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Questions and Answers
What does the phrase 'a terrifically desolate scene' suggest about Victor's retreat to nature?
What does the phrase 'a terrifically desolate scene' suggest about Victor's retreat to nature?
How do the pines in the landscape reflect Victor's mood?
How do the pines in the landscape reflect Victor's mood?
They personify the landscape, adding severity and reflecting his guilt following Justine's death.
What does the sun symbolize in the monster's speech?
What does the sun symbolize in the monster's speech?
The sun symbolizes the monster's morality and the illumination of goodness in his tale.
What literary device is illustrated by 'rain poured from the dark sky and added to the melancholy'?
What literary device is illustrated by 'rain poured from the dark sky and added to the melancholy'?
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What does the phrase 'the sea of ice [...] rising like the waves of a troubled sea' represent?
What does the phrase 'the sea of ice [...] rising like the waves of a troubled sea' represent?
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How is the monster depicted as a Christ-like figure?
How is the monster depicted as a Christ-like figure?
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What does Victor's statement about man's sensibilities showcase?
What does Victor's statement about man's sensibilities showcase?
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What does Victor's direct address to nature reveal about his feelings?
What does Victor's direct address to nature reveal about his feelings?
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What does the past tense in 'I was benevolent [...] You, my creator, abhor me' signify?
What does the past tense in 'I was benevolent [...] You, my creator, abhor me' signify?
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What does the quote 'I ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel' allude to?
What does the quote 'I ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel' allude to?
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What does the monster's plea reflect in relation to Victor's power?
What does the monster's plea reflect in relation to Victor's power?
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Locke imagined people as a kind of _____ or tabula rasa.
Locke imagined people as a kind of _____ or tabula rasa.
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Shelley's critique of where such highly abstracted creative powers can lead is illustrated in _____ 2003.
Shelley's critique of where such highly abstracted creative powers can lead is illustrated in _____ 2003.
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Study Notes
Themes of Nature and Isolation
- Victor experiences a heavy sense of grief and guilt, finding temporary solace in desolate natural landscapes.
- The beauty in nature is coupled with a feeling of desolation, reflecting Victor's emotional turmoil and longing for escape from societal pressures.
Personification and Guilt
- Nature mirrors Victor's mood through somber, serious pines, revealing his inner guilt and struggles after Justine's death.
- Victor perceives slight disturbances in nature as threatening, indicating his emotional instability and ongoing guilt.
Symbolism of the Sun
- The sun symbolizes the monster's moral journey and the potential for goodness, highlighting themes of hope before foreshadowing his fall similar to Satan's.
- The descent of the sun suggests impending doom for Victor, as judgment against the monster parallels Victor’s own decline.
Pathetic Fallacy
- Weather forecasts the monster's arrival, enhancing the sense of disturbance in Victor's isolated setting.
- Melancholy is represented through an emotional lens, focusing on Victor's psychological state rather than external factors, emphasizing his internal guilt.
Similes and Nature's Role
- Comparison of ice glaciers to a troubled sea showcases Victor's turbulent emotions and the chaos he has brought upon himself by defying nature's order.
Christ-like Monster
- The monster is portrayed as a figure akin to Christ, drawing parallels to Jesus’s retreat to the desert for self-reflection and insight into humanity.
Human Superiority and Nature
- Victor’s observation about human emotions reveals the underlying message of humanity's inferiority to nature's power and stability.
- Nature serves as a reminder of Victor's mortality and his flawed superiority over natural elements.
Victor’s Desperation
- Direct plea to nature illustrates Victor’s acceptance of his flawed serenity, preferring death over the responsibilities of his societal role, indicating a deep internal conflict.
The Monster’s Transformation
- The past tense reveals a significant shift in the monster's emotional state, embodying the mutable nature of morality.
- The dynamic between Victor and the monster showcases the complexity of their relationship, establishing a tone of accusation and power disparity.
Miltonic Allusion
- The monster compares himself to both Adam and Satan, emphasizing his fall from grace and presenting him in a sympathetic light due to his eloquence and self-awareness.
- This duality highlights the depth of his character as being wronged, rather than evil, amplifying the reader's sympathy.
Power Dynamics
- The monster implicates Victor in a moral obligation to address the chaos unleashed by his creation, reinforcing Victor’s role as a flawed creator.
- The destructive nature metaphor of the whirlwind aligns the monster with forces greater than Victor, posing a threat to his existence.
Philosophical References
- Locke's idea of the 'blank canvas' emphasizes themes of identity and moral construction in the context of creation, hinting at how experiences shape one's being.
- Shelley's critique of creative power critiques philosophical abstractions and their potential consequences, raising questions about responsibility in creation.
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Description
Explore key terms and concepts from Chapter 10 of Frankenstein. These flashcards highlight Victor's emotional turmoil as he retreats into nature, using vivid language to describe his internal conflict. Test your understanding of the themes and literary devices used in this crucial chapter.
