Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Introduction

Relic, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, focuses on a museum under attack by an illusive beast. This creature has a past of gruesome savagery and hungers for the human brain. Throughout the story several terms and definitions are used which relate to the scientific themes of the story, as well as challenge the reader on understanding of human anatomy. The creature itself is cloaked in mystery with its own unique appearance never truly appearing within the reader's mind, the reader only receives small snippets of information from gene studies and characters quick glances. Furthermore, following the story's view on science, is a view into the politics and drama within the scientific community and later the police after the creature begins its gory attacks. While being quite clear on the impact of a savage creature, it also shows that the issues among humans can be even greater.

Task

Through the sources provided and questions asked one should develop a concept of the fear that is filled in the knowledge of a foreign, fearful monster, the conflict among people which makes events more dire, and the truly unique characteristics of the monster. Within the text the characters sit in an area where being hunted isn't an imaginable idea, much like how our societies are today. This project should allow a keyhole view towards the struggle of other societies with predators. The webquest contains three sections that contain important information about the text, these sections are:

The Victims, The People, and The Monster

From these three sections a poster should be created that uses the information discovered within them. This poster should accurately represent the information as well as include any inferences and assumptions made be the viewer. The main focus should be the description of the victims and the monster while using the people to boost the concepts provided.

Process

The Victims

To first view the unique tendencies of the creature a description of its victims and further research into the damage it does to the human body is necessary. To view this, this link will be used: https://www.innerbody.com/htm/body.html. This link describes the anatomy of the human body while also giving images to show where these sections are located. Start with the muscular system.

1. In Chapter 10, from page 60-61, the book states, "There are an undetermined number of large lacerations proceeding from the left anterior pectoral region at a hundred and ninety degree angle downward through the costals, sternum, and terminating at the right anterior abdominal region. This is a massive wound, perhaps two feet long and a foot wide. It appears that the pectoralis minor and major are separated from the external thoracic cavity, the external and internal intercostals are separated, and the body is eviscerated to a great degree. The sternal process has been split and the rib cage exposed."

Locate the pectoralis major and describe its location and function:

Find the Sternal Head of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle and describe its location:

Understand the range of the pectoral region to the abdominal region.

Now, switch to the skeletal system:

Locate the sternum, view the rib cage, and describe the sternum's location along with it's surrounding bones:

View the costal cartilage and explain its function in the protection of the human body, as well as injuries and disorders:

2. In the same chapter on page 62, the text states, "'The cerebellum shows surface lacerations but is otherwise intact. There is little evidence of bleeding, indicating post-mortem trauma. There's the body of the fornix, attached. The cerebrum has been completely severed and the mesencephalon and the mesencephalon has been bisected and... there's no thalamoid region. And no pituitary.' ... 'Well, it looks almost like-' Fred paused. 'Like a bite was taken out.'"

Switch to the nervous system:

View the cerebellum and cerebrum, locate the cerebellum and describe the cerebrum's function:

Switch to the endocrine system:

View the Hypothalamus and explain its function, location, and describe the corticotropin and thyrotropin hormone:

The descriptions of the two hormones can be found at this source:https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/312628.php under the heading: Hormones of the hypothalamus.

Locate the pituitary gland and know its location.

From this information, and location of certain regions of the brain, infer what the monster's dietary needs are as well as how it may retrieve them.

This image relates to the method in which the creature accesses the brain: https://historum.com/threads/how-easy-can-a-dagger-pierce-a-male-human-skull.98832/#lg=_xfUid-1-1557702573&slide=0

The People

The novel's characters face conflict among their own communities. One of the communities mentioned is the science community within the museum the monster hides within. This source focuses on a rivalry between two paleontologists on the new discovery of a dinosaur and how the rivalry begins to spread further through their lives. https://ansp.org/exhibits/online-exhibits/stories/bone-wars-the-cope-marsh-rivalry/

3. How does the rivalry between Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh start, and what is it mainly over?

4. Who is proven correct from the initial conflict?

5. What does Cope do after the initial conflict?

6. What methods do Cope and Marsh turn to which allows their rivalry to swallow their paleontology careers?

The novel also has a large presence from the local police force, the FBI, and SWAT. Through these sources think of how any conflict between these groups could damage the effectiveness in appropriate action against a large, intelligent predator. The first source talks of the FBI's relation within a case of a local police force:https://www.fbi.gov/about/faqs/if-a-crime-is-committed-that-is-a-violation-of-local-state-and-federal-laws-does-the-fbi-take-over-the-investigation

7. Does the FBI take over local police force investigations?

8. What types of cases has the FBI joined with the police to collaborate on?

9. When does the FBI move to assist on a case?

This source views the reasons why a SWAT team may be necessary in the work of a police force: https://people.howstuffworks.com/swat-team.htm

10. What does SWAT stand for?

11. What are some of the reasons why a SWAT team would be called in?

12. What percentage of police forces in the United States have a SWAT team?

From this information what threat level does this creature pose, and how could conflicts among those who must deal with it damage the effectiveness of their plans?

The Monster

In Chapter 20, page 134, the text states, "MBWUN. This carving is a representation of the mad god Mbwun, possibly carved by the Kothoga tribe of the Upper Amazon basin. This savage god, also known as He Who Walks On All Fours, was much feared by the other indigenous tribes of the area. ... Except for trace references in Amazonian legends, nothing else is known about the Kothoga, or about their mysterious 'devil.'... Margo felt a chill creep over her. She looked closer, repulsed by the reptilian features, the small, wicked eyes ... the talons. Three on each forelimb." This quote is explaining an artifact found in South America by a group of explorers and further the monster. The first source talks about the belief systems of civilizations within South America: http://www.pure-spirit.com/more-animal-symbolism/306-jaguar-symbolism

13. What was the jaguar viewed as by American civilizations?

14. What does the name '"jaguar" mean?

15. What was the jaguar a ruler of?

16. What did the Aztecs and Mayans believe about the relation of people to the power of the jaguar?

Using this source: https://www.wired.com/2010/08/dinosaur-arsenal-gallery/ which focuses on the defense systems of dinosaurs, read the section about the Deinonychus.

17. How has the Deinonychus been portrayed?

18. What was the bite of the Deinonychus capable of? How was this found?

19. How much force does it take to puncture a cow bone?

This source has relevance within the text where the characters have a DNA test done on a fragment of the creature's claw. In chapter 17, page 105, it is stated, "The Biological Nomenclature Database told him: COMMON NAME: TURKISH GECKO... Sample LA-33 Summary: Sample conclusively identified as Homo Gekkopiens, common name Gecko-man..." The character which leads this test believes it is an impossibility for a creature with DNA of a human and a gecko to exist, therefore he jests at it with the name he gave it. This source talks about the Turkish Gecko: https://srelherp.uga.edu/lizards/hemtur.htm

20. Reading the description section. What is special about this creature's form of mobility?

21. Looking at the picture of this organism, where are its eyes placed and whats different about them from the description of the statue?

This source views the cassowary, a bird with a very similar defense system to that of dinosaurs. https://www.thedodo.com/in-the-wild/dangerous-cassowary-bird-photos

22. How long is a cassowary's talon?

23. What are these birds the most direct relatives to?

24. How does this bird defend itself, nest, or babies?

25. Can these birds kill people?

Lastly is a video showing an animated creature similar to that described in the book. Analyze the video and the creature and describe certain aspects of it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux6A6wXSdhs

26. Is the movement of this creature similar to that of a reptile or a human on all fours?

27. Where are the eyes placed on this creature? Are they on the sides or the front of the face?

28. Paired with the other animals listed, how would this thing attack?

29. Is its skull closer to that of a reptile or a human?

30. Does it move with more mobility? Is it faster or slower than a human walking?

Evaluation

To receive the full possible points on the poster over this story, the three sections of research must be accurately used in relation to each other and the novel. Follow these specifications:

-The poster gives an accurate description of the monster from the story as well as using real world information from natural organisms.

-The poster goes in-depth on the damage the monster can do to the human body.

-Description of what the monster eats from a human body, and what these things produce.

-The descriptions of the conflicts among characters pair with real world examples and explain how these conflicts cause issues.

-The poster includes pictures and graphics showing examples of the monster as well as parts of the body mentioned in the text.

-There is a section within the poster that comes from the creator's own inferences and ideas about dealing with a conflict similar to that in the story.

-One real world example similar to the events of the text is described.

Here are some examples of conflicts similar to that in the text that can be used (feel free to use any others as long as they can be supported):

The Tsavo Man-Eaters, a group of three lions that suddenly began eating humans in Tsavo: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/man-eaters-of-tsavo-11614317/

The Champawat Tiger was a tiger that was responsible for 436 human deaths: https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/09/14/champawat-tiger-responsible-436-deaths-nepal-india/

Conclusion

This webquest views three sections that are main points within the text towards the mystery of the monster. These three sections are the gory bodies of the victims, the conflicts among the people, and the unique monster itself. The bodies of the victims expresses the surprising ability of the creature and expands the reader's imagination to picture the monster. Conflicts among characters further shrouds the beast in shadow because of the issues which cause further development to a solution to become sluggish. The monster itself shows a primal hunter with the power to break the complacency of urban society and cause a great disturbance in civilians lives. This relates to the issues less developed civilizations surrounded with large predators deal with.