English 10 Honors/AP Seminar: Frankenstein Unit Test - Sheehan

Single Story

A one-sided narrative that simplifies a person or group into a stereotype; it ignores complexity and causes misunderstanding and harm. Frankenstein Example

Lord Byron’s “She Walks in Beauty”

Poem comparing a woman’s balanced beauty to a calm night sky; celebrates harmony between outer and inner goodness.

Romantic Qualities in “She Walks in Beauty”

Nature imagery, emotion over reason, idealization, imagination, and appreciation of beauty.

Simile

A comparison using “like” or “as”; example: “She walks in beauty, like the night.”

Enjambment

When a sentence flows past a line break without punctuation, creating smooth, natural rhythm.

Romanticism

A literary movement valuing emotion, imagination, nature, and individuality over logic and reason.

Gothic

A genre with dark atmospheres, horror, isolation, transgression, and psychological tension; used throughout Frankenstein.

Perspective

The narrator’s point of view; Frankenstein uses multiple perspectives (Walton

Frame Tale

A story within a story; Frankenstein’s layers of narration show different viewpoints and challenge a single story.

Epistolary

A story told through letters; Frankenstein begins with Walton’s letters to his sister.

Walton

Explorer writing letters from the Arctic; seeks glory and friendship; learns to value life over ambition.

Victor Frankenstein

Ambitious scientist who creates life but fails to take responsibility; consumed by guilt and revenge.

The Creature

Intelligent being rejected for appearance; longs for love and acceptance; becomes vengeful after isolation.

Elizabeth Lavenza

Victor’s fiancée; represents purity and domestic love; murdered by the Creature on their wedding night.

Henry Clerval

Victor’s best friend; symbolizes moral conscience and humanity; killed by the Creature.

Justine Moritz

Wrongfully executed for William’s murder; victim of society’s single story.

Alphonse Frankenstein

Victor’s father; symbolizes family duty and care; dies of grief.

De Lacey Family

The cottagers the Creature observes to learn language and emotion; represent ideal human compassion.

Volume I Plot

Victor’s childhood, scientific obsession, Creature’s creation, William’s death, Justine’s execution.

Volume II Plot

Creature’s story, learning language, rejection by humans, plea for a companion.

Volume III Plot

Victor destroys female creature, Creature’s revenge, murders of Clerval and Elizabeth, Victor’s death, Creature’s remorse.

Walton’s Letters

Frame story introducing Victor; theme of ambition vs. responsibility.

Major Themes

Ambition, isolation, prejudice, responsibility, revenge, creation, companionship, and moral limits of knowledge.

Internal Conflict (Victor)

Guilt vs. ambition; denial of responsibility.

External Conflict (Victor)

Against the Creature, society, and nature.

Internal Conflict (Creature)

Desire for love vs. rage from rejection.

External Conflict (Creature)

Society’s hatred and Victor’s abandonment.

Internal Conflict (Walton)

Desire for glory vs. responsibility to his crew.

Resolution (Walton)

Learns from Victor’s mistakes; turns his ship home.

Romantic Qualities in Frankenstein

Nature’s sublimity, emotional intensity, focus on isolation and individualism.

Gothic Elements in Frankenstein

Remote settings, horror, isolation, supernatural creation, storms, and moral decay.

Nature’s Role

Reflects emotion; restores peace or mirrors turmoil; Romantic element.

Theme: Ambition

Unchecked pursuit of knowledge leads to destruction (Victor, Walton).

Theme: Isolation

Emotional and physical separation causes suffering (Creature, Victor).

Theme: Judging by Appearances

Leads to injustice (Creature, Justine).

Theme: Revenge

Cycle of destruction with no resolution.

Theme: Responsibility

Creation demands moral care and accountability.

Romanticism vs. Gothic

Romanticism celebrates emotion and nature; Gothic adds fear, decay, and darkness.

Symbol: Light

Represents knowledge and enlightenment; also danger when misused.

Symbol: Fire

Dual meaning—life and destruction (Creature’s first lesson).

Walton’s Change

Chooses life over fame; breaks the cycle of ambition.

Victor’s Downfall

Fails to take responsibility; obsession leads to loss and death.

Creature’s Fate

Gains self-awareness; remorseful; plans to die.

“She Walks in Beauty” Rhyme Scheme

ABABAB in each stanza.

Meter

Iambic tetrameter, giving a calm, musical rhythm.

Byron’s Tone

Gentle admiration; reverent and serene.

Romantic vs. Scientific Mindset

Emotion and morality (Romantic) vs. cold reason and control (Enlightenment).

Frankenstein’s Frame Purpose

Multiple perspectives question truth and highlight bias.

Single Story Lesson

Seek full perspectives before judging others.

Gothic Setting Examples

Lab at night, Alps, Arctic, graveyards, storms.

Moral Lesson

Power without empathy leads to ruin.

Walton’s Crew

Symbolizes reason and humanity; rejects reckless ambition.

Justine’s Trial

Shows injustice caused by rumor and prejudice.

Creature’s Request

Wants a female companion; symbolizes longing for acceptance.

Victor’s Refusal

Destroys the female creature out of fear of “a race of devils.”

Wedding Night

Creature’s revenge fulfilled; Elizabeth’s death.

Ending Scene

Creature mourns Victor, plans his own death; shows deep remorse.

Romanticism in Both Works

Emotion, nature, and individuality emphasized over logic and society.

Difference Between Terror & Horror

Terror = anticipation/fear; Horror = the shock of violence.

Key Quote (Creature)

“I shall be with you on your wedding night.”

Key Quote (Victor’s Lesson)

“Learn from me… how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge.”

Key Quote (Byron)

“She walks in beauty, like the night.”

Walton’s Sister

Recipient of the letters; adds realism and emotional grounding.

Shelley’s Message

Balance intellect with empathy; knowledge must serve humanity.

Romantic Hero Traits

Emotional, idealistic, rebellious, introspective.

Gothic Hero Traits

Isolated, haunted by guilt, facing internal darkness.

Theme of Parent-Child Relationship

Creator owes care to creation; neglect breeds harm.

Role of Nature in Creature’s Growth

Teaches beauty, language, morality—contrasts human cruelty.

Consequence of Playing God

Victor overreaches; suffers loss and isolation.

Walton’s Lesson from Victor

Abandon reckless ambition before it destroys others.

Frame Structure Purpose

Builds suspense and multiple truths.

Literary Device ID: Simile

“Like the night” (Byron); “as beautiful as the moon” (Shelley example).

Literary Device ID: Enjambment

Line continues into next without pause, creates flow (Byron).

Romantic Idea of Sublime

Awe mixed with terror when confronting nature’s power.

Frankenstein Publication Year

1818.

Byron’s Poem Publication Year

1815.

Moral of Frankenstein

Empathy and responsibility define humanity, not creation or science.