1. Religious Language in Frankenstein
LO: To explore the spiritual intertextuality in ‘Frankenstein’
Key Question:
How might the religious imagery add to the sense of fear created in the novel?
How might the religious imagery reveal further transgressions of social, cultural, religious boundaries?

2. Key Words
Occult
Orthodox
Unorthodox
Arcane

3. Challenging Critical Quote
“These excluded areas…often retain a strong peripheral or inverted relationship with orthodox religion [and] embrace the practices usually termed occult. In such systems there is much more direct relationship with the invisible realms” (Clive Bloom, Gothic Horror, 1998)
What is this critic saying about religion in the Gothic?

4. Base Texts to Consider…
The Bible
Paradise Lost by John Milton
Read the text summary and be ready to share your understanding with the rest of the class.

5. Group Work Adam God Satan
In your pairs, write down as many characteristics as you can to define each of these characters based on the base texts.
Now use your ideas to link to both the creature and Frankenstein.
In what ways does Shelley draw parallels between these characters?
What is Shelley’s message/purpose?

6. Review Write a paragraph answering the following question:
What is the effect of Shelley’s continual religious allusions? Focus on one character.