What do you know? Take 3 minutes to write down all you know about Frankenstein.

FRANKENSTEIN BY MARY SHELLEY

What the book isn’t:

What does he say? Click on Victor to see what he says.

Think-Pair-Share Turn to your partner and discuss why Victor Frankenstein may have been excited about creating life, how he tries to create life, and what the outcome of his life is.

Who was Mary Shelley? Born in 1797 to 2 leading intellectuals: Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin Married Percy Shelley at the age of 16 At the age of 18 she wrote Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus Frankenstein is the greatest example of British Romanticism in the novel form.

Hand- written Draft of Frankenstein

Shelley’s Tragedies She gave birth to 4 children in 5 years. 3 of them died in infancy Shelley lost her husband in a boating accident after only 8 years of marriage Critics say that Frankenstein is greatly influenced by the themes of Birth and Death

What is Romanticism? Romanticism is a reaction to the Age of Reason.

The Age of Reason Time Period: roughly Time Period: roughly The Enlightenment, or the age of reason, is often closely linked with the Scientific Revolution, for both movements emphasized reason, science, and rationality The Enlightenment, or the age of reason, is often closely linked with the Scientific Revolution, for both movements emphasized reason, science, and rationality Time Period: roughly Time Period: roughly The Enlightenment, or the age of reason, is often closely linked with the Scientific Revolution, for both movements emphasized reason, science, and rationality The Enlightenment, or the age of reason, is often closely linked with the Scientific Revolution, for both movements emphasized reason, science, and rationality

What is Romanticism? Romanticism is also a rejection of Classicism: the precepts of order, calm, harmony, balance, idealization, and rationality (logos!) were replaced with the subjective, the irrational, the imaginative, the personal, the spontaneous, the emotional, the visionary, and the transcendental (pathos!)

What did the Romantics Believe?

The Natural World That the beauty of nature should be studiedThat the beauty of nature should be studied That trying to control it was dangerousThat trying to control it was dangerous That nature provides solace or comfort to the individualThat nature provides solace or comfort to the individual

Natural World Cont’d In the novel, Robert’s attempt to conquer the sea and Victor’s scientific experiments reveal man’s attempt to control or exploit the natural world.In the novel, Robert’s attempt to conquer the sea and Victor’s scientific experiments reveal man’s attempt to control or exploit the natural world.

The Individual Romanticism favored the idea of the Individual. (This individual is Percy Bysshe Shelley, Mary’s husband.)

The Individual The Romantics had a preoccupation with the genius, the hero, & the exceptional figure They focused on his passions & inner struggles They viewed the artist as a supremely individual creator, whose creative spirit is more important than strict adherence to formal rules and traditional procedures They emphasized imagination as a gateway to the transcendental, leading to belief in...

The Supernatural !!! Which leads us to: The Gothic Novel!

The Gothic Novel The Gothic novel took shape mostly in England from 1790 to 1830 and falls within the category of Romantic literature.

The Gothic Novel The Gothic is far from limited to this set time period, as it takes its roots from former terrorizing writing that dates back to the Middle Ages, and can still be found written today by writers such as Stephen King.The Gothic is far from limited to this set time period, as it takes its roots from former terrorizing writing that dates back to the Middle Ages, and can still be found written today by writers such as Stephen King.

The Gothic Novel Gothic novel could be seen as a description of a fallen world.Gothic novel could be seen as a description of a fallen world. We experience this fallen world though all aspects of the novel: plot, setting, characterization, and theme. We experience this fallen world though all aspects of the novel: plot, setting, characterization, and theme. This leads us to the Gothic Hero.This leads us to the Gothic Hero.

Gothic Archetypes Gothic Hero: isolated either voluntarily or involuntarilyGothic Hero: isolated either voluntarily or involuntarily Villian: epitome of evil, either by his (usually a man) own fall from grace, or by some implicit malevolenceVillian: epitome of evil, either by his (usually a man) own fall from grace, or by some implicit malevolence The Wanderer, found in many Gothic tales, is the epitome of isolation as he wanders the earth in perpetual exile, usually a form of divine punishmentThe Wanderer, found in many Gothic tales, is the epitome of isolation as he wanders the earth in perpetual exile, usually a form of divine punishment

1.Dangerous Knowledge 2.Nature vs. Nurture 3.Isolation 4.Nothing In Excess 5.Sublime Nature Themes in the book:

What do you think… …about Mary Shelley? …about Romantic beliefs? …about the hunt for knowledge – in the book and in modern times? …about Victor Frankenstein’s goals?

Victor Frankenstein Intelligent, wealthy, young man Has a thirst for knowledge In love with Elizabeth Misguided in his reading material Takes on an overly ambitious project Will face the consequences

Victor’s Family and Friends Alphonse & Caroline Frankenstein William Frankenstein Henry Clerval Elizabeth Lavenza Justine Moritz M. Waldman Ernest Frankenstein

How can you identify with Victor? Write about a time you had to take responsibility for an action.