Questions and Answers
What is the name of Victor's father?
Alphonse
What illness does Elizabeth contract in Chapter 3?
Scarlet fever
How old was Victor when he entered college?
17
Which professors does Victor meet at the University of Ingolstadt?
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What does Victor wish to achieve through his studies?
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Victor successfully infuses life into his creation on the first attempt.
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Victor's mother's name is ______.
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What motivates Victor to change his studies to chemistry?
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What did Victor's family do when they adopted Elizabeth?
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Victor's youngest brother is named ______.
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Study Notes
Chapter 1: Family Background
- Victor Frankenstein is the son of Alphonse and Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein, demonstrating a distinguished family lineage.
- He has two brothers: Ernest (middle child) and William (youngest).
- Victor's parents adopt Elizabeth Lavenza while traveling in Italy; she is impoverished and the daughter of an Italian nobleman.
Chapter 2: Early Interests and Foreshadowing
- Victor shares a close relationship with Elizabeth, with only a one-year age difference between them.
- His childhood is characterized by happiness and a profound passion for learning.
- Victor's friend Henry Clerval exhibits an interest in heroes and the actions of mankind.
- Influenced by various historical figures, Victor is captivated by natural philosophy, leading him to study Agrippa, Paracelsus, and Albertus Magnus.
- A significant experience witnessing a thunderstorm ignites his curiosity about electricity, prompting him to shift focus to mathematics and science.
- The chapter concludes with ominous foreshadowing, hinting at Victor's disastrous fate.
Chapter 3: University Life and Personal Loss
- At age 17, Victor enters the University of Ingolstadt.
- Elizabeth contracts scarlet fever; Caroline cares for her but falls ill herself and dies.
- Before her death, Caroline encourages Victor and Elizabeth's future union.
- Victor meets contrasting professors: M. Krempe, who is crude, and M. Waldman, who is supportive and influential in shaping Victor’s scientific journey.
Chapter 4: Obsession with Life and Death
- Victor excels at university, enhancing chemical instruments and receiving recognition.
- He develops a fascination with human anatomy and the processes of decay, exploring graveyards and charnel houses.
- This obsession leads him to the realization that he can "bestow animation upon lifeless matter."
- Victor decides to create a creature on a larger scale for easier manipulation, leading to his physical and mental exhaustion due to relentless work.
Chapter 5: Creation of the Creature
- On a bleak November night, Victor finally animates his creature, which he describes as grotesque and repulsive.
- The creature has yellow skin, watery eyes, and an unsettling appearance: black hair, white teeth, and a shriveled complexion.
- Creation takes two years, during which Victor neglects his health.
- Overcome by horror and disgust upon seeing his creation, Victor falls asleep, only to awaken and find the creature reaching for him, invoking panic and prompting him to flee.
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Description
Dive into the foundational chapters of Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' with these informative flashcards. Explore Victor Frankenstein's early life, his family dynamics, and the important characters introduced in Chapters 1 through 5. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of the text!
