10 Questions
What are the three prominent ideas of the Romantic Period?
Nature, Emotion, Purity of art
What kind of devices should you expect to see infused into a gothic novel like Frankenstein?
Eerie settings, unease, The grotesque, The fear of oblivion
Explain Shelley’s 'dual presentation of birth.'
Depicts birth as both creative and destructive
What is Victor Frankenstein’s hamartia (fatal flaw)?
Victor Frankenstein has a god complex
Briefly summarize the myth of Prometheus.
Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans, which gave humans knowledge and power
Who were the radical and revolutionary parents of Mary Shelley?
William Godwin & Mary Wollstencraft
What was the mythological punishment of Prometheus for stealing fire from the gods?
Chained to a rock and pecked by vultures
Which of the following is a prominent idea of the Romantic Period?
Emotion
What kind of presentation of birth does Shelley depict in 'Frankenstein'?
Both creative and destructive
What is a prominent device infused into a gothic novel like 'Frankenstein'?
Eerie settings and unease
Study Notes
Romantic Period
- Emphasis on imagination, emotion, and individualism are three prominent ideas of the Romantic Period
Gothic Novel Devices
- Expect to see infused devices such as suspense, horror, and the supernatural in a gothic novel like Frankenstein
Shelley's Presentation of Birth
- Shelley depicts a dual presentation of birth in Frankenstein, highlighting the contrasting ideas of natural birth and unnatural creation
Victor Frankenstein's Hamartia
- Victor Frankenstein's fatal flaw (hamartia) is his hubris and unchecked ambition
Myth of Prometheus
- The myth of Prometheus tells the story of a titan who defied Zeus by stealing fire from the gods and gifting it to humanity
- As punishment, Prometheus was chained to a rock and had his liver eaten daily by an eagle
Mary Shelley's Parents
- Mary Shelley's parents were William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft, radical and revolutionary thinkers
Prometheus' Punishment
- Prometheus' mythological punishment for stealing fire from the gods was eternal torment, having his liver eaten daily by an eagle
Romantic Period Ideas
- A prominent idea of the Romantic Period is the emphasis on imagination
Shelley's Presentation of Birth in Frankenstein
- Shelley depicts a dual presentation of birth in Frankenstein, contrasting natural and unnatural creation
Gothic Devices in Frankenstein
- A prominent device infused into a gothic novel like Frankenstein is the use of suspense
Test your knowledge of the pre-reading material for Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" with this interactive playlist quiz. Learn about the myth of Prometheus and its relevance to the novel's themes, characters, and plot. Watch the videos provided and complete the corresponding chart to enhance your understanding of the background of "Frankenstein."
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