well, this is not exactly 'inanimate' coming to life but how about Borges short story 'The Circular Ruins' which meditates on the possibility that an apparently real, flesh and blood human being could be an unreal/ virtual entity - just a presence in a dream dreamt up by someone else..
the story is here: http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/users/00/pwillen1/lit/cruins.htm although this digital version has edited out the crucial reference to Alice in Wonderland that occurs in Borges' epipgraph. basically the epigraph refers to the sequence where Tweedledee tells Alice that the Red Kind is dreaming about her in his dream and if he woke up, Alice would be nowhere as she is just someone in Red King's dream. Abhishek 2008/9/10 Brian McNett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > In the Greek tale of Jason and the Argonauts, among others, skeletal > warriors sprung up from the teeth of the monster, Gorgon, when they were > planted in the ground. > > Sent from my iPhone! Huzzah! > > > On Sep 10, 2008, at 6:44 AM, Giancarlo Livraghi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > This isn't really a silly question. I am working on a book and there is a >> page where I am quoting examples of myth, legend, folklore, fairy tales, >> fiction or whatever where a picture or a statue or an "idol" or an "icon" >> turns into a "living" person or some sort of "real thing". >> >> Obviously Pygmalion. Also the picture of Dorian Gray, the Golem, Don >> Juan's "stone guest", the legend of Slappy Hooper ... >> >> (Also movies, such as Woody Allen's "The Purple Rose of Cairo" or Federico >> Fellini's episode in "Boccaccio 70". Maybe I could also add the Marshmallow >> Man in "Ghostbusters", but I'm not sure). >> >> Any other examples? Also from different cultures? >> >> "Silly" or mocking answers will be welcome. But I wouldn't mind getting a >> few real suggestions. >> >> Thanks >> >> Giancarlo >> >> >> >> > -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - does the frog know it has a latin name? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
