Frankenstein
The Modern Prometheus
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
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)
Shelley’s 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?
Frankenstein letters
• Robert Walton, artic explorer
• His letters set the stage for the novel
• Allusion to Coleridge’s 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
• Walton’s view of the Arctic
– A place of beauty and mystery
– A place of promise, or opportunity
– A “country of eternal light”
• Walton’s view of the expedition
– An opportunity to accomplish some great
thing
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
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
• 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: Victor’s younger brother
• Henry Clerval: victor’s best friend
• 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
Victor’s education
• Sent away to school for a liberal arts
education
– Clerval’s father would not let him accompany
Victor
– Victor’s departure delayed by the death of his
mother
– New influences-
• Professor Krempe who ridiculed Victor’s earlier
studies of alchemy
• Professor Waldman who guided his reading
• What was Victor’s first reaction to his
success at animating his creation?
• What relevance do the lines from
Coleridge’s poem have?
• How does Victor’s attitude toward the
natural sciences change after his illness?
• What is Clerval’s intention in coming to the
university?
Some minor characters
• William and Ernest- Victor’s brothers
What was stolen from William’s body by
the murderer?
• Justine Moritz- who was taken in by the
family and educated and is accused of
William’s murder
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
• base = mean-spirited
• inexorable = unyielding
• insurmountable = impossible to overcome
• irksome = annoying
• listless = lacking energy
• torpor = state of inactivity or apathy
• traverse = to travel across
• adversary = enemy, opponent
• consternation = state of confusion
• illustrious = very distinguished
• omnipotent = all-powerful
• pilgrimage = long journey for a spiritual
purpose
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 Victor’s initial reaction to William’s
death?
The Creature’s Story
• New characters:
– Agatha
– Felix
– The Blind man
– Safie (the Arabian)
• The first days
– Spent in the woods
• 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?
• What book influences the Creature the
most?
• What is the main reason for the Creature’s
bitterness towards Frankenstein?
• What does the Creature want
Frankenstein to do for him?
Victor’s Story Continues
• What does the father suspect to be the
reason for Victor’s sadness?
• Where does Victor think he must go to get
information on fulfilling his promise to the
Creature?
• What was Clerval’s reaction to the
journey?
• What was Clerval’s goal for his future?
• 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 Victor’s wedding night?
• When Walton resumes his letters, how
does he describe his friend?
• Why does Walton decide to return home?
• Who is the Creature’s last victim?