Frankenstein

Why did Mary Shelley write Frankenstein?

for a ghost story contest with her friends (Percy Shelley & Lord Byron)

What discussions influence the development of her idea?

Dr. Erasmus Darwin's creation of life (bacteria from flour & water)

Gothic Literature

focused on the darker side of human nature with stories featuring evil, madness, and the supernatural

Frame Tale

The story of Frankenstein is actually INSIDE the story or Robert Walton, who's is writing letters to his sister Margaret while traveling to the North Pole

Who is writing the letters?

Robert Walton

To whom are the letters written?

his sister Margaret

Where is the writer of the letters, and why is he there?

He's on a quest to the North Pole to discover the reason for its magnetism (think of a compass!)

How does he meet Victor Frankenstein?

His ship is stuck in the ice; Victor is frozen, hungry, exhausted, with just one dog pulling his dogsled

HOw does Robert feel about his guest?`

He feels a profound connection to him -- they're both seekers!

WHy is Frankenstein in the Arctic?

He's determined to track the monster down and destroy him!

Englightenment

Victor and Robert Walton reflect the bad side of the Enlightenment -- they're pursuing scientific exploration at ANY cost

How did Elizabeth come to live with the Frankensteins?

Victor's mother, Caroline, adopted her

Who is Frankenstein's closest friend?

Henry Clerval

Romanticism

The novel is also an example of Romanticism -- because Vic often retreats to the world of nature (the mountains, valleys, streams) for comfort and healing!

What natural phenomena influenced Frankenstein?

A tree outside the family home that is obliterated by lightening!

What two major events happened to Frankenstein when he was seventeen?

Victor goes to college; but, sadly, his mother dies.

What goal did Frankenstein decide to pursue?

the 'elixir of life,' or the ability to prevent people from dying of sickness and disease

HOw did Frankenstein feel when his experiment succeeded?

absolutely horrified

What happened to Frankenstein the day after he completed his creation?

Victor falls severely ill; but, luckily, his pal Henry arrives to comfort him

Caroline

Victor's mother who dies from scarlet fever

Prof. M Waldman

the professor at Ingolstadt who takes young Victor under his wing

Cornelius Agrippa

one of the alchemists (who tried to turn lead into gold) that Victor studied before going off to college

What news did the letter from Frankenstein's father bring?

That his little brother William had been strangled

Felix, Agatha, DeLacey, Safie

the loving family the Creature 'lives with' for a short time (before even they reject him!)

Justine

servant girl for the Frankensteins; the creature frames her for murder; she falsely confesses to the crime, and is executed

M. Frankenstein

Victor's father, who dies from a broken heart

Elizabeth Lavenza

Victor's cousin/sister/wife

Where did Frankenstein go to seek relief following Justine's and William's deaths

Chamonix Valley (Mont Blanc)

What one thing does the creature demand of Victor?

to make him a wife as ugly as he

What books does the Creature find and read?

Plutarch's Lives, Sorrows of Werther, and Paradise Lost

What was the elder DeLAcey's reaction when the creature entered the cottage and began speaking with him?

welcoming and friendly, because he couldn't see him

What was the reaction of the De Lacey family when they saw the creature?

horrified -- Felix begins beating him!

What did the creature do at the cottage when he returned and found that the De Laceys had moved out?

he burned it

What was the reaction of the man whose daughter was saved from drowning by the creature?

he shoots the creature in the shoulder!

What threat did the creature make when he saw Frankenstein destroy his second creation?

kill all of Frankenstein's loved ones -- and thousands of humans

Orkney Islands

Northern Scotland -- where Vic works on the female creature

Whom does the Creature kills right after Vic destroys the female monsters

Henry Clerval

Who is accused of murdering Henry?!

Victor

What happened on Frankenstein and Elizabeth's wedding night?

the monster kills elizabeth

What request does Frankenstein make of Robert Walton?

to continue his journey, though Walton turns home, afraid that his crew will mutiny

What happened to Fankenstein at the end of the novel?

dies on Walton's ship

What happened to the creature at the end of the novel?

goes north, to build his funeral pile . . .