jenner peceful in his grave.

Prevention really is better than cure,

even if you're not fully immune,

the alternative is worse to be sure.

So get your jabs and don't be a buffoon.

In conclusion I think that I'm correct

that the best medicine is self-respect.

E. Wright 8.4.22

[lillibet]

Escapril Day 7: Bodyswap

To live as someone else for just a day

To walk a mile in someone else's shoes

To swap parts of my own body away.

But who? What would I do? How would I choose?

I could be a world leader and bring peace,

fight climate change or change somebody's life.

The wrongfully imprisoned I'd release

and reunite a husband with his wife.

Or would I just change some parts of myself?

To have a back and knees that do not ache,

a body that fits the clothes on the shelf.

To look in the mirror without heartbreak.

The truth is that I wouldn't change a thing.

I'll change the word and love the skin I'm in.

E. Wright 7.4.22

[lillibet]

Escapril Day 6: Time (Nonlinear)

The way time works inside the swimming pool

is different to the way it works outside.

When I'm swimming underwater I'm time's fool,

I resurface thinking the clock has lied.

I can create a film inside my head

as I swim a full feature to be sure.

I feel forty minutes have passed, instead

the clock laughs as it tells me "only four."

I get out of the pool and years have passed

(it seems so from the wrinkles on my skin).

An hour to swim a mile seems really fast,

and suddenly it's time to get back in.

Though it can't hasten or slow up the sun

in the pool time can both stand still and run.

E. Wright 6.4.22

[lillibet]

Escapril Day 5: Crush

This prompt has got me in some kind of slump,

the blank page seems to grow before my eyes.

My brain today is just a useless lump.

The lack of inspiration I despise.

Instead I'm going to go a different way,

get my brain out of it's current muddle,

ignore the prompt and talk about my day

and the puppies that I went to cuddle.

They're two weeks old and still so soft and small

a mix of Springer, Labrador and Poodle.

And though I want to, I can't take them all,

but soon I'll own a Springer-Labradoodle.

I can't wait to teach my puppy some tricks

and spam my friends with hundreds of dog pics.

E. Wright 5.4.22

[lillibet]

Escapril Day 4: Strange Behaviour

What is this strange behaviour on display?

Why do I trip and stumble with my words?

Does this red face my true feelings betray?

Why can't I be one of those normal girls?

It's like my brain simply forgets to work

when confronted by someone that I like.

I'm mortified, I'm acting like a berk,

afraid of being told to take a hike.

I'm usually proud of my eloquence,

but in the moments when I need it most

I lose all of my natual elegance.

Hope of finding an 'other half" is lost.

If round you I'm somewhat hyperactive

maybe it's 'cause I find you attractive.

E. Wright 4.4.22

[lillibet]

Escapril Day 3: Limbs

Our arms are up, they're waving in the air

with fourteen thousand voices in the stands.

Our limbs are going wild but we don't care,

we're showing our home pride, we're Rotherham fans.

We've travelled from The North to Wembley

to support our beloved United.

The final of the Papa John's Trophy!

Our limbs might just explode we're so excited!

The tension in the air is palpable

as both the teams come out onto the pitch

Poor Sutton have no chance, it's laughable.

Victory to The Reds without a hitch.

And alongside all of this commotion,

don't forget we're gonna win promotion!

E. Wright 3.4.22

[lillibet]

Escapril Day 2: A Separation

It is almost now a whole month ago

I took a plane and travelled oh so far

to visit friends I made in Idaho

(though most of them of course live in Utah).

A journey of more than four thousand miles

and almost thirteen hours up in the air

seems not too far to go to see their smiles

The cost is paid back in the hours we share.

By time and oceans we are separated

and global pandemics that have been rife

(that's why this trip was so long-awaited).

But my Summer Camp friends are friends for life.

Now that I'm home the countdown starts again

‘til they can come to me, or I to them.

E. Wright 2.4.22

[lillibet]

Escapril Day 1: When I Opened my Eyes

This morning when I opened up my eyes

the sky was miserable and full of cloud.

I was full ready the world to despise.

Rising this early shouldn't be allowed.

Silencing the alarm's insistent beep

and getting out of bed my mood does worsen,

my greatest wish is to go back to sleep.

Can you tell I'm not a morning person?

But through the clouds the sun begins to break,

possibilities appear before me,

suddenly glad am I to be awake.

New month, new plans, new adventures for me.

With that in mind the day can now begin.

I’ll face every task head- on with a grin.

E. Wright 1.4.22