1. At Stake: Monsters and the Rhetoric of Fear in Public Culture Edward Ingebretsen Student Edition
Prepared by:
Dr. Caroline (Kay) Picart
Assistant Professor of English and Humanities
Courtesy Asst. Professor of Law
Florida State University

2. Introduction: Thinking About Monsters

3. Guide Question:
How does the word “monster” function in public rhetoric?

4. Guide Question:
According to Ingebretsen, what does “monster-talk” allow?

5. Guide Question
What examples of monsters does Ingebretsen cite?

6. Guide Question:
How is the body of the monster visualized?

7. Guide Question
How are monster-talk and the formation of citizens related?

8. Guide Question
What is the key concept of Jeffrey Cohen’s Monster Theory?

9. Guide Question
How are monsters and ideology related?

10. Discussion Questions:
According to Ingebretsen, what is the late-modern cinematic monster narrative?
Do you agree or disagree?

11. Discussion Question:
Does monster-talk recognize the difference between church and state?

12. Guide Question
What connections does Ingebretsen make between the media myths of Frankenstein, Dracula and Andrew Cunanan?

13. Chapter Overviews: Brief Characterizations?

14. Guide Question
What purpose does staking the monster serve?

15. Guide Question
How does Ingebretsen personally locate himself in relation to his study/critique of monster talk?

16. Guide Question
What is the “monster of the Christian tradition” according to Ingebretsen?