Frankenstein

1
Frankenstein

• Introduction Questions
• Preface Questions
• Questions for Letters 1-4

2
Preface Questions

• The Preface was written for the 1818 edition
  ofFrankenstein by Shelley's husband, the poet
  Percy Bysshe Shelley. This Preface certainly
  represents itself as being by the author of the
  book (which was published anonymously.)
• What influences on the story does the Preface
  mention?
• How does the Preface describe the origins of the
  story of Frankenstein?
• The writer of the Preface claims to have
  "endeavoured to preserve the truth of the
  elementary principles of human nature." What
  literary works does the writer list as conforming
  to this rule?

3
Letters 1-2

• Who is writing Letter 1 (and all the letters)?
• To whom is he writing?
• What is their relationship?
• Where is Robert Walton when he writes Letter 1?
• Why is he there? What are his plans?
• How much time has elapsed between Letter 1 and
  Letter 2?
• Where is Walton now?
• What has he managed to do and what does he desire
  ? What does he tell us about himself? How does he
  describe the lieutenant and the master? What is
  the master's story? How does Walton respond to it?

4
Letters 3-4

• How much time has elapsed between Letter 2 and
  Letter 3? Where is Walton now?
• How much time has elapsed between Letter 3 and
  Letter 4?
• What "strange accident" has happened to the
  sailors?
• Why does the man picked up by the ship say he is
  there? What shape is he in? What sort of person
  does he seem to be? How does Walton respond to
  this man?
• How much time has elapsed when Walton begins
  writing again? What has happened in the meantime?
  
• How does the man respond to Walton's project? How
  is Walton responding to the man?
• How much time has elapsed when Walton begins
  writing again? What has happened in the meantime?
  Why does the man agree to tell his story?