Frankenstein
Bell Work: 12/16/10
“Now that I had finished, the beauty
of the dream had vanished, and
breathless horror and disgust filled my
heart…”
What do you know about the story of
Frankenstein? Have you ever seen a
Frankenstein movie? What style of
writing do you expect? What do you
think the quote above means in
relation to the story?
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Frankenstein
By Mary Shelley
Original name was…
Frankenstein or
The Modern Prometheus
Prometheus: noun (Greek
mythology) the Titan who stole
fire from Olympus and gave it to
mankind; Zeus punished him by
chaining him to a rock where an
eagle gnawed at his liver until
Hercules rescued him
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
1797-1851
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Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
First published Frankenstein in
March 1818
Anonymous, but powerful debut
(first and most
remembered/recognized novel)
Only 19 years old when she
began writing
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Husband: poet Percy Bysshe
Shelley
Visiting Lord Byron at Lake
Geneva, Switzerland (setting)
Byron challenged his guests to
write a ghost story…
Fireplace…imaginations…stormy
weather = Frankenstein
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
She imagined the “hideous
phantasm of a man” who became
the confused yet deeply sensitive
creature in Frankenstein.
Movies oversimplify the
complexity of the intellectual and
emotional responses of Victor
Frankenstein & his
creature…(don’t miss out !)
Audiences of the time…
Critics… combination of praise
and disdain
Readers… fascinated and a bit
horrified by the macabre
aspects of the novel
Macabre: shockingly repellent;
inspiring horror. Syn: ghastly,
grisly, gruesome, sick
Audiences now…
Macabre has transformed into
the possible as we approach
the 21st century. How?
What are the ethical
implications of
genetic engineering?
more recently, the cloning of
livestock?
Audiences now…
Novel resonates philosophical and
moral ramifications through the
themes of:
Nurture vs. nature
Good vs. evil
Ambition vs. social responsibility
Alienation & loneliness
Justice vs. injustice
Appearances vs. reality
Scinece vs. nature
Forbidden knowledge
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QuickTime™ and a
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are needed to see this pic ture.
QuickTime™ an d a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are need ed to see this picture .
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Un compressed) decompressor
are neede d to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ an d a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are need ed to see this p icture .
Frankenstein is divided
into four parts
Introduction by Mary Shelley
Volume 1:
Opening letters and
Victor’s Story, Part 1 (8 chapters)
Volume 2:
The Monster’s Story (9 chapters)
Volume 3:
Victory’s Story, Part 2 (7 chapters)
Characters
Be able to identify and understand
relationships of the following characters:
Robert Walton, The Creature, Victor
Frankenstein, Alphonse Frankenstein,
Beaufort, Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein,
Elizabeth Lavenza, Henry Clerval, Ernest
Frankenstein, William Frankenstein, Justine
Moritz, M. Krempe, M. Waldman, Felix De
Lacey, Agatha De Lacey, M. De Lacey,
Safis, Safie’s father, Mr. Kirwin, Daniel
Nugent, Nurse, Magistrate
Homework
Read Introduction and Volume
one
Answer all study questions on
a separate piece of paper
(complete sentences, using
names, not pronouns)
Quiz Jan. 3