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Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus ~ an introduction ~. B. Lindstrom. Look at misunderstandings and cultural misrepresentations of Frankenstein Look at the author, Mary Shelley, and talk about how her life and times affected her writing Look at what to expect (themes, etc.).
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Frankensteinor The Modern Prometheus~ an introduction ~ B. Lindstrom
Look at misunderstandings and cultural misrepresentations of Frankenstein • Look at the author, Mary Shelley, and talk about how her life and times affected her writing • Look at what to expect (themes, etc.)
More Common Misunderstandings… "Oh sure…! We do all the work and he gets all the commercial endorsements!"
Creator and Creation Frankenstein’s Creation Dr. Victor Frankenstein
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797 – 1851) Who was she?
Political Thinker Radical Idealist Political Justice, attracted Percy Bysshe Shelley as a disciple Celebrated feminist A Vindication of the Rights of Women Died while giving birth to Mary Mary Wollstonecraft William Godwin Daughter of Two Prominent Writers/Political Activists Even if she hadn’t written Frankenstein, Mary Shelley probably would have become famous just by association with her parents.
By then, Mary had already borne Percy two children… Percy Bysshe Shelley Famous Romantic Poet Mary Godwin became a great admirer of his poetry and person… He was currently married, but the two of them eloped to Switzerland when Mary was 17. Percy’s 1st wife comitted suicide/drowned -two weeks later, married Mary.
Life Events that Might Have Influenced the Story… • Mother died giving birth to her • Godwin refused to talk to her for 2 ½ years after she eloped • Gave birth prematurely to Clara – Clara died a few weeks later • Shelley suffered nightmares about the death of her daughter
The Bet Chateau de Chillon, Lake Geneva The “Birth” of Frankenstein Who can write the best ghost story?
type of romantic fiction that predominated in English literature in the last third of the 18th century and the first two decades of the 19th century. emphasized mystery and horror and was filled with ghost-haunted rooms, underground passages, and secret stairways. used to designate narrative prose or poetry of which the principal elements are violence, horror, and the supernatural. The Gothic Tradition ~ The Gothic Novel
Romanticism: What is it? • “An attempt to go rediscover the mystery and wonder of the world, an attempt to go beyond ordinary reality into the deeper levels of human existence.” • Mary and Percy Shelley are among the most famous Romantic writers
Characteristics of Romanticism • Imagination & emotion over intellect & reason • Belief in the goodness of humans in their natural state • Individualism • Reverence for nature • Attraction to the supernatural (e.g. Gothic writing)
A Look at the Title Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus The title is an allusion to Greek mythology…who was Prometheus? Stole fire from the gods, gave it to the humans, ticked Zeus off and thus he was chained to a rock and an eagle picked at his liver every day. Why might this allusion be fitting? What can we predict about our main character Victor Frankenstein?
Major Ideas the Novel Raises • Quest for Knowledge/Discovery: what are its benefits? Dangers? • Monomania – obsessive interest in one thing • Playing God – creator and creation relationships • Duty and Responsibility • Paternal obligations to children • What makes something or someone “monstrous”? • Love, Desire, and the need for companionship • Connections between life and death • Romantic ideas: power of nature, necessity of emotions (we’re not just intellect), human innocence vs. corruptibility
Sources • www.watershedonline.ca • www.cartoonstock.com • www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/frankenstein • www.thebakken.org • www.encarta.com
