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Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. Mary Shelley’s Background. Daughter of two intellectual radicals: Mary Wollstonecraft: early women’s rights activist died ten days after Mary’s birth William Godwin: political philosopher and novelist-influenced by romanticism.
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Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Mary Shelley’s Background • Daughter of two intellectual radicals: • Mary Wollstonecraft: early women’s rights activist died ten days after Mary’s birth • William Godwin: political philosopher and novelist-influenced by romanticism
Background (continued) • Mary ran away with Percy Shelley when she was 16 • Percy was married at the time and left his wife. He and Mary married when she was 18 after the death of his legal wife • Percy Shelley was well-known literary figure in England
The Publishing of Frankenstein • Mary Shelley did not attach her name to the novel-many assumed her husband wrote it. • The story was inspired by a trip to the Swiss Alps when she, Percy, and Byron challenged each other to tell ghost stories. • It was published when she was 19.
Setting • Switzerland • Germany • The Arctic
Frame Story -the style in which the novel is told Robert Walter’s Letters Victor Frankenstein’s Story The Creature/Monster’s Story
Frame Story of Frankenstein • The first part you read is: the letters. This is actually the end of the story, but you read it first. • The second part you read is Victor Frankenstein’s story. It’s the beginning of the story, but you read it second. • The third part you read is the monster’s tale. It’s the middle of the story but you read it last.
Essential Questions • What consequences do we face if we do not take responsibility for our actions? • Is it right for man to play God? • How does lack of compassion and understand lead to prejudice and stereotyping?