1. Frankenstein
Mary Shelley

2. Objectives
- Identify elements of Gothic Romance and Verisimilitude and explain their purpose in telling the story
Identify how point of view changes the perspective of the reader in regard to identifying the true victim
Identify literary techniques used by Shelley to convey the theme or answer the central question of the novel
Apply knowledge of literary lenses to the novel

4. Book Info Published in 1818 Subtitled “The Modern Prometheus”
Originated in a “scary story contest” between Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley and Lord Byron
The three were vacationing at Lake Geneva and Byron suggested the contest

5. Mary Shelley Born in London, 1797 Parents were famous radical writers
Mother, also named Mary (Wollstonecraft) died shortly after Mary’s birth
Married Percy Bysshe Shelley after his first wife committed suicide
Had four children, only one survived
Percy Bysshe Shelley drowned in 1822 and Mary continued to write until her death in 1851

6. Gothic Romance Atmosphere of mystery and suspense
How is this created?
Supernatural or otherwise inexplicable events
High emotion

7. Point of View We see three different perspectives throughout the novel
Robert Walton (author of the letters)
Victor Frankenstein
Creation/Monster
We know the general significance of multiple perspectives but we need to specifically identify why they are used in this novel

8. Characters The Book Begins…
Victor Frankenstein, the narrator beginning in Chapter 1
R. Walton, the explorer who encounters Victor in the Arctic, author of the letters, frame narrator
Creature/Monster – the creation made by Victor, also narrates some of the novel (Chapter 3 of Volume 2 OR Chapter 11)
The novel opens with a series of letters addressed to Mrs. Saville, England
The letters are from her brother , R. Walton who is traveling the Arctic
On his journey, he encounters a man, on the run from something
The man begins to tell his story with Chapter 1

9. Reading Assignments Due Thursday, March 12th– Volume I Chapters 1-8
Due Wednesday, March 18th – Volume II Chapters 9-17
Due Monday, March 23rd – Volume III Chapters 18-end