Honors British Literature Semester 2 Final Exam Study Guide

Section 2: Frankenstein

• Characters:

  • Victor Frankenstein: The protagonist and creator of the Creature. He is driven by ambition and a thirst for scientific knowledge, leading him to create life but failing to take responsibility for his creation.
  • The Creature: A sentient being created by Victor. Initially innocent and seeking acceptance, he becomes vengeful and violent due to his rejection by society and his creator.
  • Walton: An explorer who encounters Victor in the Arctic. His letters frame the narrative of the story.
  • Elizabeth: An adopted sister and eventual wife of Victor. She represents innocence, purity, and domesticity.
  • Henry Clerval: Victor’s close friend who supports him and embodies human connection and empathy.
  • Justine Moritz: A young woman wrongly accused and executed for the murder of William Frankenstein.
  • The DeLacy family: A blind old man and his children, Felix and Agatha, who represent the possibility of compassion and acceptance, which the Creature briefly experiences.
  • Alfonse Frankenstein: Victor’s father, who provides guidance and support to Victor.
  • Waldman: A professor who inspires Victor’s interest in science and alchemy.

• Parenting Styles:

  • Victor received: Victor’s parents were loving and nurturing, providing him with a privileged and supportive upbringing. They fostered his intellectual curiosity but perhaps lacked in providing moral guidance regarding the potential consequences of his ambition.
  • Parenting style he gave: Victor completely neglects the Creature, abandoning him immediately after creation. He fails to provide any guidance, education, or support, leading to the Creature’s eventual descent into violence and despair. This lack of parental responsibility is a central theme of the novel.

• Plot:
  The story begins with Walton, an English explorer, writing letters to his sister about his Arctic expedition. He finds Victor Frankenstein, who recounts his story:

  • Victor becomes obsessed with discovering the secret of life and creates a creature from assembled body parts.
  • Horrified by his creation, Victor abandons it, and the Creature is left to fend for himself.
  • The Creature learns about human society but is rejected because of his appearance.
  • Enraged by his isolation, the Creature seeks revenge on Victor, killing his younger brother William, framing Justine, and eventually killing Elizabeth and Henry.
  • Victor dedicates his life to hunting down and destroying the Creature but is ultimately unsuccessful. Both Victor and the Creature suffer tragic ends.

Section 3: Victorian Literature

• Wilde's Themes (in The Importance of Being Earnest)
  • Hypocrisy and Morality: Wilde satirizes the moral hypocrisy of Victorian society, where appearances and social status are valued over genuine virtue.
  • The Nature of Marriage: He critiques the societal expectations and economic considerations that often underlie marriage.
  • The Importance of Being "Earnest": The play explores the concept of "earnestness" or sincerity, questioning what it truly means to be genuine and authentic.
  • Social Class: Wilde uses humor to expose the absurdities and rigid constraints