Frankenstein (AP English Literature and Composition) Notes
Prologue:
Letter I:
Character: Parallels between Walton and both Frankenstein and the Monster, with both of them wanting companionship (major theme establishment). The ship crew discovers Victor Frankenstein out in the north pole.
“nothing tranquilizes the mind more than a steady purpose.”
Setting: St. Petersberg during Winter.
Structure: structured as letters made to his sister.
Narration:
Figurative Language:
Letter II:
Character: Walton feels lonly and in-need of campionship. While functioning as a checkov’s gun for when Victor appears shortly afterwards, it also serves as a parallel later between him and the Monster.
Setting: St. Petersberg during Winter. March 28th.
Structure: Walton writing about what has happened since the last letter and, generally, what he has been contemplating and observing regarding the expedition.
Narration: the letter is from Walton’s perspective to his sister, who he wants to marry.
Figurative Language: “Yet some feelings, unallied to the dross of human nature, beat even in these rugged looms.”
Volume I:
Chapter I:
Character: this is our proper introduction to Victor Frankenstein, whose penchant for science and knowledge knows no bounds, as informed from his family (Clerval and Elizabeth) and his academic life (M. Krempe)
Setting: 18th century Germany, where the study of the “ancient” science (or scientific theories created before the Renaissance) is greatly discouraged.
Structure: the chapter is basically Victor’s starting point and of what starts informed Victor to become the person he became.
Narration: the chapter is told entirely from Victor’s perspective.
Figurative Language:
Historical allusions to renaissance and medieval German scientists (Cornelius Agrippa and Paracelsus), Robin Hood, etc.
Chapter II:
Character: further expands on Victor’s origins from chapter I, such as her mother’s death due to an illness. His mother’s death made Victor contemplate what losing a loved one truly is like: “that the brightness of a beloved eye can be extinguished…” M. Waldman is introduced who, unlike his father or previous professors, more empathetic to Victor and his wants, advising him to go into a variety of subjects in natural philosophy, including chemistry and mathematics. He even “smiled at the names of Cornelius Agrippa and Paracelsus, but without the contempt that M. Krempe had exhibited.” Waldman was the perfect type of person to push Victor forward into becoming the scientist we all know him as. “Thus ended a day memorable to me; It decided my future destiny.”
Setting: the setting shifts as Victor leaves his family and friends to Ingolstadt, a university in (then) Landshut.
Structure: Shift of focus towards Victor’s experience with his university professor M. Waldman and fields of study such as natural philosophy.
Narration: the chapter is told entirely from Victor’s perspective, so we are told in detail about his personal life but little about the lives of others, such as M. Waldman (only what he was like to him).
Figurative Language:
Metaphor: “They ascend into the heavens; they have discovered how the blood circulates, and the nature of the air we breathe.”
Meaning: Victor describes relatively modern scientific breakthroughs and research.
Chapter III
Character: Victor is infatuated with chemistry and mathematics, and he begins to “play God” and create life out of deceased human matter.
Setting: still in Ingolstadt, Germany, where Victor decides to stay to do his living organic mosaic.
Structure: Building up to Victor’s life’s work and his thought process over several months.
Narration: Victor acknowledges that he’s “moralizing the most interesting part of the story” to the crew, so he proceeds with the plot.
Figurative Language:
Personification: “I pursued nature to her hiding places.”
Meaning: Victor is breaking both natural and scientific boundaries with his experiment.
Chapter IV:
Character: Victor develops a heavy guilty conscience after completing his creation, naming it an abomination immediately after it was created. Victor deprived himself of “both rest and health” in order to complete it, but as soon as it was complete, his dream vanished and all that remained was the horror. He dreamed of his loved ones dying around him, subconsciously thinking himself as “death” or a monster for what he as done. Victor then meets Henry Clerval. Clerval, embodying Victor’s family and wants to steer him towards a good direction in life, wants to know what’s been going on. Victor only alludes to what he has been doing as indulging in “one occupation”, not having the gull to tell him about when he played God. When Clerval brought Victor to his room, he sprang of joy as a way to disguise his recent trauma, almost frightening Henry. Clerval was then Victor’s nurse for the time being, hiding “the extent of my [Victor’s] disorder” from the rest of the family, as it would upset them (bad move, they have the right to know). Henry then suspects that the origin of Victor’s disorder to be something more unnatural. Clerval then seemingly has put Victor back in his spirits, what he was before the “terrible event”.
Setting: “A dreary night of November” (setting up tone) in Ingolstadt, Germany. Victor says it has been two years since he started his life’s work.
Structure: Shelly occasionally inserted a passage from Coleridge’s “Ancient Mariner” where the mariner, like Victor, is lost and confused on what to do next.
“Like one who, on a lonely road,
Doth walk in fear and dread,
And, having once turned round, walks on,
And turns no more his head;
Because he knows a frightful fiend
Doth close behind him tread.”
- Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”
Narration: We see Victor’s guilty conscience develop when he describes the moment his creation is complete and the dream he has afterward.
Figurative Language:
Symbolism: “they became livid with the hue of death.”
Hyperbole: “Sometimes my pulse beat so quickly and hardly, that I felt the palpitation of every artery; at others, I nearly sank to the ground through languor and extreme weakness”.
Allusion: Dante in order to emphasize the horrors of Victor’s creation.
Chapter V:
Character: Elizabeth becomes both worried and annoyed by Victor’s lack of responses to her via writing, with Henry writing for him. As a cautionary tale, Elizabeth then tells the story of Justine Mortiz, who blamed herself for the deaths of everyone around her (a guilt that Victor fears is going to happen to him per his nightmare) and now lives with them. Victor describes Henry as “no natural philosopher”, saying that his specialty is more of languages than the sciences. Victor then made Henry his pupil in his university, conversing with M. Waldman.
Setting: Over the course of four weeks (two fortnights) in Ingolstadt, Germany.
Structure: the chapter starts with a letter written by Elizabeth to Victor, then progresses to Victor and Henry in the college.
Narration: Elizabeth narrates the first half, while Victor narrates the second half.
Figurative Language:
Simile: “When you read their (poet’s) writings, life appears so consistent in a warm sun and garden of roses,—in the smiles and frowns of a fair enemy, and the fire that consumes your own heart.”
Chapter VI:
Character: Alphonse Frankenstein, Victor’s father, notifies him that William’s been (seemingly) murdered and that Elizabeth blames herself for her death, an obvious parallel to Justine, and that Victor must come home to console her. Victor tells Henry that they’re going to Geneva immediately. Henry tries to raise back Victor’s spirits on the way to the horses. Victor then contemplates if his creation was the one who murdered young William. When he goes to Plainpalais, his family tells him that Justine is supposedly the one responsible. Victor doesn’t believe it, as it doesn’t make much sense for the girl who has lost nearly everyone in her life to commit such an act to the people who are taking care of her.
Setting: the week after Thursday, May 7th. It starts off in Ingolstadt and then shifts to Victor’s two days at Laussane. Then, it shifts again to Plainpalais.
Structure: Starts with a letter from Victor’s father, almost as a continuation from Elizabeth’s letter from the chapter prior.
Narration: Starts with narration from Victor’s father, then shifts back to Victor as the narrator.
Figurative Language:
“… I was first tempted to write only a few lines, merely mentioning the day on which I should expect you. But that would be a cruel kindness, and I shall not do it.”
“Those maxims of the Stoics, that death was no evil, and that the mind of man ought to be superior to despair on the eternal absence of a beloved object, ought to not be urged.”
“I wept like a child: ‘Dear mountains! My own beautiful lake! How do you welcome your wanderer? Your summits are clear; the sky and lake are blue and placid. Is this to prognosticate peace, or to mock my unhappiness?’”
Chapter VII:
Character: During Justine’s trial, Victor wants to “sacrifice” himself into admitting to Justine’s crimes, as he believes he, through his monster, is responsible for them. Yet, Victor also can’t as the court wouldn’t believe him because 1. he was at Inglostadt when William was murdered, and 2. they would find the idea of Victor creating a monster who murdered William poposterous and probably deem him insane. Therefore, Victor finds himself in a delimma where he can’t “win” or do what he thinks is right. Justine lies and confesses that she murdered William, thinking that she deserves punishment, not for William’s death, but for the misery she believed she caused to her original family. Elizabeth comforts her afterwards, gaining both their acceptance of Justine’s fate, while Victor grows deeper in dispair for what he thinks he has done.
Setting: a court room in Geneva, Germany.
Structure: Shifts to dialogue from Justine and Elizabeth to Victor’s head, reflecting what they believe is happening to what he believes.
Narration: Narrarated from Victor’s perspective, with him in the same room as Elizabeth and Justine’s conversation exlempifying his hopelessness in this situation.
Figurative Language:
“A thousand times would rather would I have confessed myself guilty of the crimes ascribed to Justine; but I was absent when it was committed, and such a declaration would have been considered as the ravings of a madman, and would not have exculpated her who suffered through me.”
Volume II:
Chapter VIII:
Character: Justine has died and the family is in mourning. When they go to their home in Belrive, Victor sits on a boat in the the middle of the night, contemplating suicide as he believes himself to be the most responsible for the recent hardships that have befallen his family (obvious parallel to Justine with her original family). Then, he comes to the conclusion that he can't end his own life when his family would end vulnerable and his creation (who he thinks murdered William) is still out there, possibly waiting for more victims.
Setting: a house in Belrive as a form of retreat for mourning.
Structure: Quiet and contemplative chapter focusing on Victor’s mental state after Justine’s trial and her death.
Narration: read Victor’s thoughts and internal struggle as he blames himself for William's murder and Justine’s death, yet also believing that he can't die for it as he believes he could still redeem himself yet.
Figurative Language: “…I was tempted to plunge into the silent lake. that the waters might close over me and my clamaities forever.”
Chapter IX:
Character: Victor has been slowly regaining happiness again, with his father and Elizabeth happy to see him in good spirits. The rainy morning after, Victor’s doubts and negative thoughts about himself reoccured again. Victor has an encounter with his creation, who somehow found him from Ingolstadt to Geneva (Germany to France). The creature then tells Victor the story of how he got here.
Setting: Geneva, France
Structure: Structured as an encounter with his creation.
Narration: Last chapter where Victor is the sole narrator.
Figurative Language: “why does man boast of sensibilitoes superior to those apparent in the brute; it only renders them more necessary beings. If our impulses were confined to hunger, thirst and desire, we might be nearly free; but now we are moved by every wind that blows. and a chance word or scene that that word may convey to us.”
Chapter X:
Character: The Monster recounts his first couple days after Victor left him, where he was wandering around the forests of Ingolstadt. First, he encounters a man in his cottage, frightening him and turning him away due to the Monster’s appearance. Then, he encounters more villagers who treat him poorly for the same reason. Finally, he comes across a family and their cottage, and decides to reside their in secret.
Setting: Off-skirts of Ingolstadt.
Structure: Told as a series of encounters with Ingolstadt’s townspeople.
Narration: Narration shift from Victor to the Monster, who’s telling his story to Victor. The way he tells his story is to emphasize his loneliness and to make Victor empathize with his grim situation.
Figurative Language: “It is with considerable difficulty that I remember the original aera of my being: all the events of that period appear confused and indistinct. A strange multiplicity of sensations seized me, and I saw, felt, heard, and smelt, at the same time; and it was, indeed, a long time before I learned to distinguish between operations of my various senses.”
Chapter XI:
Character: The Monster continues telling his story where he lived in secret alongside a family. I'm doing so, he learns the basics of language he would come to evidently master. Meanwhile, he sympathizes with the family and what they go through, despite never going through those himself; he feels their emotions.
Setting: Ingolstadt, Germany, over the course from Winter to Spring (setting symbolism).
Structure: As a singular event spread over a span of time.
Narration: double narration: Victor is narrating the Monster’s narration to Walton’s crew.
Figurative Language: “ ‘I spent the winter in this manner. the gentle manners and beauty of the cottagers greatly endeared to me: when they were unhappy, I felt depressed; when they rejoiced, I sympathized in their joy.’ ”
Chapter XII:
Character: The Monster recalls on how he learned a good chunk of history through Felix’s girlfriend. He observes the Arabian’s love for the woman. The Monster then contemplates how maybe he doesn’t deserve this, how none of the smiles and joys those cottagers expressed were not for him, and how he thinks of himself a “blot against the Earth.” This sets up the Monster’s loneliness and general search for self-worth, alongside his exponentially expanding knowledge of how the world functions, acting as if knowledge is a curse.
Setting: Ingolstadt, Germany, over the course from Winter to Spring.
Structure: As a singular event spread over a span of time, as the Monster relays the tale of the event that made him who he was during his encounter with his maker.
Narration: Double layer of narration between Victor to Walton’s crew and the Monster to Victor.
Figurative Language: “…his eyes sparkled, as his cheek flushed with pleasure; and at that moment I thought of him as beautiful as the stranger.”
Chapter XIII:
Character:
Setting: Ingolstadt, Germany, over the course from Winter to Spring.
Structure: As a singular event spread over a span of time, as the Monster relays the tale of the event that made him who he was during his encounter with his maker.
Narration: Double layer of narration between Victor to Walton’s crew and the Monster to Victor.
Figurative Language: “The path to my depature was free.”
Chapter XIV:
Character: The Monster explains the the books he came across while in the unknowing care of Felix, the Arabian, etc. and he explains how they impacted him on various levels, with Paradise Lost having ellicted the deepest emotions, as he sympathized and, to some degree, envied his own experiences with that of Adam and his companionship where he had none. The cottagers finally come across the Monster in his full glory, and perceed to drive him out of their home.
Setting: Ingolstadt, Germany, over the course from Winter to Spring.
Structure: As a singular event spread over a span of time, as the Monster relays the tale of the event that made him who he was during his encounter with his maker.
Narration: Double layer of narration between Victor to Walton’s crew and the Monster to Victor.
Figurative Language: “…they consisted of Paradise Lost, a volume of Plutarch’s Lives, and the Sorrows of Werter.”
Chapter XV:
Character: The Monster swears vengeance on humanity for how they have treated him. Then, the Monster encounter none other than William Frankenstein, whom he murders upon realization on who he’s related to.
Setting: Germany to France in the Winter, an indication that we’re reaching ever so closer to the present.
Structure: As a singular event spread over a span of time, as the Monster relays the tale of the event that made him who he was during his encounter with his maker.
Narration: Double layer of narration between Victor to Walton’s crew and the Monster to Victor.
Figurative Language: “I was like a wild beast that had broken the toils; destroying the objects that obstructed me, and ranging through the wood with a stag-like swiftness.”
Chapter XVI:
Character: After the Monster finishes recounting his tale, he demands Victor to create another like him of the opposite sex, so that he can feel the love and compassion he’s always wanted yet has been denied of by mankind. Victor initially rejects the proposal, yet eventually agrees with the caviet that the Monster will soon leave Europe and leave him alone forever.
Setting: Back to Geneva, France.
Structure: Back-and-forth argument between Victor and his creation, eventually culminating in a compromise.
Narration: Back to Victor’s narraration.
Figurative Language: “The promise I made to the daemon weighed upon my mind, like Dante’s hellish cowl among hellish hypocrites.”
Chapter XVII:
Character: Weeks After Victor’s conversation with the monster, Victor cannot muster the strength to repeat what he had done before: create another lifeform. Despite that, his wellbeing hollistically improved, much to his father’s delight. His father’s happy to see his son in good spirits before the marriage to Elizabeth. However, Victor’s come to the conclusion that he must create the Monster’s mate before the marriage can take place, to ensure his family’s safety. Shroding his true reasons for going to England, Victor tells his father that he wanted to travel before the ceremony.
Setting: From Geneva, France to Stratsburgh to England.
Structure: Back-and-forth between first-person narration and dialogue.
Narration:
Figurative Language: “I clothed my desires under the guise of wishing to travel and see the world before I sat down for life within the walls of my native town.”
Chapter XVIII:
Character: Victor is still incredibly wairy over what happened with William and Justine, yet seeks comfort in his friend Henry, who he sees as a reflection of his former self.
Setting: From London to England during autumn, with stopping points at Windsor and Oxford.
Structure:
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Figurative Language:
Chapter XIX:
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Chapter XX:
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Chapter XXI:
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Chapter XXII:
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Chapter XXIII:
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