Frankenstein The Modern Prometheus me? Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay To mould me Man, did I solicit thee From darkness to promote me?

Author

Author Author: Mark Shelley Born 1797 in London Shelley is the bi-product of two multi-talented parents, who were extremely forward-thinking Shelley’s mother was an acclaimed author Shelley’s father associated with great thinkers such as Thomas Paine and William Blake

Author Author: Mary Shelley Within Shelley’s own life she was married to the famed poet Percy Shelley Shelley’s masterpiece, Frankenstien was a rare bright spot in her life: Her mother died shortly after her birth Her husband drowned Her 4 children died as infants Her own life was ended by a prolonged illness

General Information

General Information General Information First published in 1818 Frankenstein is alternately titled The Modern Prometheus Prometheus, like the character Victor in Frankenstein, was given knowledge that no other human possessed (knowledge of fire)

General Information General Information Frankenstein was created as the result of a “ghost story” competition with Shelley’s husband, Percy The story was an immediate best seller and its featured monster is now iconic

Literary Focus

Literary Focus Literary Focus Narrator Point of View Robert Walton, who, in his letters, quotes Victor Frankenstein’s first-person narrative at length Adding complexity to the narrative, the point of view shifts with the narration, from Robert Walton to Victor Frankenstein to Frankenstein’s monster, then back to Walton

Literary Focus Literary Focus Protagonist Antagonist Setting (time) Setting (place) Victor Frankenstein The Monster  Eighteenth century   Geneva; the Swiss Alps; Ingolstadt; England and Scotland; the northern ice

Literary Focus  Victor uses words such as “fate” and “omen” to hint at the tragedy that has befallen him Gothic, Romantic, emotional, tragic, fatalistic Light is symbolic in the novel of knowledge and the seeking of knowledge Fire is symbolic of the dangers linked to knowledge that hurt and even destroy Literary Focus Foreshadowing Tone Symbols

Themes

Themes and Focus Themes and Focus Isolation vs. Companionship The Danger of Naked Ambition Man’s need to be with someone and to be a part of society is explored. Part of the reason the monster lashes out is because of its feeling of alienation Victor becomes so consumed with his owns desire for knowledge that he doesn’t reflect on the possible consequences of his actions

Themes and Focus Themes and Focus Ethics and Science Perception vs. Reality Questions hang over the novel whether or not Victor’s creation is an abomination and evil; these questions are raised again when the monster requests a partner The monster’s horrific appearance is contrasted by his knowledge of literature and eloquent speech

Summary

Summary and Plot Overview The story is told through various forms of flashback Victor Frankenstein, sick and near death, relays the story of a monster he created to the captain of a ship named Robert Walton

Summary and Plot Overview Victor has discovered the secret of life and is able to create a creature out of old body parts Although the creature comes to life, its sight horrifies him

Summary and Plot Overview The results of the creation are distastorous: innocents are killed and a domino effect of death is created One of the deaths is Victor’s own brother, William

Summary and Plot Overview The monster eventually confronts Victor and demands he create a mate to give him companionship Victor is faced with a moral dilemma: create another monster or appease the persuasive monster

Characters

Character Analysis Character Analysis Victor Frankenstein Victor discovers the secret of life and creates an intelligent but grotesque monster Victor keeps his creation of the monster a secret, feeling increasingly guilty and ashamed Whereas the monster is hideous on the outside, Victor’s actions throughout the novel reveal him to be hideous on the inside

Character Analysis Character Analysis The monster Standing eight-feet-tall, the creature is strewn together by the body parts of the dead. Intelligent and sensitive, the monster desperately wants to be a part of society His feelings of abandonment compel him to seek revenge against his creator