Frankenstein AO3 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What does the dream symbolize according to the quote?

The dream is invented by the dreamer.

What does 'The Sublime' refer to?

A state of confusion

Excellence, grandeur, or beauty (correct)

A philosophical theory

A type of narrative structure

What is the fundamental theme of Goethe's 'The Sorrows of Young Werther'?

The struggle for self-fulfillment against societal constraints.

What does the creature learn from Plutarch's 'Lives'?

High thoughts and the ideals of human society. Signup and view all the answers

What strong feelings does Milton's 'Paradise Lost' evoke in the creature?

Fascination with the conflict between God and his creations. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Angel of the House' represent?

A passive and pure domesticated female. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Victor go to the Orkney Islands?

To create the second Monster. Signup and view all the answers

What year was Mary Shelley born?

1797 Signup and view all the answers

When was Frankenstein first published?

1818 Signup and view all the answers

What significant event happened to Mary Shelley shortly after her birth?

Her mother died 10 days later. Signup and view all the answers

What did William Godwin condemn in his work 'An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice'?

All human institutions as corrupt. Signup and view all the answers

What did Mary Wollstonecraft argue for in 'A Vindication of the Rights of Woman'?

The rights of women to receive a proper rational education. Signup and view all the answers

What happened to Mary Shelley’s first child?

She died shortly after birth. Signup and view all the answers

What is the first theatre adaptation of Frankenstein?

Richard Brinsley Peake's 'Presumption: or, the Fate of Frankenstein'. Signup and view all the answers

What inspired the idea for Frankenstein?

A ghost story competition. Signup and view all the answers

What major life event occurred to Percy Shelley in 1822?

He drowned in a boating accident. Signup and view all the answers

How is Gothic literature related to the Enlightenment?

It emerged partly in reaction to the Enlightenment. Signup and view all the answers

What does Freud describe as the nature of the 'double'?

A thing of terror. Signup and view all the answers

Who stated that Victor's presumption was an unnatural attempt?

Robert Keily. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Masculine Egotism' refer to in relation to Frankenstein?

Excessive masculinity Signup and view all the answers

What was the context for writing Frankenstein?

Romantic era Signup and view all the answers

What did Shelley think about her education?

She relied on her father's library. Signup and view all the answers

What significant practice became common in the early 1800s regarding corpses?

Grave robbing. Signup and view all the answers

Mary Shelley refers to improving herself through talking with her husband, Percy, and his ______ mind.

cultivated Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Mary Shelley's Life Timeline

Born in 1797 to William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft, who died shortly after childbirth.
Eloped with Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1814; faced personal tragedies, including the death of her first child in 1815.
The concept for Frankenstein emerged during a summer spent in Lake Geneva in 1816 during a ghost story competition.
Published Frankenstein in 1818 and released a revised edition with a new introduction in 1831.
Experience significant personal loss; her husband Percy drowned in 1822, and she faced multiple childbirth tragedies.

Key Works and Philosophies of Influential Figures

William Godwin’s An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice (1793) criticized all human institutions as corrupt.
Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) argued for women's rational education and condemned excessive sensibility.

Themes of Birth and Death

Birth and death were intertwined in Shelley's life, witnessing the deaths of her mother and several children.
Her experiences influenced her views on creation and loss, depicted in Frankenstein.

Rise of Gothic Fiction

Gothic literature arose as a reaction against Enlightenment rationalism and science, emphasizing emotional experiences and supernatural elements.

Impact of Frankenstein on Gothic Literature

The novel shifted Gothic focus inward, emphasizing personal evil and psychological divisions, introducing the theme of the double.

Interpretations of Shelley’s Monster

Critics like Anne Mellor theorize that the monster symbolizes the French Revolution's failure, born from noble intentions but leading to chaos.
The “life-principle” debate highlighted tensions between metaphysical and materialist views of life in early 19th-century science.

Galvanism and the Quest for Understanding Life

Giovanni Aldini’s experiments in galvanism displayed the potential for reanimation, raising ethical questions about life and death.

Moral Themes in Frankenstein

Percy Shelley noted the novel presents societal responsibility in the creation of monsters; societal neglect leads to malevolence.
Contrasts notions of creator and creation, emphasizing the repercussions of neglect and abuse.

Gender Roles and Critiques

The novel critiques patriarchal structures, with scholars identifying Victor's failings as extensions of male egotism and domestic ideals.
Criticisms emphasize how characters reflect societal expectations of women as passive figures.

Tragic Hero and Hubris

Victor Frankenstein embodies the tragic hero, marked by noble ambition, catastrophic downfall, and a profound tragic flaw—his abandonment of the creature.

The story reflects early 19th-century societal norms, especially regarding gender roles and domesticity, underscoring the tensions in education and authority.

Influences on the Monster's Development

Shelley incorporated ideas from Locke and Rousseau, emphasizing the role of experience in shaping identity while critiquing social and moral constructs.

The Sublime and Psychological Depth

Themes of the sublime permeate the narrative, reflecting both awe and terror in the human condition, amplified by characters' existential struggles.

Literary Influences on Shelley

Works like Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Goethe’s exploration of Romantic isolation informed the thematic development of Frankenstein.
Milton's Paradise Lost significantly influenced the creature’s self-identification with both Adam and Satan, emphasizing themes of creation and rejection.

Significance of Location

The Orkney Islands served as a stark backdrop for pivotal moments in the narrative, highlighting isolation and the monstrous creation process.

Godwin and Wollstonecraft’s revolutionary stance towards marriage and traditional roles informed Shelley's romantic associations and philosophical leanings.

Death and Anatomy in the Early 19th Century

The demand for cadavers in medical training led to grave robbing and morally questionable practices, portrayed in the context of ethical dilemmas present in Frankenstein.

The Angel of the House

Represents the idealized, submissive female role within the novel, reflecting the limitations placed on women during the Gothic and Victorian periods.

Dreams and Psychological Exploration

Dreams are significant in Gothic fiction; serve to unveil inner psychological states and contribute to character motivations throughout Frankenstein.

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Description

Explore the life timeline of Mary Shelley, including her birth, relationships, and significant events that influenced her writing of 'Frankenstein'. This quiz will test your knowledge of key dates and moments in her life. Perfect for literature students and enthusiasts alike.