Frankenstein

1
Frankenstein

• Mary Shelley

2
Mary Shelley

• Born in 1797 to William Godwin and Mary
  Wollstonecraft
• Father was an influential political philosopher
  novelist
• Mother was a pioneer in promoting womens rights
  and education
• Her mother died shortly after Mary was born

3
Mary Shelley

• Received no formal education
• Married (scandal!) Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1816
• romantic beyond romance
• Frankenstein was published in 1818
• She died in 1851

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I busied myself to think of a storyOne which
would speak to the mysterious fears of our nature
and awaken thrilling horror.

• Introducing the Novel

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Gothic Novel

• Main ingredients mystery, horror, supernatural
• In literature the term applies to works with a
  brooding atmosphere that emphasize the unknown
  and inspire fear
• Settings wild and remote (haunted castles,
  wind-blasted moors)
• Plot involves violent or mysterious events

6
Historical Context

• Takes place in the late 1700s, various parts of
  Europe, especially Switzerland, Germany, the
  Arctic
• Published at the height of the Romantic movement
• Enlightenment (reason logic) ? Romanticism
  (individual, imagination, emotions)
• Labeled romantic fiction- powerful work of
  imagination, exotic settings, and emphasizes the
  emotions of fear and awe

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Structure and Point of View
Frame Story
Epistolary carried by letters
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Themes

• Consequences of irresponsibility in the pursuit
  of knowledge
• Consequences of pride
• Consequences of societys rejection of someone
  who is unattractive
• Destructive power of revenge
• Sympathy

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Major Characters

• Victor Frankenstein protagonist, product of an
  idealistic Enlightenment education
• The Creature - never named is Victors
  doppelganger (alter ego)
• Robert Walton Arctic explorer whos obsessed
  with gaining knowledge and fame rescues Victor
  in the Arctic tells the story

10
Major Characters

• Henry Clerval Victors childhood friend true
  romantic, wants to leave mark on the world, but
  never loses sight of the moral relations of
  things
• Elizabeth adopted as an infant by Victors
  family

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Frankenstein

• Letters 1-4

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Small Group Discussion

• What do you think spurs people to explore the
  unknown?
• list ways in which people throughout the ages
  have explored the unknown.
• identify some reasons why individuals devote
  themselves to a life of exploration and
  discovery.
• Does such devotion involve sacrifices?

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Stylistic Devices
Point of View Frame Story Technique We hear the
story from 3 different points of view - these
versions are framed within one another.
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F r a m e
S t o r y
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F r a m e

Point of View 1 Robert Walton writes letters to
his sister.
S t o r y
16
Frankenstein

• Chapters 1-10

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F r a m e
Robert Walton
Point of View 2 Victor Frankenstein tells his
story to Walton -- who then tells it to his
sister.
S t o r y
18
Characterization

• Flat Character
• Not well-developed
• Seems like a cardboard figure, stereotype
• Round Character
• Life-like, three dimensional
• Depth, experiences personal change, growth

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Small Group Discussion

• How do you define personal responsibility?
• When something bad happens that involves you, how
  do you know whether or not you bear some
  responsibility for it?
• Evaluate these situations, in each case, discuss
  whether person B has a responsibility to person A
• A falls off Bs roof while mending it
• B walks by A, who is homeless and begging on the
  street
• B lends A his car, which has faulty brakes, and A
  has an accident.

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Frankenstein

• Chapters 11-16

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Focus Activity

• What are some reasons why a person might be
  rejected by others?

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Allusion

• Paradise Lost by John Milton story of mans
  fall from innocence to painful knowledge Victor
  can be compared to Adam, Satan, and Eve
• The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor
  Coleridge, like narrator, tells story as a
  warning and a confession

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Analyze the Creatures Personality

• Discuss the different aspects of his character by
  addressing questions such as these (support your
  analysis by citing events from the story as well
  as quoting statements made by the creature)
• In what ways is he like any human being? In what
  ways is he different?
• What does he want most in life? Why does his
  goal seem unattainable?
• How have the creatures experiences shaped his
  opinion of himself? Does he have the potential
  for good as well as evil?
• Do you think he is justified in declaring an
  ever-lasting war against the human species and
  his creator?

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Do the monster's eloquence and persuasiveness
make it easier for the reader to sympathize with
him? Why do you think most film versions of the
story present the monster as mute or
inarticulate?
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• Evaluate the character of Victor Frankenstein
  using evidence from Chapters 1-10. Focus your
  discussion on the following questions as well as
  others that occurred to you as you were reading
• What can you infer about Frankensteins character
  from his close personal relationships? His
  scientific project? In your opinion, is he an
  appealing person?
• Do you think that Frankenstein went too far in
  his quest for knowledge? Did he have a good
  motive for his project? Did he have adequate
  knowledge to begin his project? Did he consider
  possible consequences of his actions?
• How is Frankenstein affected by what happens
  after he abandons the creature? Why does he call
  himself the true murderer of William?

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Debate Questions

• Is it better to be ignorant?
• Is Frankenstein the true murderer of Justine
  and William?