Frankenstein

1
Frankenstein
2
The Horror Novel History

• Famous gothic novels
• 1764 Castle of Otranto
• 1794 Mysteries of Uldolpho
• 1796 The Monk
• 1818 Frankenstein
• 1886 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
• 1897 Dracula
• 1898 Turn of the Screw
• Modern writers
• Stephen King
• Anne Rice

3
Elements of Gothic Literature

• Literature of nightmare
• Settings are remote
• Intricate plot
• Grotesque
• Hero/heroine threatened by evil
• Premature burial
• Chains
• Evil to come lure to terror
• Insanity
• Imprisonment

4
Mary Shelley

• Born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin
• London 1797
• Daughter of two writers
• Ran away with Percy Bysshe Shelley right before
  her 17th birthday
• She married Shelley after his wife committed
  suicide
• She was widowed when husband drowned at age 29 in
  a boating accident
• She died in 1851

5
Her WorksSome NovelsValperga 1823The Last
Man 1826Lodore 1835Also wrote short stories,
poems, and essays
6
How did the novel happen?

• Spent summer in Switzerland
• Idea for a ghost story was suggested to her
• Frightening images that formed the basis of the
  novel
• Developed a haunting character in literature
• Subtitle The Modern Prometheus...reference to
  Greek myth of the Titan who stole fire from the
  gods and gave it to humans

7
Question...
Did Shelley mean that the spark of life Victor
gave to the creature was something no human
should have stolen?
8
The novel

• Published in 1818
• She was only 19 when published
• Her husband wrote the preface, and people thought
  he wrote the novel
• Book was a runaway success
• Inspired over 50 films

9
Can life be altered?How powerful is the Pursuit
of knowledge and science?

• Themes

10
SymbolsLight...dark secrets...scientists see
the lightFire...dual nature...title reference
11
RejectionAlienation

• Other Themes

12
Movies

• The monster was played by.....

13
Should Victor make a mate for the monster?

• Yes

• No

14
Settings in the Gothic Novel
What is the place? What are the gothic elements of the place? What happens here?
The Arctic Remote, mysterious, dangerous Ice breaks up, the creature is spotted by men on ship, Robert meets Victor, Victor dies, creature boards ship, Walton meets the creature
The mountains Remote, craggy, beautiful, dangerous, cold Victor meets the creature and hears his story
Victors lab Solitary, mysterious, creepy, full of body parts Victor brings the creature to life
Small Scottish village
Coastal town in Ireland
Evian
Cottage in Germany
15
Interview with Mary Shelley?What questions
would you like to ask her?