FrankensteinFrankenstein

Mary ShelleyMary Shelley

Mary ShelleyMary Shelley

Born in 1797 to William Godwin Born in 1797 to William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraftand Mary Wollstonecraft• Father was an influential political Father was an influential political

philosopher & novelistphilosopher & novelist• Mother was a pioneer in promoting Mother was a pioneer in promoting

women’s rights and educationwomen’s rights and education Her mother died shortly after Mary Her mother died shortly after Mary

was bornwas born

Mary ShelleyMary Shelley

Received no formal educationReceived no formal education Married (scandal!) Percy Bysshe Married (scandal!) Percy Bysshe

Shelley in 1816 Shelley in 1816 • ““romantic beyond romance”romantic beyond romance”

FrankensteinFrankenstein was published in 1818 was published in 1818 She died in 1851She died in 1851

““I busied myself to think of a I busied myself to think of a story…One which would speak story…One which would speak to the mysterious fears of our to the mysterious fears of our nature and awaken thrilling nature and awaken thrilling

horrorhorror..

Introducing the NovelIntroducing the Novel

Gothic NovelGothic Novel

Main ingredients: mystery, horror, Main ingredients: mystery, horror, supernaturalsupernatural

In literature the term applies to works with In literature the term applies to works with a a brooding atmospherebrooding atmosphere that that emphasize the unknownemphasize the unknown and and inspire inspire fearfear

Settings: wild and remote (haunted Settings: wild and remote (haunted castles, wind-blasted moors)castles, wind-blasted moors)

Plot involves violent or mysterious eventsPlot involves violent or mysterious events

Historical ContextHistorical Context Takes place in the late 1700s, various Takes place in the late 1700s, various

parts of Europe, especially Switzerland, parts of Europe, especially Switzerland, Germany, & the ArcticGermany, & the Arctic

Published at the height of the Romantic Published at the height of the Romantic movementmovement• Enlightenment (reason & logic) Enlightenment (reason & logic) Romanticism Romanticism

(individual, imagination, emotions)(individual, imagination, emotions) Labeled “romantic fiction”- powerful work Labeled “romantic fiction”- powerful work

of imagination, exotic settings, and of imagination, exotic settings, and emphasizes the emotions of fear and aweemphasizes the emotions of fear and awe

Structure and Point of ViewStructure and Point of View

Epistolary – carried by letters

Frame Story

ThemesThemes

Consequences of irresponsibility in Consequences of irresponsibility in the pursuit of knowledgethe pursuit of knowledge

Consequences of prideConsequences of pride Consequences of society’s rejection Consequences of society’s rejection

of someone who is unattractiveof someone who is unattractive Destructive power of revengeDestructive power of revenge SympathySympathy

Major CharactersMajor Characters

Victor Frankenstein – protagonist, Victor Frankenstein – protagonist, product of an idealistic product of an idealistic Enlightenment educationEnlightenment education

The Creature - never named; is The Creature - never named; is Victor’s Victor’s doppelganger doppelganger (alter ego);(alter ego);

Robert Walton – Arctic explorer who’s Robert Walton – Arctic explorer who’s obsessed with gaining knowledge obsessed with gaining knowledge and fame; rescues Victor in the and fame; rescues Victor in the Arctic; tells the storyArctic; tells the story

Major CharactersMajor Characters

Henry Clerval – Victor’s childhood friend; Henry Clerval – Victor’s childhood friend; true romantic, wants to leave mark on the true romantic, wants to leave mark on the world, but never loses sight of “the moral world, but never loses sight of “the moral relations of things”relations of things”

Elizabeth – adopted as an infant by Elizabeth – adopted as an infant by Victor’s family; Victor’s family;

ClassworkClasswork

Read Shelley’s Introduction to Read Shelley’s Introduction to Frankenstein Frankenstein (734-737)(734-737)

Answer Recognizing the Gothic Answer Recognizing the Gothic Tradition questionsTradition questions

FrankensteinFrankenstein

Letters 1-4Letters 1-4

Small Group DiscussionSmall Group Discussion

What do you think spurs people to What do you think spurs people to explore the unknown? explore the unknown?

list ways in which people throughout the list ways in which people throughout the

ages have explored the unknown. ages have explored the unknown. identify some reasons why individuals identify some reasons why individuals

devote themselves to a life of exploration devote themselves to a life of exploration and discovery. and discovery.

Does such devotion involve sacrifices? Does such devotion involve sacrifices?

Point of ViewFrame Story TechniqueWe “hear” the story from3 different points of view - these “versions” are framedwithin one another.

Stylistic Devices

Frame S

tory

Frame S

tory

Point of View #1

Robert Walton writesletters to his sister.

FrankensteinFrankenstein

Chapters 1-10Chapters 1-10

Robert Walton

Point of View #2

Victor Frankensteintells his story to Walton -- who thentells it to his sister.

Frame S

tory

CharacterizationCharacterization

Flat CharacterFlat Character• Not well-developedNot well-developed• Seems like a cardboard figure, stereotypeSeems like a cardboard figure, stereotype

Round CharacterRound Character• Life-like, three dimensionalLife-like, three dimensional• Depth, experiences personal change, Depth, experiences personal change,

growthgrowth

Small Group DiscussionSmall Group Discussion

How do you define personal How do you define personal responsibility? responsibility?

When something bad happens that When something bad happens that involves you, how do you know involves you, how do you know whether or not you bear some whether or not you bear some

responsibility for it? responsibility for it?

Evaluate these situations, in each case, discuss Evaluate these situations, in each case, discuss whether person B has a responsibility to person Awhether person B has a responsibility to person A• A falls off B’s roof while mending itA falls off B’s roof while mending it• B walks by A, who is homeless and begging on the streetB walks by A, who is homeless and begging on the street• B lends A his car, which has faulty brakes, and A has an B lends A his car, which has faulty brakes, and A has an

accident. accident.

FrankensteinFrankenstein

Chapters 11-16Chapters 11-16

Focus ActivityFocus Activity

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

Allusion Allusion

Paradise LostParadise Lost by John Milton – story by John Milton – story of man’s fall from innocence to of man’s fall from innocence to painful knowledge; Victor can be painful knowledge; Victor can be compared to Adam, Satan, and Evecompared to Adam, Satan, and Eve

The Rime of the Ancient MarinerThe Rime of the Ancient Mariner by by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, like Samuel Taylor Coleridge, like narrator, tells story as a warning and narrator, tells story as a warning and a confessiona confession

Analyze the Creature’s PersonalityAnalyze the Creature’s Personality Discuss the different aspects of his Discuss the different aspects of his

character by addressing questions such as character by addressing questions such as these (support your analysis by citing these (support your analysis by citing events from the story as well as quoting events from the story as well as quoting statements made by the creature):statements made by the creature):

• In what ways is he like any human being? In In what ways is he like any human being? In what ways is he different?what ways is he different?

• What does he want most in life? Why does his What does he want most in life? Why does his goal seem unattainable?goal seem unattainable?

• How have the creature’s experiences shaped his How have the creature’s experiences shaped his opinion of himself? Does he have the potential opinion of himself? Does he have the potential for good as well as evil?for good as well as evil?

• Do you think he is justified in declaring an “ever-Do you think he is justified in declaring an “ever-lasting war” against the human species and his lasting war” against the human species and his creator?creator?

Do the monster's eloquence and Do the monster's eloquence and persuasiveness make it easier persuasiveness make it easier for the reader to sympathize for the reader to sympathize with him? Why do you think with him? Why do you think

most film versions of the story most film versions of the story present the monster as mute or present the monster as mute or

inarticulate? inarticulate?

Literature GroupsLiterature Groups Evaluate the character of Victor Frankenstein Evaluate the character of Victor Frankenstein

using evidence from Chapters 1-10. Focus using evidence from Chapters 1-10. Focus your discussion on the following questions as your discussion on the following questions as well as others that occurred to you as you well as others that occurred to you as you were reading:were reading:

• What can you infer about Frankenstein’s character What can you infer about Frankenstein’s character from his close personal relationships? His scientific from his close personal relationships? His scientific project? In your opinion, is he an appealing project? In your opinion, is he an appealing person?person?

• Do you think that Frankenstein went too far in his Do you think that Frankenstein went too far in his quest for knowledge? Did he have a good motive quest for knowledge? Did he have a good motive for his project? Did he have adequate knowledge for his project? Did he have adequate knowledge to begin his project? Did he consider possible to begin his project? Did he consider possible consequences of his actions?consequences of his actions?

• How is Frankenstein affected by what happens How is Frankenstein affected by what happens after he abandons the creature? Why does he call after he abandons the creature? Why does he call himself the “true murderer” of William?himself the “true murderer” of William?

Debate QuestionsDebate Questions

Is it better to be ignorant?Is it better to be ignorant? Is Frankenstein the “true murderer” Is Frankenstein the “true murderer”

of Justine and William?of Justine and William?

Debate RubricDebate Rubric

Debate OrderDebate Order

Opening Statement (Pro)Opening Statement (Pro) Opening Statement (Con)Opening Statement (Con) Speaker 1 (Pro)Speaker 1 (Pro) Cross ExaminationCross Examination Speaker 1 Rebuttal (Pro)Speaker 1 Rebuttal (Pro) Speaker 1 (Con)Speaker 1 (Con) Cross ExaminationCross Examination Speaker 1 Rebuttal (Con)Speaker 1 Rebuttal (Con)