Romantic Period and Frankenstein Review

Essential Question Video: 1) What real place inspired Romanticism? 2) Romanticism defines itself with the opposition of what? 3) Thus much of literature is set where? 4) A theme found in Frankenstein which also expressed the Romantic’s drive to escape is what?

Essential Question Video: 1) What real place inspired Romanticism? the lake district 2) Romanticism defines itself with the opposition of what? the common or familar 3) Thus much of literature is set where? exotic, faraway locations 4) A theme found in Frankenstein which also expressed the Romantic’s drive to escape is what? Going beyond the limit

Snapshot of the Period: What are negative and positive historical events that influenced the literature of the Romantic period?

Snapshot of the Period: What are negative and positive historical events that influenced the literature of the Romantic period? Negative – Industrial Age: spreading stains of the city; smoky, noisy railroads; dark, satanic mills or factories, crushing those who made their living from the countryside and French Revolution Positive – abolishment of slavery, the right to vote

Author Connections: 1) How were the parents’ or husband’s influence in Mary Shelley’s life or novel? 2) What actually occurred in Mary Shelley’s lifetime that sparked the idea of creating life? 3) What is a frequent or common misunderstanding of Frankenstein?

Author Connections: 1) How were parents’ or husband’s influence in Mary Shelley’s life or novel? Both parents and husband were intellectual rebels and authors; thus, surrounded since youth in a world of literature and independent thinkers, influencing her career choice. The publication of this novel, more so the subject and genre was very exceptional for a woman. Her husband was first a friend of her father’s when she runs away with him, similar to Alphonse. 2) What actually occurred in Mary Shelley’s lifetime that sparked the idea of creating life? Mary’s experience with death began early, growing up without her mother and then gave birth to four children yet only one of them survived to adulthood. A fifth pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage. These deaths placed death much on her mind. Mary even recorded in a journal details about a dream about her baby coming back to life. 3) What is a frequent or common misunderstanding of Frankenstein? that Frankenstein is the creature’s name

Terms to Know: 1) Hints or clues that give a sense of impending misfortune or evil to come 2) General idea or insight about life that a writer wishes to express 3) A reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing in history or another work of literature 4) A scene or event from the past narrated or described as though it is happening in the present 5) Events or words that are the opposite in meaning or what is expected

Terms to Know: 1) Hints or clues that give a sense of impending misfortune or evil to come Foreboding 2) General idea or insight about life that a writer wishes to express Theme 3) A reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing in history or another work of literature Allusion 4) A scene or event from the past narrated or described as though it is happening in the present Flashback 5) Events or words that are the opposite in meaning or what is expected Irony

Terms Cont. & Short Answer: 1) The novel Frankenstein is classified under what genres? 2) What are the key components of Gothic literature? 3) What are the key components of Tragedy? 4) What did the creature look like? 5) What three ways are Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein alike? Different? 6) What examples of foreshadowing or foreboding were found in the novel? 7) Explain what you believe to be the novel’s theme and why? Its climax and why?

Terms Cont. & Short Answer: 1) The novel Frankenstein is classified under what genres? Tragedy, Gothic, Science-fiction 2) What are the key components of Gothic literature? Elements of horror, mystery, and the supernatural 3) What are the key components of Tragedy? Tragic hero, character flaw that leads to his downfall 4) What did the creature look like? 8’ tall, black hair, yellow eyes and skin, although almost translucent, black lips that sharply contrasted with his white teeth 5) What three ways are Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein alike? Different? Both were adventuresome, ambitious, and shirked family and friends to reach their goals. Robert was more of an explorer and Victor a scientist. Robert sought the secret of the magnetism in the North Pole while Victor south out the secret of life. The woman in Robert’s life is his sister Margaret while Victor has a love, his “more than sister” Elizabeth.

6) What examples of foreshadowing or foreboding were found in the novel? Letters – Sister is concerned that something may happen Lightening striking the tree – destruction or its uncontrollable power Creature’s warning – He will be with Victor on his wedding day Storm, night, tension on wedding day – instead of joy and happiness, something is wrong Victor leaving Elizabeth alone while checking the rest of the house – fatal opportunity for the creature to strike why 7) Explain what you believe to be the novel’s theme and why? Its climax and why? Several possibilities but best choices: Abandoning the creature Allowing Justine’s execution Destroying the female companion

Settings: Geneva Ingolstadt Italy London North Pole Scotland

Settings: Geneva – (Switzerland) where Victor grew up and the Frankenstein home is located Ingolstadt – (Germany) where Victor attends college and creates the creature in a lab Italy – where Victor’s parents travel when he is born and Elizabeth is found London – Victor and Henry travel here North Pole – where the novel begins and ends and where R. Walton seeks his discoveries Scotland – where Victor and Henry separate and later Henry’s body is discovered

Characters Robert Walton Victor Frankenstein the Creature Elizabeth Lavenza Henry Clerval Justine Moritz Alphonse Frankenstein Caroline Beaufort Mrs. Margaret Saville Beaufort M. Waldman M. Kirwin William Frankenstein De Lacey’s Muhammadan

Robert Walton – indirect narrator of the story, tells Frankenstein’s story through letters to his sister, ship captain and explorer Victor Frankenstein – narrator of chps 1-10, rescued European who befriended by Walton and tells his story to help him avoid the same mistakes, the creator, wants to find the secret of life the Creature – a conglomeration of human parts with inhuman strength, so hideous that Victor abandons him, not born a monster but made that way from how he is treated by mankind Elizabeth Lavenza – adopted daughter who was Victor’s “more than sister” and introduced to Victor the night before by telling him “I have a pretty present for my Victor”, becomes Victor’s wife in the end and strangled on their wedding night by the creature. Henry Clerval – life-long friend of Victor’s wo nurses him back to health after his collapse from making the creature. Although innocent, Victor is accused and arrested for his murder. Justine Moritz – nursed Caroline after she got sick and is taken in by the Frankenstein family after her own mother dies, executed for William’s murder because of the locket the creature placed in her pocket Alphonse Frankenstein – Victor’s father whose health fails after William and Justine’s death

Mrs. Margaret Saville – sister to whom Robert Walton is writing letters Beaufort – best friend of Alphonse who leaves after losing his wealth, dies shortly before he is found and whose daughter Alphonse marries. M. Waldman – chemistry professor at Ingolstadt whose lectures revive Victor’s interest in discovering the spark of life and creation M. Kirwin – Irish magistrate who cares for Victor when he falls ill after being accused of Henry’s murder, contacts a doctor and Alphonse William Frankenstein – youngest brother, first victim of the creature, killed at 5-years of age De Lacey’s – family of cottagers; French exiles whom the creature observes and learns from Muhammadan – Turk Felix helped escape from prison, Safie’s father

STUDY AT LEAST 2 HOURS: Essential Question Video notes Stapled Chapter Quizzes Frankenstein Review: Characters, Settings, and Terms PowerPoint Review