The Frankenstein Unit

1
The Frankenstein Unit
Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay To mould
me, Did I solicit thee From Darkness to promote
me? Paradise Lost, X 743-745
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Mary Shelleys background(August 30,
1797-February 1, 1851)

• Born on August 30th 1797.
• Mother Mary Wollstonecraft a famous feminist
  author who died 11 days after giving birth to
  Mary
• Father William Godwin
• A famous 19th century philosopher who believed in
  the rights of the individual.

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Shelleys marriage

• At 15 years of age Mary met her future husband
  Percy Bysshe Shelley, a disciple of William
  Godwin and a famous poet.
• Despite being previously married to another
  woman, Percy Bysshe Shelley convinces Mary to
  elope with him in France when she was 17.

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The Making of Frankenstein

• On 19 March 1815 Shelley recorded in her journal,
  after the death of her first child "Dream that
  my little baby came to life again--that it had
  only been cold that we rubbed it before the
  fire it lived."

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Byrons Challenge

• In the summer of 1816, Percy and Mary visit Lord
  Byrons estate in France.
• The summer of 1816 had fall like weather because
  a massive volcano in Indonesia spewed ash around
  the world.
• Because of the gloomy weather, Byron issued a
  challenge to his guests to create the best horror
  story.

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The Publishing of Frankenstein

• At Byrons estate, Mary has a dream about a man
  who plans to bring life to the dead.
• She turns her idea into a story and is encouraged
  by her husband to turn the story into a novel.
• In 1818, Shelley publishes the novel at the age
  of 19.

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• I sawwith shut eyes, but acute mental visionI
  saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling
  beside the thing he had put together. I saw the
  hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and
  then, on the working of some powerful engine,
  show signs of life and stir with an uneasy,
  half-vital motion. Frightful must it be, for
  supremely frightful would be the effect of any
  human endeavor to mock the stupendous mechanism
  of the Creator of the world.

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The Title of the Novel
So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of
Frankensteinmore, far more, will I achieve
treading in the steps already marked, I will
pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and
unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of
creation.

• The name Frankenstein originates not from the
  Creature, but the Creator, Victor Frankenstein.
• Victor, like Shelley, suffers the loss of many
  loved ones at an early age.
• He creates his creature as a way to bring back
  the dead.

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The Doppelganger

• The story is a Doppelganger, or German word for
  double image.
• Both the Creature and Victor mirror each other in
  their effort to destroy the other.
• The Doppelganger represents a divided self, or
  two alter egos who are more alike than different.

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Famous Doppelgangers

• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
• Batman and the Joker
• Bruce Banner and The Incredible Hulk
• James Bond and Blofeld
• Mario and Donkey Kong
• Optimus Prime and Megatron

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The Modern Prometheus

• Mary Shelleys subtitle for Frankenstein is The
  Modern Prometheus
• In Greek Mythology, the titan Prometheus stole
  fire from the sun and gave it to humanity.
• This angered the Greek god Zeus who did not want
  humans to control fire.
• He was punished by being chained to a lake while
  an eagle would feast on his liver.
• The Prometheus Myth has become a metaphor of what
  happens when humans get a hold of something they
  cannot control and reach beyond their ability.

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The Creature

• Unlike the Hollywood stereotype, the Creature is
  an intelligent being whose rage stems from his
  neglect from Victor.

I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an
abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and
trampled on.
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Themes in the Novel

1. Personal Responsibility Are we responsible for
   our own actions?
2. Responsibility to Others Are we responsible for
   the actions of others?
3. Recreate the Past Can we reshape the past?

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The Hollywood Stereotype

• James Whale directed the 1931 film Frankenstein
  where our image of the Creature comes from.
• In the film, a mad scientists creates a creature
  with little intelligence who rages against
  humanity.

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The Cultural Myth

• There are over 100 films about Frankenstein.
• Frankenstein has been used to sell merchandise
  such as Twix candy bars, Levis Jeans, Coca-Cola,
  Frankenberry Cereal, MMs, Penzoil, and Pez.

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Favorite Titles of Frankenstein Movies

• Frankensteins Musical Christmas
• Alvin and the Chipmunks meet Frankenstein
• Frankenstein vs. Dracula
• Frankenstein the College Years
• Blackenstein

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Films, Films, Films Oh My!

• Because the myth of Frankenstein has become such
  a part of our pop culture we will by watching
  clips from various versions of Frankenstein.

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Read the Book, then the Sparknotes!

• You may be required to read 30 pages a night.
• I realize there are websites like Sparknotes that
  summarize the book, please use this as a
  resource. To pass you must read the book!!!

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Please answer the following in your
daybooksWhat is the appeal of Frankensteins
monster?