A comparison of the novels: The 19th and 20th century The Lost World of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Kenneth Robeson's The Land of Terror are tales of scientific discovery and exploration. These are two great adventures with male protagonists who rely on their intelligence to see them through danger and uncertainty. However, they are totally different from each other on multiple points linked to the time of their publications. Although these science fiction tales are relatively similar, they are novels heavily influenced by their respective centuries, as evidenced by their writing style, character development, and the themes they explore. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published The Lost World in 1912. At this time, novels were still exploring relatively Victorian and Romantic ideas like courtship and adventure. The main character, Edward Malone, is madly in love with Gladys Hungerton. When Malone begins to propose to his beloved, she begs him not to because she imagines herself loving a man who actively seeks adventure and notoriety. Although this essay later explores the adventure theme of The Lost World in depth, it is worth noting that the impetus for the entire novel is Malone's devotion to his beloved. Another striking characteristic of Doyle's style is that it has a relatively dry and labored rhythm. The novel is full of tangents both narrative and scientific. The first six chapters of the work are devoted to basic information allowing us to define the course of events. The real adventure doesn't begin until chapter seven! In contrast, The Land of Terror was originally published in 1944. At that time in literature, audiences demanded a fast-paced, action-packed adventure. This is exactly what Robeson delivers with his Doc Savage tales. This particular episode begins with a murder, followed immediately by a high-speed chase, and then a fight. These events repeat throughout the novel which also includes kidnappings, plane bombings, shootouts and the escape of the dinosaurs. Robeson refuses to let his readers get comfortable and keeps the action flowing from start to finish. He uses 20th century plot ideas like murder, gangsters, drug addicts, and bank robbery to intrigue his audience. It also uses elements of overt humor illustrated in Monk and Ham's numerous exchanges of jokes which add levity to the serious events taking place. Additionally, the author uses bold language, full of slang and terminology. He uses the term "rods" instead of guns on page 78, as well as "bruiser" on page 83. These terms denote a pronounced modern tone in the work. When reading The Lost World, we can notice that, in general, Doyle's characters are simple, clichéd and relatively static. Malone, the protagonist, is a young journalist eager for adventure and glory to win Gladys' heart; he is a character reproduced endlessly throughout classic literature. Certainly, Malone displays some dynamic traits, such as realizing his folly upon returning home and discovering that Gladys has married a simple clerk. Overall, his archetype is what readers expected in the 19th century. Additionally, we have Professor Challenger, a zoologist described as "a violent, dangerous and capricious character, hated by all who meet him" (Doyle, ch.2). He's a Brainiacprominent with a bad attitude. He is known to the police, his neighborhood and London society in general for his violent episodes during which he got into fights with those with whom he disagreed or was offended. From the narrator we learn that Challenger "was a rather small man, whose head was no higher than my shoulder—a stunted Hercules whose immense vitality extended deep and wide and into the brain." » (Doyle,chap.3). Challenger remains just as irascible and intelligent throughout the novel, without much noticeable change. Additionally, it is notable that Doyle's work includes only two women: Gladys and Jessie Challenger. These women fulfill the ideal of the times where women are expected to stay at home and maintain their domicile rather than participate in major/public events. Gladys is described as "full of all feminine qualities", with "delicately tanned skin... raven hair, large liquid eyes, full but exquisite lips..." (Doyle, ch.1). She displays characteristics of vanity and pride when describing the type of man she plans to marry. She states that she wants to be “envied” for her man (Doyle, ch.1). Doyle makes a very telling statement about the general attitude and expectations of women in the 19th century when Gladys says: "I dare say I am but a stupid woman with girlish fancies... If I marry, I want to marry a man. famous man” (Doyle, ch.1). The other glimpse of femininity in the work is Professor Challenger's wife, Jessie. She is described as “…a bright, vivacious, dark-eyed lady, more French than English in her type” (Doyle, ch.3). She excuses her husband's behavior because of its impact on her and her family. Jessie in particular reinforces an idea that was circulating at this time, called the cult of domesticity, that women were morally superior to men. This concept was a major part of men's arguments that women had a place in the home. When she berates her husband for her horrible behavior, he warns her to "behave properly", but when she fails to stop, he bodily lifts her up and "places her seated on a high pedestal of black marble in the corner of the room. It was at least seven feet high and so thin that she could barely balance on it” (Doyle, ch.4). He even makes her say "please" before letting her get off the so-called "penance stool." Professor Challenger calls her a “little woman” at the end of this exchange. Overall, this is not exactly a favorable characterization of women, but it is very much in keeping with the attitudes of the time. In The Land of Terror, the main character, Doc Savage, is a modern, intelligent man with extremely impressive skills. . He is handsome and rather striking in appearance, described on page 78 as resembling "...a lively and wonderfully executed metal statue", as well as having a "...remarkably high forehead, a strong muscular mouth, a slim figure , the corded cheeks denoted a rare power of character. There are superhuman things about him, including his golden eyes that can see incredible distances. He uses them to exert influence over those with whom they come into contact. He is said to have studied with the “great masters of hypnosis” (Robeson, 80). There is also a strange sound that comes from Doc's lips, described as "a strange sound, soft and trilling, like the song of a jungle bird... It had a unique quality of emanating from everywhere, like if the very air of a dilapidated room gave birth to it” (Robeson, 84 years old). This sound occurs when Doc concentrates deeply and creates aplan. Among other things, Doc also possesses incredible intelligence, superhuman strength and agility, keen hearing, and hair and skin that sheds water like a duck. Not only does Doc regularly perform extraordinary physical feats, but he was trained "from the cradle." for a certain goal in life. That goal was a life of service…helping those who need help, punishing those who deserve it – that was Doc Savage’s noble goal in life” (Robeson, 80). Although Doc is a relatively stagnant character, he constantly defies the odds and astonishes his reader. Doc is a physical marvel as well as a genuinely good person, in this way he keeps the novel interesting while embodying the standard 20th century protagonist. There are a number of themes in The Lost World, but some of the most idolized heroism and adventure as well as racism come to the fore, making it a distinctly 19th century work. After deciding he wants to win Gladys' heart, Malone seeks out his editor, McArdle, who informs him that "the big empty spaces on the card are all filled and there is no room for romance." leaves” (Doyle, ch.2). It was a very true statement when Doyle wrote those words; the world had already been more or less discovered. However, contrary to McArdle's statement, Malone seeks adventure to "justify" his life (Doyle, ch.2). Malone states that “…men should CREATE their own chances and not wait to be given them” (Doyle, ch.1). This attitude had been circulating in the Western world for years and had led to rampant imperialism, particularly in the British Empire at the time of this work's publication. In keeping with the concept of imperialism, comes the theme of racism in The Lost. World. This is illustrated by the rejection of minorities which begins with Austin, the chauffeur to Professor Challenger's house. As Malone listens to the professor's account of his earlier trip to the Amazon, he states: "The natives were Cucama Indians, an amiable but degraded race, with mental capacities little greater than those of the average Londoner" (Doyle, ch. 4). This is not a glowing statement, but it is typical of the outlook of the century. Also, early in the novel, several remarks are made regarding Malone's Irish heritage. He refers to his "Irish effervescence" in the first chapter, as well as his "Irish spirit" in chapter three. As the professor gets to know him, he says: "Round head...brachycephalic, gray eyes, black hair, with a suggestion of a negro." Celtic, I presume” (Doyle, ch.4). The Protestant English of the 19th century were engaged in a centuries-old battle to colonize and “tame” the Catholic Irish. An analysis of racism in this novel would be incomplete if it did so. does not include the men with whom the expedition traveled the Amazon. The company is made up of “three white men, therefore, two half-breeds, a negro and three Indians” (Doyle, ch.7). and Manuel who act as their servants and are described as "swarthy, bearded, and fierce men, as active and nervous as panthers" (Doyle, ch.7). Additionally, there is “…a gigantic nigger named Zambo, who.” is a black Hercules, as strong-willed as any horse and about as intelligent" (Doyle, ch.7 not to mention the three "Mojo Indians", one of whom is not even called by his own name, it simply is). called Mojo after his tribe. All of these references reinforce a disregard for the humanity of other ethnicities that was very characteristic of the time in which it was written. The Land of Terror is characterized by the theme of justice. The murder of Doc's mentor and friend,..