English 12CP1 Frankenstein, An Introduction

AP English Literature2 Mary Shelley Born to radicals Born to radicals Mary Wollstonecraft, feminist writer, A Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792) which drew attention to women’s second class status Mary Wollstonecraft, feminist writer, A Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792) which drew attention to women’s second class status William Godwin, ex-minister, atheist, influential writer (politics, morality); name became associated with truth, justice and liberty William Godwin, ex-minister, atheist, influential writer (politics, morality); name became associated with truth, justice and liberty Both influenced by French Revolution Both influenced by French Revolution Both anti-marriage, but did wed when Mary became pregnant Both anti-marriage, but did wed when Mary became pregnant Mother died of septicemia (blood poisoning) after Mary’s birth Mother died of septicemia (blood poisoning) after Mary’s birth Father remarried Father remarried Emotionally void, but intellectually guided Emotionally void, but intellectually guided

AP English Literature3 Mary & Percy Shelley Met in 1814 Met in 1814 Shelley, “Romantic”, attached self to Godwin and his idealistic political notions Shelley, “Romantic”, attached self to Godwin and his idealistic political notions Shelley abandoned wife to spend time at Godwin house Shelley abandoned wife to spend time at Godwin house Eloped in July 1814 Eloped in July Mary gives birth to 1 st baby, but baby dies a few days after birth 1815 Mary gives birth to 1 st baby, but baby dies a few days after birth “Dream that my little baby came to life again: that it had only been cold, and that we rubbed it before the fire and it lived.” “Dream that my little baby came to life again: that it had only been cold, and that we rubbed it before the fire and it lived.”

AP English Literature4 Mary & Shelley in Geneva Opposite of gloomy London, yet rained much in summer to confine to house Opposite of gloomy London, yet rained much in summer to confine to house Ghost story contest Ghost story contest Mary, Percy, Lord Byron, and others Mary, Percy, Lord Byron, and others Discussion of Erasmus Darwin’s experiments with galvanism (uses of electricity) Discussion of Erasmus Darwin’s experiments with galvanism (uses of electricity) Dreamed about monster coming to life Dreamed about monster coming to life

AP English Literature5 Historical Context The French Revolution and the Rise of Industrialism The French Revolution and the Rise of Industrialism Early Romantic writers strongly advocated the French Revolution, Early Romantic writers strongly advocated the French Revolution, Revolution signaled throwing off of old traditions and customs of the wealthy classes Revolution signaled throwing off of old traditions and customs of the wealthy classes Balance of economic power shifted toward the middle class with the rise of industrialism. Balance of economic power shifted toward the middle class with the rise of industrialism. Advanced machinery and technology threatened to replace workers Advanced machinery and technology threatened to replace workers England's literary thinkers welcomed revolution because it represented an opportunity to establish a harmonious social structure. England's literary thinkers welcomed revolution because it represented an opportunity to establish a harmonious social structure.

AP English Literature6 Historical Context, con’t Napoleon crowned emperor in England now at war against France Napoleon crowned emperor in England now at war against France After the war ended in 1815, the English focused on economic and social problems After the war ended in 1815, the English focused on economic and social problems England didn’t regulate the economic shift from a farming-based society to an industrialized society stemmed from a hands-off philosophy of non- governmental interference England didn’t regulate the economic shift from a farming-based society to an industrialized society stemmed from a hands-off philosophy of non- governmental interference leading to extremely low wages and terrible working conditions for employees who were prevented by law from unionizing. leading to extremely low wages and terrible working conditions for employees who were prevented by law from unionizing.

AP English Literature7 Science and Technology Technology/machines replaced workers creating low wages and poor working conditions Technology/machines replaced workers creating low wages and poor working conditions People encouraged to sabotage machines that took jobs away from workers. People encouraged to sabotage machines that took jobs away from workers. Erasmus Darwin, scientist who wrote about biological evolution big influence (people began to question power of God) Erasmus Darwin, scientist who wrote about biological evolution big influence (people began to question power of God) Percy and Mary also attended lecture by Andrew Crosse, scientist who experimented with electricity Percy and Mary also attended lecture by Andrew Crosse, scientist who experimented with electricity discussed galvanism, or the study of electricity and its applications. discussed galvanism, or the study of electricity and its applications.

AP English Literature8 Arctic Exploration The late 1700s also marked the beginnings of a new era of ocean exploration. The late 1700s also marked the beginnings of a new era of ocean exploration. England's Royal Academy, which promoted the first voyage to the South seas, appealed to scientists and travelers alike. England's Royal Academy, which promoted the first voyage to the South seas, appealed to scientists and travelers alike. Explorers wanted to find a trade route through the Arctic to connect the Atlantic and the Pacific. Explorers wanted to find a trade route through the Arctic to connect the Atlantic and the Pacific.

AP English Literature9 Romantic Writers Began in 18 th century Began in 18 th century Promote unique individual imagination and expression Promote unique individual imagination and expression Nature, spirituality and humankind interrelated Nature, spirituality and humankind interrelated Publication of Wordsworth’s and Coleridge’s Lyrical Ballads the beginning Publication of Wordsworth’s and Coleridge’s Lyrical Ballads the beginning

AP English Literature10 Characteristics of Romantics Emphasis on intuition and emotion – rejected rational and intellectual (didactic – for sermons); emotions for art Emphasis on intuition and emotion – rejected rational and intellectual (didactic – for sermons); emotions for art Emphasized strange and bizarre – common has no place in art Emphasized strange and bizarre – common has no place in art Choose subject not encountered in everyday life Choose subject not encountered in everyday life Not always interested in creating viable/ believable characters Not always interested in creating viable/ believable characters

AP English Literature11 Characteristics of Romantics Setting usually obscure, remote or unknown place (or foreign country) Setting usually obscure, remote or unknown place (or foreign country) Rugged, natural settings provide comfort and visual appeal Rugged, natural settings provide comfort and visual appeal Creation of new/different worlds so readers concentrate on themes and ideas Creation of new/different worlds so readers concentrate on themes and ideas Close relationship and concern for poor and less fortunate Close relationship and concern for poor and less fortunate Searched for fundamental knowledge and consequences of acquiring knowledge Searched for fundamental knowledge and consequences of acquiring knowledge Humans born inherently kindhearted and moral Humans born inherently kindhearted and moral

AP English Literature12 Gothic Style Supernatural forces Supernatural forces Imaginative excess Imaginative excess Delusions Delusions religious and human evil religious and human evil Social transgressions Social transgressions Mental disintegration Mental disintegration Spiritual corruption Spiritual corruption

AP English Literature13 Gothic Style – Stock Features torturous, fragmented narrative torturous, fragmented narrative horrible images and life- threatening chases horrible images and life- threatening chases spectres spectres monsters monsters demons demons corpses corpses skeletons skeletons evil aristocrats evil aristocrats monks monks nuns nuns fainting heroines fainting heroines bandits bandits scientists scientists criminals criminals madmen madmen monstrous doubles (dopplegangers) signifying evil and duplicity monstrous doubles (dopplegangers) signifying evil and duplicity wild landscapes wild landscapes

AP English Literature14 Reaction to Gothic Style Perceived as subversive Perceived as subversive Promoted violence and vice, celebrated criminal behavior Promoted violence and vice, celebrated criminal behavior Texts give free reign to selfish ambitions and desires beyond law and family duty Texts give free reign to selfish ambitions and desires beyond law and family duty

AP English Literature15 Gothic Motifs images of light and dark images of light and dark duality of selves (alter ego) duality of selves (alter ego) conflicts between reason and passion conflicts between reason and passion supernatural and natural supernatural and natural past and present past and present sacred and profane sacred and profane

AP English Literature16 LITERARY TERM – FRAME STORY Narrative technique Narrative technique Main story sets the stage for internal story or smaller narratives Main story sets the stage for internal story or smaller narratives Within Frankenstein, Robert Walton’s letters to sister set the stage for Victor Frankenstein’s tale Within Frankenstein, Robert Walton’s letters to sister set the stage for Victor Frankenstein’s tale

AP English Literature17 Theme Topics Alienation and Loneliness Alienation and Loneliness Nature vs. Nurture Nature vs. Nurture Appearance vs. Reality Appearance vs. Reality Duty and Responsibility Duty and Responsibility Justice and Injustice Justice and Injustice

AP English Literature18 Sources -novel-3 -novel-3 -novel-3 -novel-3 Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Cliff’s Notes Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Cliff’s Notes Robinson, Robbie. Lecture Notes Robinson, Robbie. Lecture Notes Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Penguin Books USA Inc. 1818, Penguin Books USA Inc. 1818,