Gargoyle Essay - 928 Words

Gargoyle A Gargoyle is a grotesquely carved human or animal figure found on an architectural structure, originally designed (believe it or not) to serve as a spout to throw rainwater clear of a building. They later became strictly ornamental and assumed many forms. The Natural and Unnatural History of Gargoyles The gargoyle often makes his perch On a cathedral or a church Where, mid eclesiastic style He smiles an early Gothic smile Oliver Herford Welcome. Your are about to meet a peculiar race of creatures which inhabited the great cathedrals of the Middle Ages, proliferating between the 11th and 13th centuries. Some of their decendants have ventured away from churches, migrating to other important buildings, but†¦show more content†¦You will see a lot of heads that have become detached from their bodies. This harks back to the 5th Century Celts who were, in fact, head-hunters. They worshipped the heads that they had severed, believing them to hold a powerful force. If you make eye contact with one, you may find out that this is true. Figures of ambiguous gender and species are frequently encountered in the world of gargoyles. Ancient people were no different from people today in finding amalgrams of male/female or human/animal bodies somewhat frightening. Pagan religion existed to confront and surmount chaos and danger. Chaos is represented by lifeforms which do not fit into known categories. You will find that an inordinate number of gargoyles have their mouths wide open and their tongues protruding. Why? The mouth pulled open is a frequent symbol of devouring giants. In order to convey size in a small sculpture, much smaller figures are placed next to the giant. The act of pulling the mouth open is a threatening gesture which serves to remind us that we are vulnerable to forces larger than ourselves. The Celts often depicted a human head entwined with foliage. Branches coming from the mouth or crowning the head were a sign of divinity. Often, the branches are of the oak tree which was sacred to the Druids. Images like this have come to be called Jack OGreen or The Green Man Fertility was theShow MoreRelatedThe Gargoyle1577 Words   |  7 Pagesnovel The Gargoyle, the author, Andrew Davidson, explores the idea of eternal love between two people, a union that spans over centuries spent both together and apart. Davidson, through the use of flashbacks, intricate plot development and foreshadowing, and dynamic characterization, creates a story that challenges the reader’s preconceived notions regarding whether eternal love can survive even when time’s inevitable grasp separates the individuals in question. The story of The Gargoyle introducesRead MoreThe Legends Of Gargoyle. Gargoyle1476 Words   |  6 Pages The legends of gargoyle Gargoyle is a place that lies deep in to the earth’s core but not all the way down but just close. The place is very hot so the rocks melted and created these rock guardians that love the hot weather. They love to destroy and crush and they created something that no one would ever imagine. Their own little world that looks so cool because they have lava fountains. The Rock Guardians were so lonely that they created 4,509 creatures like them by putting the rocks in the lavaRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie The Metal Monster Essay1496 Words   |  6 Pagesof them, told Maliki why. He got out of the car a step behind Ross, and then walked over to a huge hulking gargoyle. Ross whistled, â€Å"Wow, he’s a beast. Where do you think he came from? He might have fallen off a truck or something. Can we keep it dad?† Maliki simply scowled at the human’s ridiculous banter. His slight form was dwarfed, as he stood defiantly in front of the huge gargoyle warrior. Maliki crossed his arms over his chest, as he stared down the ancient creature. No doubt, this oneRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem The Dust 1201 Words   |  5 Pagesgetting so much better. One day grandpa had received a letter, from the museum of ultra art. With a request to sculpt one perfect gargoyle in the next week for a huge cash reward. So proud he ran around unaware of anything going on until he slipped on wet ice. He fell so hard on the ground you could hear the crack in his arm and the floor. Oh no I have to sculpt the gargoyle. Grandpa shows me the granite and I freak. I ve never tried this. Who knows I might fail? But I crammed that into the backRead MoreFar From the Madding Crowd Essay1403 Words   |  6 Pagesin tension shown by the horrific description of the gargoyle and the increasing velocity of the liquid parabola it spouts into Fannys grave. Increasing the readers apprehension before the final scene of series 10 in which Troys Adventures by the shore nearly result in his death. Gothic tradition is highlighted in this scene by detailed description of the churchs architecture, for example the exceptionally prominent gargoyles. Included in the churchs decoration, as they had becomeRead MoreAnalysis Of The Glass Hill2091 Words   |  9 Pages You finally get to the top of the hill, sweat on your brow, relieved the house is still standing there unbroken by your interference. You see a gate and there are gargoyles scattered around its perimeter. There is nothing terrifying about them, it’s just that their faces look odd and unappealing. If you closely examine the gargoyle though, you notice all the careful technique that went into making it. While observing it, you notice that there’s a latch under its chin. You pull it and a key fallsRead MoreThe History of the Gargoyle: Architectural Significance to Ornamental Choice1026 Words   |  5 Pages The History of the Gargoyle: Architectural significance to Ornamental choice Introduction This research paper is based on a combination of architecture and sculpture, precisely the gargoyle. The inspiration for topic was grasped from a past production paper question which requested that one create a gargoyle spout inspired by a Caribbean cultural aspect. This question deeply intrigued me, providing themes for both a sculpture piece and my research paper. This paper is seeks to present the transitionRead MoreThe Patterns Of Gothic Architecture755 Words   |  4 Pagesstyle were designed with thick walls allowing for few windows. As a result, they were mostly dark, signifying God as a mysterious force; the Latin phrase for this is mysterium tremendum. Another feature of Gothic architecture is of gargoyles on exterior walls. A gargoyle is a spout carved in the shape of a grotesque figure, which hang over the roof of a structure. These decorative additions are symbolic of evil, and they are placed on the outside of the church to represent the church as a place sacredRead MoreEssay Catoon Violence1043 Words   |  5 Pagesaverage child spends approximately twenty-eight hours a week watching television, which is twice as much time as they spend in schoolquot; (Baby Bag Online). In analyzing the cartoons, quot;Tom and Jerry,quot; quot;The Lion King,quot; quot;Gargoyles,quot; and quot;Pokemon,quot; concerned people will see that the types of violence range from emotional abuse such as name calling, yelling, and put downs, to physical abuse such as bullying, pushing, punching, and kicking which is more violenceRead More Romanesque and Gothic Architecture Essay1144 Words   |  5 Pagesthe massiveness of the Romanesque monuments and the introduction of the cruciform plan but also for the introduction of the Gothic era art within the Cathedrals which included the inclusion of art the radiating Rose Window, column figures and the gargoyle among many others. Within Europe, there was a progression of architectural styles, many of which are still evident in the monuments today. The major styles are considered as Carolingian (800-900 AD); Ottonian (1000s); Romanesque (1000s-1100s);