Monster is a term for any number of legendary creatures that usually appear in mythology, legend, and horror fiction. The word originates from the ancient Latin monstrum, meaning "omen", from the root of monere, "to warn", and also meaning "prodigy" or "miracle". A legendary creature is a mythological or folkloric creature (often known as fabulous creatures in historical literature). ... The word monster has various meanings. ... A legendary creature is a mythological or folkloric creature (often known as fabulous creatures in historical literature). ... For other uses, see Mythology (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Legend (disambiguation). ... “Horror story” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Latin (disambiguation). ... Examples of omens from the Nuremberg Chronicle (1493): natural phenomena and strange births. ...

Saint George versus the Dragon, by Gustave Moreau (1880)

The term "monster" is a being or creature that is different form the normal set of natural (in it's nature) standards of the ecosystem that can cause the system to collaps. Usually characterized by an ability to destroy human life or humanity, more than an abide to the "survival of the fittest" natural law or ennate evil. A person reffered to as a monster is taken as exceptionally evil, grotesque, unreasonably strict and uncaring, psychotic, and/or sadistic. Saint George versus the dragon by Gustave Moreau, around 1880 This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Saint George versus the dragon by Gustave Moreau, around 1880 This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Saint-George is a municipality with 695 inhabitants (as of 2003) in the district of Aubonne in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. ... Self portrait of Gustav Moreau, 1850 Gustave Moreau (April 6, 1826 – April 18, 1898) was a French Symbolist painter. ... For other uses, see Survival of the fittest (disambiguation). ... Psychosis is a psychiatric classification for a mental state in which the perception of reality is distorted. ... Flogging demonstration at Folsom Street Fair 2004. ...

Social concept

For centuries, the term "monster" has been an intriguing concept, being often associated with unknown places and things. (In olden times, unexplored regions on maps might be marked to indicate that monsters lived there).

The connection between monsters and the unknown was an important cultural theme during the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, as Western society began to use science and other academic disciplines to fathom the unknown. In addition, monsters were seen as scientific enigmas that necessitated exploration and understanding. During the Enlightenment, a typical "cabinet of curiosities" would include 'monster relics' among various scientific instruments and toys. Similarly, the concept of the "monstrous" was important to aesthetics during this period, often closely associated with the wondrous and the sublime. This article is about the European Renaissance of the 14th-17th centuries. ... ... For the 2002 novel by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, see The Cabinet of Curiosities Musei Wormiani Historia, the frontispiece from the Museum Wormianum depicting Ole Worms cabinet of curiosities. ... The Parthenons facade showing an interpretation of golden rectangles in its proportions. ... In aesthetics, the sublime (from the Latin sublimis (exalted)) is the quality of transcendent greatness, whether physical, moral, intellectual or artistic. ...

Detail from The Temptation of St. Anthony by Matthias Grünewald, 1515.

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (847x1013, 222 KB) Creator:Mathias Grünewald File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Monster ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (847x1013, 222 KB) Creator:Mathias Grünewald File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Monster ... The exterior (shutters) The Temptation (or Temptations) of St. ... The Crucifixion, central panel of the Isenheim Altarpiece Matthias Grünewald (1470-1528) is a highly regarded figure from the German Renaissance. ...

Religion and mythology

In eastern religions such as Hinduism, as well in ancient Greek and Norse mythologies, monsters are often depicted as enemies of the gods. Ragnarok (of Norse mythology) referred to the final battle between the virtuous gods of Asgard and the many monsters of the world. hinduism also involves the exchange of male pun. ... Norse, Viking or Scandinavian mythology comprises the indigenous pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian peoples, including those who settled on Iceland, where most of the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... Look up Ragnarok in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

Ancient peoples often considered "freaks" to be demonstrations of the wrath of the gods. The first so-called monstra were showpieces in traveling carnival freakshows, and were often people afflicted with disfiguring conditions like elephantiasis. Elephantiasis (Greek ελεφαντίασις, from ελέφαντας, the elephant) is a disease that is characterized by the thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the legs and genitals. ...

Fictional monsters are often depicted with decent intentions-- and a grotesque physical appearance leading to unfortunate misunderstandings. Some prominent examples include King Kong, Frankenstein's Monster, and the Horta in the Star Trek episode, "The Devil in the Dark". For other uses, see King Kong (disambiguation). ... Frankensteins monster (or Frankenstein or Frankensteins creature) is a fictional character that first appeared in Mary Shelleys novel, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. ... Kirk faces off the Horta in The Devil in the Dark. In the fictional universe of Star Trek, the Horta are a silicon-based species, introduced in the original series episode The Devil in the Dark. An intelligent species indigenous to the planet Janus IV, the Horta can comfortably live... This article is about the entire Star Trek franchise. ... The Devil in the Dark is a first-season episode Star Trek: The Original Series which first aired on March 9, 1967. ...

Monsters of ancient mythology tend to be ruthless menaces that kill indiscriminately, only to be eventually slain by a legendary hero, as in Beowulf, and Saint George and the Dragon. This article is about the epic poem. ... Saint-George is a municipality with 695 inhabitants (as of 2003) in the district of Aubonne in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. ... For other uses, see Dragon (disambiguation). ...

Monsters in literature

The relationship between science and monstrousness was a pervasive theme in Victorian-era horror literature, where science was often depicted as not only studying monsters, but producing them as well. Notable examples include Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Frankenstein. The Victorian era of the United Kingdom marked the height of the British Industrial Revolution and the apex of the British Empire. ... For other uses, see Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (disambiguation). ... This article is about the 1818 novel. ...

Monsters in philosophy

Contemporary philosophers such as Lorraine Daston have mused about the relationship between monster depictions and the role of science in a given society. Monsters also appear in a variety of philosophical works (including those of Aristotle, Augustine, Montaigne, Locke, Leibniz, Diderot, and so on). ^[1]. Lorraine Daston (a. ...

Monsters in film and television

This article or section has too many fictional references for an encylopedic and academic approach of this topic. An article about a nonfiction topic should only contain fictional references of historic importance so as to not overshadow the main topic. Interesting but not historically significant details should be moved to a separate article (possibly Monsters in fiction or Monsters in popular culture). Mere references unimportant to the overall plot of a work of fiction or trivia, as well as minor examples when more significant ones have already been mentioned, should be deleted.

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... For other uses, see Fiction (disambiguation). ... Non-fiction is a truthful account or representation of a subject which is composed of facts. ... Look up plot in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Look up trivia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Pre-World War II

During the age of silent movies, monsters tended to be human-sized, e.g., Frankenstein's monster, the Golem, and vampires. The film Siegfried featured a dragon that was actually a giant puppet on tracks. A few movie dinosaurs were created with the use of stop-motion animated models, as in RKO's King Kong, the first giant monster film of the sound era. Frankensteins monster (or Frankenstein or Frankensteins creature) is a fictional character that first appeared in Mary Shelleys novel, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. ... For other uses, see Golem (disambiguation). ... Philip Burne-Jones, The Vampire, 1897 Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings that subsist on human and/or animal lifeforce. ... Siegfried could refer to: The opera by Richard Wagner; see Siegfried (opera). ... For other uses, see Dragon (disambiguation). ... Orders & Suborders Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Theropoda Ornithischia Thyreophora Ornithopoda Marginocephalia Dinosaurs were vertebrate animals that dominated the terrestrial ecosystem for over 160 million years, first appearing approximately 230 million years ago. ... A stop motion animation of a moving coin. ... RKO could stand for: RKO Pictures The R.K.O. - finishing manoever (and initials) of WWE professional wrestler Randy Orton. ...

Universal Studios specialized in monsters, with Bela Lugosi's reprising his stage role, Dracula, and Boris Karloff playing Frankenstein's monster. The studio also made several lesser films, such as Man-Made Monster, starring Lon Chaney, Jr. as an electrically reanimated zombie. This article is about the American media conglomerate. ... Bela Lugosi as Dracula United States stamp. ... This article is about the novel. ... Boris Karloff (born William Henry Pratt) (London, November 23, 1887 – February 2, 1969) was an English actor, who immigrated to Canada in the 1910s, best known for his roles in horror films and the creation of Frankensteins monster in 1931s Frankenstein. ... This article is about the 1818 novel. ... Lon Chaney, Jr. ...

There was also a variant of Dr. Frankenstein, the mad surgeon Dr. Gogol (played by Peter Lorre), who transplanted hands that were reanimated with malevolent temperaments, in the film Mad Love. Peter Lorre (June 26, 1904 – March 23, 1964), born László Löwenstein, was an Hungarian[1] - Austrian - American actor frequently typecast as a sinister foreigner. ... Peter Lorre in Mad Love Mad Love is a 1935 horror film starring Peter Lorre, Frances Drake and Colin Clive. ...

Werewolves were introduced in films during this period, and similar creatures were presented in Cat People. Mummies were cinematically depicted as fearsome monsters as well. As for giant creatures, the Flash Gordon serial used a costumed actor (with crude special effects) to depict a large dragon. The cinematic monster cycle eventually wore thin, having a comedic turn in Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948). A werewolf in folklore and mythology is a person who changes into a wolf, either by purposefully using magic in some manner or by being placed under a curse. ... This article is about the 1942 film; Cat People is also the name of a 1982 film. ... This article is about the corpse preparation method, for other uses of Mummy see Mummy (disambiguation) An Egyptian mummy kept in the Vatican Museums. ... For other uses, see Flash Gordon (disambiguation). ... DVD front cover for The Adventures of Captain Marvel, one of the most celebrated serials for both Republic Pictures and of the sound era in general. ... Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is a 1948 comedy/horror film in which characters played by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello deliver large heavy crates to a wax museum only to discover that the contents __ Frankensteins monster and Dracula -- are neither wax nor...

Post World War II

After World War II, however, giant monsters returned to the screen with a vigor that has been causally linked to the development of nuclear weapons. One early example occurred in the American film The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, which was about a dinosaur that attacked a lighthouse. Subsequently, there were Japanese film depictions, (Godzilla, Gamera), British depictions (Gorgo), and even Scandinavian depictions (Reptilicus), of giant monsters attacking cities. The intriguing proximity of other planets brought the notion of extraterrestrial monsters to the big screen, some of which were huge in size, (such as King Ghidorah and Gigan), while others were of a more human scale. During this period, the fish-man monster was developed in the film series Creature from the Black Lagoon. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The mushroom cloud of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, 1945, rose some 18 kilometers (11 mi) above the hypocenter A nuclear weapon derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions of fusion or fission. ... The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms is a black and white 1953 science fiction film directed by Eugène Lourié. The films shooting title was Monster from Beneath the Sea. ... Orders & Suborders Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Theropoda Ornithischia Thyreophora Ornithopoda Marginocephalia Dinosaurs were vertebrate animals that dominated the terrestrial ecosystem for over 160 million years, first appearing approximately 230 million years ago. ... This article is about the character itself. ... Gamera ) is a giant, flying turtle-like creature from a popular series of daikaiju eiga monster movies produced by Daiei Motion Picture Company in Japan. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... Reptilicus, a giant monster film about a fictional prehistoric reptile, is a Danish-American co-production, produced by American International Pictures and Saga Studios, and is upon close examination two distinctly different films helmed by two different directors. ... This article is about the astronomical term. ... For the Japanese rap group, see King Giddra For the Daniel Dumile moniker, see King Geedorah King Ghidorah ), sometimes spelled Ghidrah or Ghidora or even Ghidra, is a daikaiju featured in several of Toho Studios Godzilla films and (in derivative forms) in their Mothra Trilogy. ... Gigan ) is a daikaiju from the Godzilla series, introduced in the 1972 film Godzilla vs. ... For other uses, see Fish (disambiguation). ... Creature from the Black Lagoon is a 1954 black-and-white science fiction film directed by Jack Arnold, and starring Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, and Whit Bissell. ...

Britain's Hammer Film Productions brought color to the monster movies in the late 1950s. Around this time, the earlier Universal films were usually shown on American television by independent stations (rather than network stations) by using announcers with strange personas, who gained legions of young fans. Although they have since changed considerably, movie monsters did not entirely disappear from the big screen as they did in the late 1940s. New company logo as introduced in May 2007 A poster for Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966). ... Color is an important part of the visual arts. ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Occasionally, monsters are depicted as friendly or misunderstood creatures. The creatures of Monsters Inc. scare children in order to create energy for running machinery, while the furry monsters of The Muppets and Sesame Street live in harmony with animals and humans alike. Monsters, Inc. ... For the slang term, see Muppet (slang). ... Sesame Street is an American educational childrens television series for preschoolers and is a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard, combining both education and entertainment. ...

Other usages

Monsters are a frequent mainstay of role-playing and video games, in which the creatures are often (but not always) large, powerful, evil and menacing. (An example of a monster par excellence would be the dragon). This article is about games in which one plays the role of a character. ... Namcos Pac-Man is one of the most popular video games ever made. ... For other uses, see Evil (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Dragon (disambiguation). ...

During Halloween, monster images are used in costumes for children, who will often dress like popular monsters from films and television shows.

Monsters have appeared in the "news" stories of popular tabloids such as the Weekly World News and The National Enquirer. Hillary Rodham Clinton on the cover of the Weekly World News. ...

In heavy metal and gothic rock, frequent references are made to monsters. The Finnish band Lordi, who rose to international fame in 2006 after winning the Eurovision Song Festival Contest, wear monster costumes with hideous masks. Heavy metals, in chemistry, are chemical elements of a particular range of atomic weights. ... Gothic rock (sometimes called goth rock or simply goth) is a genre of rock music that originated during the late 1970s. ... Lordi is a hard rock / heavy metal band from Finland. ...

See also

Look up monster in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• List of species in fantasy fiction
• List of Monsters
• Lake monster
• Legendary creature
• Sea monster
• Orcs
• Mutant
• Flying Spaghetti Monster
• Freak
• Cryptozoology
• Ogre

Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wiktionary (a portmanteau of wiki and dictionary) is a multilingual, Web-based project to create a free content dictionary, available in over 151 languages. ... . ... This is a list of monsters, mythical, legendary, and fictional. ... Lake monster or loch monster is the name given to large unknown animals which have purportedly been sighted in, and/or are believed to dwell in freshwaters, although their existence has never been confirmed scientifically. ... A legendary creature is a mythological or folkloric creature (often known as fabulous creatures in historical literature). ... For the television series about extinct sea animals, see Sea Monsters. ... This article is about the mythical demon, for King Canutes steward of England see Orc (steward). ... This article is about biological mutants. ... Bobby Henderson redirects here. ... This article describes the modern definition of freak. For the older meaning, see freak show. ... Cryptozoology (from Greek: κρυπτός, kryptós, hidden; ζῷον, zôon, animal; and λόγος, logos, knowledge or study – zoology) is the search for animals hypothesized to exist, but for which conclusive proof is missing. ... This article is about the mythological creature. ...

References