Warm-up

1. Warm-up What do you think the monster’s story will be about? (What has he been going through the past two years?) Write a one paragraph prediction.

2. Frankenstein: Thematic Elements

3. Women’s Roles • Frankenstein’s world: • men are leaders • women are things to be rescued and looked after • all women have been adopted • No intellectual interest, domestic only • EQ - Why does Shelley, a feminist, construct the Frankenstein universe as one in which women are submissive, domestic, and in need of rescuing?

4. Parent-child Relationships • Frankenstein parent-child relationships • over-indulgence, strong sense of empowerment, lack of accountability/boundaries • Ex: Don’t monitor Victor’s studies. • Nature or Nurture? • Nature - other siblings don’t seem to suffer from the same narcissistic ambitions • Nurture - dad makes everything yield to his wife’s convenience and they do the same with Victor and Elizabeth • Other Parent-Child Relationships • Henry’s dad would not let him go to University. • “His father was a narrow-minded trader, and saw idleness and ruin in the aspirations of his son” (50). EQ – To what degree can Victor’s neglect of his monster be attributed to nature and to what degree nurture?

5. Gothic Characteristics • Help to convey the darkness that Victor is bringing into the world • Irony – Even though Victor means to restore life (and thus bring “light” into the world), he does the opposite. • Whole process of creating life is dark as he descents into madness. • Gothic elements help convey that warning of the dark path Victor decides to go on. • Elements don’t appear until he reaches the city.

6. Romantic Elements • Nature gets us in touch with who we were created to be. • The further we are from nature, the more unnatural we will become. • Critique of industrialization. • Monster is lower class, the “machine.” • When ignored and neglected long enough, will realize their oppression and revolt. • Stronger in size/numbers than the upper class. • Victor is upper class, the wealthy minority who doesn’t care for the lower class. • Uses lower class for own gain. • Mistreats lower class and angers them. • Invites the wrath of the lower class.

7. Tragic Flaw • Tragic Hero: • serious drama featuring a main character, often of noble birth, who strives to achieve something and is ultimately defeated • Defeat may be caused by forces beyond his/her control • Main character’s downfall is due to an inborn character flaw or weakness (tragic flaw) • Tragic hero gains new self-knowledge or wisdom. • EQ: To what degree is Victor a tragic hero?

8. Study Questions Chapters 11-15 • How did the creature feel when he first felt life? • What was the reaction of the villagers the creature encountered? • Where did the creature take shelter? • What observations did the creature make about the people in the cottage? • What does the creature learn to do, and how does he learn this? • What was the elder De Lacey’s reaction when the creature entered the cottage and began • speaking with him? • What was the reaction of the De Lacey family when they saw the creature? • After reading Paradise Lost, why does the creature think he is like Adam in that book? Why does he think he is like Satan? What are the specific reasons that the creature gives for hating his creator?