Literary Allusions

1. Literary Allusions Hi. I’m a Croc. No one likes me because I’m hideous. Roxana Bagheri Zachary Cooke Amber Kadas Hunter Davis Matthew Perez MariannPino

2. Literal Meaning Of The Prompt • Prompt: “The meaning of literary works is often enhanced by sustained allusions to myths, The Bible, or other works of literature. Select a literary work that makes use of such a sustained reference. Then write a well organized essay in which you explain the allusion that predominates the work and analyze how it enhanced the work’s meaning.” • Literal Meaning: Works often allude to other works. Explain how one specific work alludes to a myth, the Bible, or another work of literature, and how it develops that work.

3. 6 – Step Thesis In Frankenstein, the literary allusions specifically mentioned throughout the novel, from various classical works, relate to the story of man overstepping his barriers and suffering the consequences of his actions, such as in Paradise Lost, in which Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit, thus losing their innocence and being sent away from the Garden of Paradise, Prometheus, shows the creation of man and its fall, and Rime of the Ancient Mariner, in which a ship’s crew suffers due to the captain’s killing of an albatross.

4. How The Topic Relates To Frankenstein • In Frankenstein there are many subtle allusions to things like Greek Mythology and The Bible. • But there are also direct allusions to Prometheus, Paradise Lost, and Rime of the Ancient Mariner. (Will be going in depth on these in the following slides… patience, my friends)

5. Prometheus HEHE. IM GON DEFY YOU. • “A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe me their being” • Frankenstein has often been regarded as “A Modern Prometheus”. Prometheus was the Titan that defied the Greek gods of Olympus by giving the earliest of humans the technology of fire. The humans then advanced beyond control, and the gods resented this. Knowing they could not undo Prometheus’ actions, they punished him in a terrifying manner. • Much like Prometheus, Victor Frankenstein does something seen as a defiance of god by creating the creature (something in which he could not control) and that action eventually brought about his own demise. FINE. DON’T LIKE ME. I’LL JUST DESTROY ALL YOUR FAVORITE SHOES.

6. Paradise Lost • As Victor Frankenstein was cast as Prometheus for his creation, he was also cast as the Judeo-Christian god in Paradise Lost, with the creature being cast as Adam. • In Paradise Lost, Adam laments about his existence to God, much like how the Creature felt about his own existence and his relationship to Victor Frankenstein. • In the novel as the creature is telling Victor Frankenstein his tale, he states that during his time with Felix and his family, one of the literary pieces he read was Paradise Lost and he states that he was Adam, God’s creation that has fallen out of His favor, as he was also fallen out of his creator’s favor. • “But ‘Paradise Lost’ excited far deeper emotions. I read it, as I had read the other volumes which had fallen into my hands, as a true history…Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link at any other being in existence…”

7. Rime of the Ancient Mariner “Like one who, on a lonely road, Doth walk in fear and dread, And, having once turned round, walks on, And turns no more his head Because he knows a frightful fiend Doth close behind him tread” • Mary Shelley references this poem in not only the roles the main characters play but in the central theme of the consequences of man overstepping the natural order of life. • In the Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a captain tells his tale to a wedding guest on how the death of an albatross lead to the death of his crew and almost cost him his life. • Like the Mariner, Victor overstepped the boundaries of life by creating life, eventually causing the deaths of everyone dear to him.

8. Significant Moments • When the creature read Paradise Lost, he was able to connect with Adam, the first human, and his relationship with God. From reading Paradise Lost, the creature not only shown the extent of his knowledge and education, but also shown as a creature of thought. Ironically, through the reading of the fall of man, the creature actually behaves more human, by feeling angry for being abandoned and isolated and able to blame Victor for it. • “Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay to mould me man? Did I solicit thee from darkness to promote me?” ( From Paradise Lost) • While Walton listens to Victor’s tale, a reference to the poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is made with Walton taking the role of the wedding guest and Victor Frankenstein taking the role of the mariner. In the poem, the mariner tells of his adventure to anyone who needs to listen. Victor, like the mariner, tells his tale to Walton. Walton then realizes that discovering the secrets of the heavens could bring consequences that might not be worth the risk, thus abandoning his scientific expedition.

9. Symbolism I just saw fire. SO COOL • In Frankenstein, a key literary device is symbolism. Throughout the novel, there are many key instances of symbolism, such as light and fire. Light symbolizes knowledge, discovery, and enlightenment. The natural world is seen as a place of darkness and mystery. Victor’s goal is to reach the light, and discover the unknown. • The symbol of light, introduced in Walton’s first letter appears again in Victor’s narrative, this time in a scientific context. “From the midst of this darkness,” Victor says when describing his discovery of the secret of life, “a sudden light broke in upon me—a light so brilliant and wondrous.” Light illuminates, and clarifies things but just as light can illuminate, it can also blind. Shortly after his first figurative use of light as a symbol of knowledge, Victor warns Walton of “how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge.” • Fire is another key symbolic feature in the book. The creature’s first encounter with a flame is eye opening. He begins to realize the dual nature of fire. On one hand, the fire creates light in the darkness of the night, but on the other hand, it brings harm when he touches it. WHY DOES IT BURN. THIS IS SO CRAY.

10. Foreshadowing • Throughout the novel, Victor uses words such as “fate” and “omen”, foreshadowing tragedy. • “One man's life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought, for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the elemental foes of our race.” This quote describes Victor’s passionate pursuit for knowledge at any and all lengths. His extreme passion to do whatever it takes to create man foreshadows disastrous consequences.  • Another sign of foreshadowing towards the end of the novel, would be when the creature says, “ I will be there with you on your wedding night”, foreshadowing the death of someone near and close to him.

11. Imagery • Frankenstein is practically flowing with imagery, from the darkness, rain, and ominous skies. All of these help foreshadow the tragic events that occur throughout the novel. Also, the detailed beauty of those precious to Victor ( AKA, Elizabeth, they totes liked each other. LOL), describing Elizabeth's smile and pleasant nature in explicit detail. Mary Shelly also uses imagery to portray the dark, gruesome deaths of Victor’s friends and family at the hands of the creature. The use of imagery helps to create a more realistic sense of the environment, and allows the reader to have a better sense of understanding of the events that ensue in the novel.

12. Sources • http://www.brighthubeducation.com/homework-help-literature/36141-allusions-in-frankenstein/ • http://www.shmoop.com/frankenstein/allusions.html • http://myfrankensteinblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/literary-devices.html Hey, listen, I know I’m ugly, but..I’m just a shoe…I work the same as any other shoe…can we just work this out. MAMAAAA. CROC ON THE LOSE. AH.