Podcast
Questions and Answers
What are 3 major plot events in Chapter 7?
What are 3 major plot events in Chapter 7?
- Receives letter from father, William has been murdered!!! 2. Sees creature once again in hometown, claims that it was the murderer of William. 3. Reunited with family, shocked to find out Justine is going on trial, feels it is his doing since he won't tell the truth.
What are 3 major plot events in Chapter 8?
What are 3 major plot events in Chapter 8?
- Justine's trial, family believes guilty except for Elizabeth and Victor. 2. Justine lies and confesses though Elizabeth stood up for her, is committed and dies shortly after. 3. Victor exclaims his feelings: sad, distressed, full of anxiety, feels it is his fault for Justine/William's deaths.
Why did Caroline make Justine a servant when she took her in rather than a daughter/cousin like Elizabeth?
Why did Caroline make Justine a servant when she took her in rather than a daughter/cousin like Elizabeth?
Eugenics (form of racism), made Elizabeth daughter/Victor's to be wife because she was white, blonde and had blue eyes. Justine, on the other hand, had dark skin, eyes, and hair.
What does Alphonse Frankenstein write in the letter in Chapter 7?
What does Alphonse Frankenstein write in the letter in Chapter 7?
Signup and view all the answers
Describe Elizabeth Lavenza in Chapters 6-8.
Describe Elizabeth Lavenza in Chapters 6-8.
Signup and view all the answers
What was the problem Victor contemplates before he makes the creature?
What was the problem Victor contemplates before he makes the creature?
Signup and view all the answers
Justine Mortiz was blamed and convicted (death) of _____ murder.
Justine Mortiz was blamed and convicted (death) of _____ murder.
Signup and view all the answers
How did everyone feel in Chapter 3 when Caroline died?
How did everyone feel in Chapter 3 when Caroline died?
Signup and view all the answers
Victor is distraught about Justine's death in Chapter 8.
Victor is distraught about Justine's death in Chapter 8.
Signup and view all the answers
What does the Feminine touch mean in this book?
What does the Feminine touch mean in this book?
Signup and view all the answers
What are 3 major events in Chapter 9?
What are 3 major events in Chapter 9?
Signup and view all the answers
From what city is Robert Walton writing from in letter 1?
From what city is Robert Walton writing from in letter 1?
Signup and view all the answers
What does Walton allude to at the end of the 2nd Letter?
What does Walton allude to at the end of the 2nd Letter?
Signup and view all the answers
What 'strange accident' happened to the sailors in Letter 4?
What 'strange accident' happened to the sailors in Letter 4?
Signup and view all the answers
Explain the significance: 'Unhappy man! Do you share my madness? Have you drunk also of the intoxicating draught?'
Explain the significance: 'Unhappy man! Do you share my madness? Have you drunk also of the intoxicating draught?'
Signup and view all the answers
Match the following characters with their roles or descriptions:
Match the following characters with their roles or descriptions:
Signup and view all the answers
What is a motif?
What is a motif?
Signup and view all the answers
What is theme?
What is theme?
Signup and view all the answers
What do Romantics idealize?
What do Romantics idealize?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the significance of the subtitle of Frankenstein, 'The Modern Prometheus'?
What is the significance of the subtitle of Frankenstein, 'The Modern Prometheus'?
Signup and view all the answers
What is Mary Shelley's obsession with Greek mythology and the classics?
What is Mary Shelley's obsession with Greek mythology and the classics?
Signup and view all the answers
When and where was Frankenstein written?
When and where was Frankenstein written?
Signup and view all the answers
How old was Mary Shelley when she wrote Frankenstein?
How old was Mary Shelley when she wrote Frankenstein?
Signup and view all the answers
How did Shelley become a skilled writer?
How did Shelley become a skilled writer?
Signup and view all the answers
Who were some of Shelley's inspirations?
Who were some of Shelley's inspirations?
Signup and view all the answers
Why was Frankenstein written?
Why was Frankenstein written?
Signup and view all the answers
What were Mary's inspirations for the book?
What were Mary's inspirations for the book?
Signup and view all the answers
What is galvanism?
What is galvanism?
Signup and view all the answers
What does Mary Shelley express through the quote 'I have found it! What terrified me will terrify others;'?
What does Mary Shelley express through the quote 'I have found it! What terrified me will terrify others;'?
Signup and view all the answers
What does Mary Shelley mean by 'this is for myself; my readers have nothing to do with these associations'?
What does Mary Shelley mean by 'this is for myself; my readers have nothing to do with these associations'?
Signup and view all the answers
Who is Robert Walton?
Who is Robert Walton?
Signup and view all the answers
Who is Margaret Saville?
Who is Margaret Saville?
Signup and view all the answers
Who is the Lieutenant on Walton's ship?
Who is the Lieutenant on Walton's ship?
Signup and view all the answers
Who is the Master?
Who is the Master?
Signup and view all the answers
Who is the stranger encountered by Walton?
Who is the stranger encountered by Walton?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a frame story?
What is a frame story?
Signup and view all the answers
What does Letter 1 reveal about Robert Walton?
What does Letter 1 reveal about Robert Walton?
Signup and view all the answers
What is Robert Walton preparing for in Letter 1?
What is Robert Walton preparing for in Letter 1?
Signup and view all the answers
What is happening in Robert Walton's 2nd Letter?
What is happening in Robert Walton's 2nd Letter?
Signup and view all the answers
How old is Robert Walton in Letter 2, and what does he realize?
How old is Robert Walton in Letter 2, and what does he realize?
Signup and view all the answers
Who does Robert Walton frequently refer to throughout the story?
Who does Robert Walton frequently refer to throughout the story?
Signup and view all the answers
What tone does Robert Walton present in Letter 3?
What tone does Robert Walton present in Letter 3?
Signup and view all the answers
How does Robert Walton plan to face danger in Letter 3?
How does Robert Walton plan to face danger in Letter 3?
Signup and view all the answers
What does Letter 3 foreshadow?
What does Letter 3 foreshadow?
Signup and view all the answers
Who do we meet in Letter 4 and what is significant about his question?
Who do we meet in Letter 4 and what is significant about his question?
Signup and view all the answers
What advice does the stranger give by the end of Letter 4?
What advice does the stranger give by the end of Letter 4?
Signup and view all the answers
What are three major plot events in Chapter 1?
What are three major plot events in Chapter 1?
Signup and view all the answers
What are three major plot events in Chapter 2?
What are three major plot events in Chapter 2?
Signup and view all the answers
Describe Victor Frankenstein's childhood.
Describe Victor Frankenstein's childhood.
Signup and view all the answers
What fascinated Victor during the lightning storm?
What fascinated Victor during the lightning storm?
Signup and view all the answers
What are three major plot events in Chapter 3?
What are three major plot events in Chapter 3?
Signup and view all the answers
What are three major plot events in Chapter 4?
What are three major plot events in Chapter 4?
Signup and view all the answers
What are three major plot events in Chapter 5?
What are three major plot events in Chapter 5?
Signup and view all the answers
What does Victor mean by saying 'by birth'?
What does Victor mean by saying 'by birth'?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Romanticism and Greek Mythology
- Romantics idealize nature, portraying settings as symbolic and emotive.
- "The Modern Prometheus" reflects the dual nature of creation, showing how something initially beneficial can lead to tragic consequences, mirroring Prometheus’ story.
Mary Shelley's Background and Inspirations
- "Frankenstein" written in 1831 during a freak storm while visiting Lord Byron, initiating a ghost story challenge.
- Mary Shelley was self-taught, improving her writing amidst personal tragedies, including the loss of her mother and sister-in-law.
- Key influences included Percy Shelley, Greek mythology, Darwin's ideas of life and electricity, and personal experiences, including nightmares and loss.
Robert Walton and the Structure of the Narrative
- Robert Walton, wealthy yet lonely, embarks on an expedition to find the North Pole, seeking glory and camaraderie.
- His journey is framed within letters to his sister Margaret Saville, reflecting a complex narrative structure that intertwines various stories.
Victor Frankenstein's Family and Early Life
- Victor comes from a loving family in Geneva, supported by parents Alphonse and Caroline.
- Victor's childhood was nurturing, marked by his connections to his adopted sister Elizabeth and childhood friend Henry Clerval.
Victor’s Education and Obsession
- Victor attends college at Ingolstadt, increasingly isolated as he pursues knowledge in chemistry and the occult.
- A lightning storm sparks his fascination with the power of electricity and galvanism, ultimately leading to his creation of the monster.
Creation and Aftermath
- Victor's completion of the creature results in immediate horror and regret, plunging him into illness and isolation.
- His relationship with Henry Clerval provides a counterbalance, emphasizing the contrast between friendship and Victor's obsessive pursuits.
Family Tragedies and Consequences
- The death of Victor's younger brother William shocks the family; Victor suspects the creature's involvement in the murder.
- Justine Moritz, a family servant, is wrongfully accused and executed for William's death, deepening Victor's guilt and despair.
Themes of Love, Guilt, and Isolation
- Elizabeth embodies calm and intellect, serving as a stabilizing force in Victor's chaotic life while sharing a deep bond with him.
- The narrative explores profound emotional turmoil, highlighting Victor’s growing anxiety and guilt, particularly after the deaths in his family.
Defining Gothic and Romantic Literature
- Gothic literature presents a blend of horror, dark settings, and supernatural elements, while Romanticism values emotions, nature, and the human condition.
- Key elements of Gothic: remote settings, supernatural occurrences, and intense emotional experiences.
- Key elements of Romanticism: the significance of nature, individualism, and the emotional experience over rational thought.
Plot Developments in Chapters
- Early chapters establish character relationships and Victor's background, leading to his tragic creation.
- The storyline progresses through episodes of growth, guilt, and confrontation with the consequences of Victor's obsessive pursuits, culminating in tragedy for those around him.### Key Characters and Their Roles
- Henry Clerval: Provides sympathy to Victor after William's death, reassures him of recovery, stays at college while Victor rushes home.
- William Frankenstein: Described with tall stature, blue eyes, dark eyelashes, and curly hair. Murdered, mistakenly attributed to Justine, but actually the monster's doing.
- Justine Mortiz: Orphaned during childhood, became a family servant treated with dignity. Accused and convicted of William's murder, confessing under court pressure, reflecting the societal treatment of women.
Themes and Literary Elements
-
Gothic vs. Romantic Elements:
- Gothic: Victor experiences fear and isolation, contemplating madness and judgment upon returning home. His realizations about his creation bring despair and horror.
- Romantic: Reflection on nature as a source of solace. Calm waters and snowy mountains symbolize a chance for renewal and introspection regarding mistakes.
Plot Developments and Character Insights
-
Victor's Internal Struggles:
- Struggles with guilt over the deaths caused by his creation and contemplates suicide, feeling detached from others' grief.
- Experiences insomnia and illness due to his turmoil, seeking solace in nature, and reflects on his actions’ consequences.
Motifs and Symbolism
- Recurring Motifs: Loneliness, friendship, feminine characters, nature, and light/dark imagery represent deeper themes throughout the narrative.
- Motif Definition: Repeated images or elements that convey broader meanings or themes within the text.
Important Plot Points and Timeline
- Robert Walton's expedition began 6 months before letter 1, and by letter 3 he has been on the journey for 8 months.
- A month elapsed between letters 3 and 4, during which sailors become distracted by Walton's encounter with Victor.
Reflections and Messages
- Victor warns Walton against the pursuit of dangerous knowledge, recognizing the madness in ambition that led to his own suffering.
- The emotional strength of feminine characters underscores their need for protection and support within the narrative.
Noteworthy Quotes and Analysis
- Quotes reflecting Gothic and Romantic themes demonstrate the duality in Victor's experiences and the impact of nature on his psyche.
- Key phrases highlight the consequences of ambition and the cautionary nature of Victor's saga, shaping the story's overarching message.
Major Emotional and Psychological Elements
- Victor’s despair and guilt primarily stem from the realization that his creation has resulted in multiple deaths.
- His journey into the wilderness signifies a need for mental clarity and an escape from the chaos of his life.
Contextual Significance
- The societal dynamics represented through characters like Justine illustrate the historical treatment of women and integrate personal struggles with broader themes of injustice and isolation.
- Walton's aspirations parallel Victor's, serving as a cautionary tale regarding ambition and the quest for knowledge.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Prepare for your studies of Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' with this set of flashcards covering chapters 1-9. These flashcards include key terms and significant themes such as the Romantic ideals and the implications of the subtitle 'The Modern Prometheus'. Test your understanding and retention of the material with this helpful guide.