Pre-AP English II August 22, 2017 2 truths & a lie! As you come in, take one sticky note and write down 2 things about yourself that are true, and one that is not true. Your classmates and I will try to determine which is which. Be sure that you turn in your signed syllabus acknowledgment form!

The Battle of Bosworth Field: How “fake news” changed history & literature! August 22, 1485 Armies of Henry Tutor defeated King Richard III (last British king to die in battle) King Henry VII legitimized his less-than- solid claim to the throne by villainizing Richard. Aided in his efforts by Sir Thomas More & later the Tudor Dynasty was further legitimized by William Shakespeare’s take. Changed the course of history and British Literature

Objectives Students will begin their analysis of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein by focusing on important historical contexts which impacted the novel through the author’s perspective and world view. Students will also examine and analyze differences between the 1818 and 1831 versions of the novel. They will make complex inferences and draw conclusions regarding those differences. TEKS: E2(1)(A), (2), (8); CCRS: ELA II.C.1, 3; II.D.1, 2)

Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus Your Reactions… General opinions What you liked What you didn’t like Your thoughts in reaction to the story Are you sympathetic to the characters? Which ones? Why? Would you recommend it to a friend? Why or why not?

Who was Mary Woolstonecraft Shelley? Born August 30, 1797 William & Mary Woolstonecraft – philosopher & feminist thinker/writer Mother died four weeks after Shelley’s birth Father remarried Mary Jane Clairmont primarily to care for the young girl Voracious reader, father’s company of noted author’s/thinkers influenced her Began writing at an early age Met Percy Bysshe Shelley at age 17, began affair with him while he was still married Married in late 1814 just after the marriage ended Gave birth in 1815, child died a few months after birth, second child born in 1816 Toured Europe with husband and stepsister Claire, rented home near writer George Lord Byron, it was during this trip that she began writing Frankenstein as part of a challenge

Who was Mary Woolstonecraft Shelley? Frankenstein published in 1818 when Mary was 21 Much tragedy and death during her life Mother at four weeks Half-sister Fanny committed suicide in 1816 All but one of Mary’s children died by 1819 Husband drowned at sea in a boating accident in 1822 Spent the rest of her life writing and promoting her late husband’s legacy Died February 1, 1851 in London, aged 54

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Romanticism, Gothicism & The Enlightenment What was The Enlightenment (Age of Reason)? Intellectual movement which promoted democracy, freedom, and reason as primary values of society Originated in France, England, and Germany Corresponds roughly to the 18th Century (1700s) Mankind should be freed from ignorance, superstition, and the power of the state Promoted greater rights for humanity Period of revolution and turmoil

Romanticism, Gothicism & The Enlightenment Enlightenment Values Romantic & Gothic Values Reason, Science, Math, Physical Measured, Controlled, Balanced Age & Experience, Society Universal Characters (literature) Emotion, Internal, Spirit, Transcendent Organic, Dynamic, Sublime Youth & Innocence, Individualism Unique Characters, Outcasts, Rebels

Romanticism, Gothicism & The Enlightenment Given this basic knowledge of the values of The Enlightenment period versus those of the Romantic Gothic; and given what you know about Mary Shelley’s own personal history growing up during this time period, speculate on how Frankenstein serves as a reaction to (or against) The Enlightenment.

Scientific & Medical Advancements Electricity fascinated many of the top scientists of Mary Shelley’s day Luigi Galvani experimented with electricity’s affect on animals Proposed the idea of “animal electricity” during accidental results of experimentation on frogs Galvani’s nephew Giovanni Aldini used electricity to make corpses sit upright Many believed he was bringing the corpses “back to life.” Mary Shelley was aware of Galvani and Aldini’s work – influenced by friends of her father’s Is Frankenstein a commentary on the ethics of this experimentation, or does Shelley simply use her knowledge of their work as an interesting plot point?

A Tale of 2 Frankenstein's Significant changes were made between the 1818 version and the 1831 version: 1818 version was in 3 volumes rather than continuous Letters 1-4, Chapters 1-24 Excerpt from Milton’s Paradise Lost were removed from the 1831 version, some scholars say it removed a key theme from the book, it was replaced in subsequent editions Shelley removed many of the references to new scientific ideas, taking out much historical context and issues being debated at the time In the 1818 version, Victor seemed capable of free will, he seemed at the mercy of fate in the 1831 version, he had no “choice” except to carry out the experiment In the 1818 version, Elizabeth is Victor’s cousin, and not the child of a poor family taken in by the Frankenstein’s

A Tale of 2 Frankenstein’s Why did Mary Shelley make such significant changes between the two versions? Death, depression, and severe financial difficulties caused Shelley to change her philosophies She became dissatisfied with Romantic ideals She lost faith that humanity was capable of controlling its “monsters” Did she return to the ideals of The Enlightenment?

Questions?

Tomorrow We Will… Look more deeply at the characteristics of… Romantic Literature Gothic Literature Horror as a genre Science Fiction as a genre Discuss epistolary novels and how their form impacts stories Discuss mood and tone in Frankenstein and how Mary Shelley uses diction and syntax to impress them on the reader

Homework Work on your group study guides If you want to come to my room during tutorials to work, please get a pass BEFORE YOU LEAVE, check in with your teacher and get permission before coming here. Work together! You will be working with this group on an extension lesson after we finish our discussion and exam.