Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

1. Frankensteinby Mary Shelley Background Notes

2. Frankenstein is… • Romantic Literature • Gothic Literature • A Frame Story

3. Romantic Literature • Definition: It was a revolt against the Scientific/Industrial Revolution; the Romantic Movement sought to discourage scientific explanations of nature in art and literature. • Basic Religious/Social Belief: Enjoy nature as a gift from God, not a scientific phenomenon to be explained.

4. Quote: Baudelaire, a French poet and philosopher of the Romantic period said, “Romanticism is precisely situated niether in choice of subject nor exact truth, but in a way of FEELING.”

5. Elements of Romantic Lit • 1. Suspension of Disbelief - The reader knows that events are unlikely, or even improbable, but accepts the events (fantasy, fantastic events, etc.) • 2. Sentimentalism – Emotion & imagination are more important than logic and reasoning • 3. Purpose – Philosophical; it tries to teach a lesson

6. Gothic Literature • Definition – Literature which uses a supernatural explanation for horror • Purpose – to frighten, not necessarily to teach a lesson • Examples/Authors – Edgar Allen Poe, Nightmare on Elm Street, Stephen King, etc.

7. Frame Story • Definition – A story within a story. The narrator often changes within the novel, from chapter to chapter or section to section. • Frankenstein – A ship captain, Robert Walton, meets a stranger who was a medical student, Victor Frankenstein, who tells him the story of creating a monster. This former medical student tells how he later met up with the monster, who tells the story of his creation (from his own perspective) to Victor, who tells the whole thing to Captain Robert Walton.

8. Frame Story Graphic

9. A Revolving Door of Narrators • Letters 1-4 Robert Walton • Chapters 1-10 Victor Frankenstein • Chapters 11-16 The Creature • Chapters 17-24 (beginning) Victor Frankenstein • Chapter 24 (end) Robert Walton

10. Important Allusions in the Novel • Faust/Dr. Faustus • Prometheus • “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” • Paradise Lost

11. Dr. Faustusby Christopher Marlowe, c. 1588 • The play tells the old legend of a doctor who sold his immortal soul to the Devil for ultimate knowledge and power. He ends up regretting his choice, but unable to die, he is sentenced to an eternal Hell. • Act I focuses on the “vanity of science”

12. Dr. Faustus

13. So What? • Science at the time of the novel Frankenstein was treading on new ground. Advances in the field lead many scientists to question whether they could, indeed, have power over life and death. • The character of Victor Frankenstein (a medical student) will attempt to answer that exact question. • By using this allusion in the novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley is drawing a parallel and implying that perhaps pursuing knowledge without any boundries is like making a “deal with the Devil”.

14. Something to consider… Just because we CAN do something does not mean that we SHOULD do it.

15. Prometheus • A Greek myth that tells of the Titan who created mankind. • His name, literally translated, means “forethought”. • Originally an ally of Zeus, he gave man FIRE and was punished by his fellow gods. • His punishment was that he was chained to a mountain, where an eagle ate his liver daily for eternity.

16. Prometheus

17. So What? • The novel Frankenstein is actually subtitled Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus • Shelley draws a parallel between this well-known myth and Victor Frankenstein’s actions. He gives mankind a “gift” by creating life out of dead matter. *But is this really a gift? Will his punishment be equally painful and complete? Will it be worth it to him?...to the world?

18. “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, • The plot: • An ancient mariner (sailor) stops a man going to a wedding to tell the young man a guilty tale. • When he was young, the mariner was on a ship that left port and was blown to southern polar regions of snow and ice. • On board, the crew sees an albatross (good luck; that means land is somewhat near! Hooray!) • The stupid mariner shoots the albatross with his bow and is forced by the angry crew to wear the dead bird around his neck as punishment.

19. Here’s where things get really weird… Two characters show up on board: Death and Life-In-Death. They cast dice for the souls of the doomed crew. • One by one, Death wins, and the crew members fall down, dead. • Finally, it is the bird-killer’s turn. Life-In-Death is the winner of his soul. • He is forced to an eternal punishment (alive, but dead inside; living with his guilt as the cause of the death of all his shipmates)

20. Most importantly, he must tell his tale to someone who must then be taught “love and reverence for all things God has made and loved” (including, we assume, birds). • If he can change just one listener’s life, he will be allowed to die. If not, he will be destined to roam eternally.

21. So What? • They say, “Confession is good for the soul.” • Is this true? What is the purpose of telling others about your mistakes?

22. Paradise Lost, by John Milton 1667 • An epic poem which tells of the Biblical fall of man. • The plot: • Adam and Eve live in God’s eternal grace & protection in the perfect Garden of Eden. • They are tempted by Satan (Lucifer) with the ultimate “knowledge of good and evil”. • They are deceived by Satan and are cast out of Eden, thus setting all mankind up for death and the threat of Hell.

24. So What? • Shelley actually begins her novel with a quote from this poem. Adam is speaking to God, trying to justify his sin: “Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay to mould me, Man? Did I solicit thee From darkness to promote me?” Who is the creator in Frankenstein? Who is the created one? So, who is the victim? Who is guilty?

25. Motifs to Watch For • Unjust persecution of the innocent • Parental responsibility • Knowledge brings misery • The destructive results of undeveloped affection • Isolation leads to evil/Friendship is essential • Importance of Fate • Appearance vs. Reality • Playing God (hubris/pride) leads to destruction • Nature as a healer – the Pastoral Ideal

26. Persuasion: Your first task • Find and bring 2 current event articles from a reliable source (online, magazine, newspaper, etc.) which discusses a single controversial subject in the field of science. For example… • Genetic engineering • Life support • DNA mapping • Genetically modified food • Cryogenics • Organ transplantation/sperm and egg donation/surrogacy • Human cloning • Stem Cells • Etc…

27. After you have chosen your articles/topic… • Cite your sources. Write down where you got the article (web address or newspaper title, magazine title, etc), when it was written, & who wrote it. • Summarize each article in paragraph form. What are the main points? What are the objective facts of the topic? What opinions are expressed by each of the authors?

28. Thirdly… • After researching the topic and finding out about the different opinions of people on the subject, take a stand on the issue. • Write your position in a well-written, single sentence. • List the reasons for your position. • Your opinion should be based in fact. Your arguments should be logical, not anecdotal, emotional, or irrational. • Narrow your reasons down to 3 good, solid points.

29. Find an argument that the opposite side might use against your position. • Rebuttal: Give a reason why the opposition’s argument is invalid. Be fair; be logical; answer their concern or objection with respect, but leave no doubt on the part of the reader that your position is the better of the two.

30. Outline • Intro Paragraph • Hook: • Define the topic: • General background on the topic: • Thesis: (What is your position on the topic?)