Frankenstein

1
Frankenstein

• The Modern Prometheus

2
The gothic novel

• Popular between 1760 and 1820
• Main ingredients are mystery, horror, and the
  supernatural
• Typically features wild, remote settings
• Plots involve violent, mysterious events

3
Prometheus

• Prometheus is the Titan chiefly honored for
  stealing fire from the gods and giving it to
  mortals for their use. He is depicted as an
  intelligent and cunning figure who had sympathy
  for humanity. To this day, the term promethean
  refers to events or people of great creativity,
  intellect and boldness. (Wikipedia)

4
Shelleys novel

• Central characters are morally complex
• Conflict centers on questions about science and
  society and the positive and destructive sides of
  human nature
• Question can science always improve human life?

5
Frankenstein letters

• Robert Walton, artic explorer
• His letters set the stage for the novel
• Allusion to Coleridges poem The Rime of the
  Ancient Mariner
• What insights does this poem give to the events
  of the novel?
• Walton rescues a stranger from the ice

6

• Waltons view of the Arctic
• A place of beauty and mystery
• A place of promise, or opportunity
• A country of eternal light
• Waltons view of the expedition
• An opportunity to accomplish some great thing

7
Character development chapters 1-10

• Round character has individuality and depth,
  experiences change and growth
• Flat character stereotype
• Two main characters
• Victor Frankenstein
• His Creation

8
Chapters 1 - 4

• The mysterious stranger (Victor) tells Walton his
  history
• His family is
• From Geneva in Switzerland
• Wealthy and prominent family
• His parents traveled
• he was born in Italy and
• There the family adopted Elizabeth

9

• Elizabeth Lavenza
• Child of an impoverished nobleman
• With a calm and considerate disposition
• She is the artist, the poetic, the romantic while
  Victor is the scientist
• William Victors younger brother
• Henry Clerval victors best friend

10

• Henry Clerval
• Loved danger for its own sake
• Romantic
• Occupied with the moral relations of things
• Virtues and heroism of man
• Victor Frankenstein
• Desired to learn the physical secrets of the world

11
Victors education

• Sent away to school for a liberal arts education
• Clervals father would not let him accompany
  Victor
• Victors departure delayed by the death of his
  mother
• New influences-
• Professor Krempe who ridiculed Victors earlier
  studies of alchemy
• Professor Waldman who guided his reading

12

• What was Victors first reaction to his success
  at animating his creation?
• What relevance do the lines from Coleridges poem
  have?
• How does Victors attitude toward the natural
  sciences change after his illness?
• What is Clervals intention in coming to the
  university?

13
Some minor characters

• William and Ernest- Victors brothers
• What was stolen from Williams body by the
  murderer?
• Justine Moritz- who was taken in by the family
  and educated and is accused of Williams murder

14
Some vocabulary

• benevolent showing charity
• consolation something that eases sorrow or
  disappointment
• discern to perceive to detect
• fiend evil spirit or devil
• hideous extremely ugly
• omen sign of the future for good or evil

15

• base mean-spirited
• inexorable unyielding
• insurmountable impossible to overcome
• irksome annoying
• listless lacking energy
• torpor state of inactivity or apathy
• traverse to travel across

16

• adversary enemy, opponent
• consternation state of confusion
• illustrious very distinguished
• omnipotent all-powerful
• pilgrimage long journey for a spiritual purpose

17
Victor Frankenstein

• What do you think of Victor as a scientist?
• Who is Elizabeth and how does Victor feel about
  her? Does this tell you anything about his
  character?
• After his experiment is successful, Victor shuns
  other people. What does this tell you about his
  personality?
• What is Victors initial reaction to Williams
  death?

18
The Creatures Story

• New characters
• Agatha
• Felix
• The Blind man
• Safie (the Arabian)
• The first days
• Spent in the woods

19

• What are some of the things that the creature has
  to learn while he is living in the woods?
• What does he learn from his first encounters with
  people?
• How does the creature learn about language?

20

• What book influences the Creature the most?
• What is the main reason for the Creatures
  bitterness towards Frankenstein?
• What does the Creature want Frankenstein to do
  for him?

21
Victors Story Continues

• What does the father suspect to be the reason for
  Victors sadness?
• Where does Victor think he must go to get
  information on fulfilling his promise to the
  Creature?
• What was Clervals reaction to the journey?
• What was Clervals goal for his future?

22

• Why did Victor decide to destroy his new
  creation?
• Where did Victor land when he got lost on the
  sea?
• Who is the dead man?
• What promise does the Creature make about
  Victors wedding night?

23

• When Walton resumes his letters, how does he
  describe his friend?
• Why does Walton decide to return home?
• Who is the Creatures last victim?