1. Frankenstein
It’s like that Disney movie Bolt, except that people have heard of it, the bolts are in his neck, he’s green, and he’s not a doggo.

2. Description

3. Tall, green, (and handsome?)
Typically depicted as:
An 8 foot tall giant
Bulky and muscular-y, broad-shouldered
Composed of body parts from other people, or else just green for some reason
Bolts in his neck, dumb haircut
Pronounced brow
Long, lanky face and frame

4. Origin

5. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Most monsters come from ancient legend and/or religion/mythology
Frankenstein comes from book– Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus
Mary Shelley, husband of poet Percy Shelley, had night terror in which she saw a walking corpse brought back to life
1818, published anonymously, influenced by Romantic movement
Frankenstein = sensitive, intelligent creature who becomes bitter and murderous over time, growing to hate his creator, Dr. Frankenstein
Hated his loneliness, wanted a bride (REMEMBER DAT SHAKES INVENTED LUV)
Some regard this book as first science fiction, critique of scientific progress in 1800s

6. Interpretations

7. Karloff’s Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein
Director Boris Karloff had a HUGE success with his film and (rare for the time!) sequel about Frankenstein
Karloff was one of the first to change the story:
Hunchbacked assistants
Castles and laboratories
A “killing machine”
Sequel closer to original book = Frankenstein had human relationships
Last line of film: “We belong dead.”
It’s getting remade soon! Woo! Announced May Niiiiceeeeitsgonnabebad.

8. Young Frankenstein
1974 Mel Brooks film, comedic take by director of Space Balls and Willy Wonka
Frederick Frankenstein doesn’t like being grandson of Victor Frankenstein
Inherits family estate, meets Igor, decides to continue grandfather’s work
The whole “comes to life through electricity” thing
Monster loves violin music, easily scared by electricity
Monster is still homicidal, but he does musical numbers
Woman falls in love with Frankenstein because of his stamina
Frederick plays violin to lure monster, succeeds, finds a way to allow creature to speak for the first time
Monster succeeds in convincing the mob to chillax– goes on to marry woman, becomes super sophisticated,

9. Symbolic Significance

10. “The real creation myth of modern times…”
Warning against technological advance meddling with nature/humanity
“Has science gone too far”?
Importance of love and companionship vs. loneliness and revenge
Isolation turns “French-speaking, poetry reading” creature into a killer
Masculinity and aggression
frankenstein.html

11. Works Cited
Gaines, John and Bingham, Megan. “A History of Classic Monsters: Frankenstein’s Creature.” Librarypoint.org. Central Rappahannock Regional Library, n.d. Accessed 24 Oct
Lescaze, Zoe. “The Pop-Culture Evolution of Frankenstein’s Monster.” The New York Times. New York Times, frankenstein.html Accessed 24 Oct
“Young Frankenstein.” IMDb. IMDb, n.d. Accessed 24 Oct