AP English

Name: Raven Uzuegbu Block: 3rd Date: 1/19/12

Major Works Data Sheet

Biographical information about the author:

Title: Frankenstein Author:Mary Shelley Date of Publication:1818 Genre: Romantic, Science-fiction

Historical information about the period of publication:

Mary Shelley was born in 1797 to William Godwin and Mary Wollstoncraft. Both of her parents were writers that were well known in the 18th century. At 16, Mary married Percy Shelley, who was also an author. Her and her husband were friends with the likes of Lord Byron and George Gordon, who frequently joined them in very rousing literary discussions that turned out to spark the idea of Frankenstein.

In the 1800s, the industrial revolution was taking place which caused the launching of many new scientific ideas. Also, Darwinistic ideas were being spread, which had a direct influence on the writing of Frankenstein.

Other works by the author:

The Last Man Lodore Mathilda

Plot summary: Frankenstein begins as a set of letters that Roger Walton, a captain, is writing to his sister explaining why he is on a journey to the Arctic. He reveals that he met a man, Victor Frankenstein, at sea, who they carried aboard and who discloses a very bizarre story to him. Victor tells Walton the story of how he was simply a boy interested in natural philosophy at Ingolstadt, when he discovered the secret to creating life. After months of tiresome and consuming work he created a monster and immediately abandoned it in disgust. Two years later Frankensteins brother, William, is found dead, Justine, Frankensteins friend, is accused and found guilty, and Victor immediately knows that is was this fiend that did this. Victor travels to the mountains as a means of escape, but instead finds himself face to face with the monster. The monster tells him that he is extremely lonely. The fiend had, for his first two years, watched a loving family and hoped to one day gain acceptance from them. Through spying on them he was able to learn both written and spoken language. The family rejected him, and so he swore revenge on his creator. The monster now asks Victor to make him a female companion. After being threatened with his life, Victor complies but when he is almost finished he realizes what he has done and destroys the body. The monster, enraged, strangles Henry Clerval as a warning sign to Victor. After narrowly escaping conviction for Clervals death, Victor returns home and marries Elizabeth. On the night of their honeymoon Victor is ready to face the monster, but instead of attacking Victor, the fiend kills Elizabeth and later on he kills Alphonse, Victors father. With no more familial ties and utterly miserable, Victor sets out on a quest to find and destroy what he created. This journey leads him to the arctic and to where Walton finds him. His story now told; Victor dies shortly thereafter. The monster finds a way on board and laments his creators death. Ultimately he is sorry for the thing he has become. Walton realizes from this story that his family means more than glory and so he turns around and heads home.

Major Works Data Sheet

Describe the authors style: Mary Shelleys style consists of mainly eloquent diction, long complex sentences and the use of a first person point of view in Frankenstein. The use of eloquent diction is to make Victor Frankenstein seem very intelligent, far beyond his years. Also, the long complex sentences are used in order to make the reader slow down the reading and draw out the story. Finally, the first person point of view is used in order to create the frame tale and show that there is a possibility of unreliability in the storys telling. An example that demonstrates the style:

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Complex Sentences My temper was sometimes violent, and my passions vehement; but by some law in my temperature they were turned, not towards childish pursuits, but to an eager desire to learn, and not to learn all things indiscriminately.

Memorable Quotes
Quote Thus strangely are our souls constructed, and by such slight ligaments are we bound to prosperity or ruin. P. 37 It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toilsit breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its muscles. P. 51 You are my creator, but I am your master;- obey! p. 149 You accused me of murder; and yet you would, with a satisfied conscience, destroy your own creature. P. 90 So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein- more, far more, will I achieve: treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way p. 42 Did anyone indeed exist, except I, the creator, who would believe, unless his senses convinced him, in the existence of the living monumentthat I had let loose on the world. P. 72 Significance This quote describes both the creation of Frankensteins monster and the creation of man. Also, how something can seem so good, such as creating life, and it can turn out horribly. The quote speaks of the first time the creature has life in him. It speaks of the creatures appearance and gives reference to Frankenstein being like a god because he has created life. This is spoken by the monster, and it makes reference to the idea that even though Frankenstein created the monster, he does not have control of him. In fact, the monster has slight control of Victor because his actions dictate Victors thoughts and actions as well. This talks about when Victor tells his creature that because his monster has committed murder, he must destroy it. The monster sees the irony in the statement and presents a major flaw in Frankensteins thoughts. This quote presents the ambition the Victor has for science. He wants to discover new things and be recognized by future generations such as the scientists he read about were. This quote represents the thoughts racing through Victors mind on whether or not anybody would believe them when he told them that the murders were being committed by a gigantic monster he had created.

Major Works Data Sheet

Name Characters (All Major ones and any significant Minor ones) Role in the story Significance

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Character traits

y y y y y y y y y y y y

Victor Frankenstein The monster Robert Walton Alphonse Frankenstein Elizabeth Lavenza Henry Clerval William Frankenstein Justine Moritz Caroline Beaufort Mr. Kirwin Peasants M. Waldman

y y y y y y y y y y y

Main story narrator Victors Creation Seafarer Victors Father Victors Wife Victors Friend Victors little brother False murderer Alphonsos wife Magistrate Felix, Agatha, De Lacey Professor of chemistry

y y y y y y y

y y y y

Tell the story of his life and Frankenstein kills Victors beloveds letters open & close Frankenstein Victors mentor Orphan adopted by Frankensteins Nurses Victor back to health Killed by the monster Sent to live with Frankensteins ; executed for Williams murder Dies of scarlet fever Accuses Victor of Henrys murder Family whom monster watches Sparks Victors interest in theories

y y y y y y

y y y y y y

ncaring, ambitious Hideous, murderer Recorder, listener Sympatheti c Passive Kind, caring, innovative Playful Kind, caring Caring Vengeful Poor, caring Smart

Major Works Data Sheet Setting

Page 4 Significance of the opening scene

Frankenstein takes place all throughout Europe. The main cities and areas in the story are Geneva and Ingolstadt University. The novel is based in the 18th Century as well.

The opening scene is a series of letters from Roger Walton to his sister in England. This is important because it establishes Frankenstein and a Frame Tale.

Significance of the ending/closing scene

Symbols and their meaning Light: the light symbolizes the beginning of new things and the end of bad things. It appears to be seen at the heightened mood of the scene in the story. Geneva: To Victor this symbolized peace and structure into his corrupt life Boat on the Lake: Symbolizes solitude Fire: symbolizes the connection between the monster and humanistic patterns. With him finding fire and its use.

In the final scene of Frankenstein, the monster is spotted by Walton, crying over his creators deathbed. The monster then decides to leave forever from society. And after that, Walton decides that perhaps it is better to not pursue his amazing dream, after seeing what Victors dream turned out. Walton realizes that there are many other things he could do, and he still has a chance at redemption if he returns home.

Motifs (recurring literary devices)

Shelley uses the motif of fire and ice all throughout Frankenstein. One example is when the monster brings Victor to his cave on Mount Blanc, he lives in an ice cave, but he lights a fire anyway, contrasting the two ideas.

Possible Themes (at least 5). Relate specifically to the work. Science vs. Nature During Victors experiences, nature is described in-depth much of the time, while in Victors mind, he is firmly focused on all things analytical and scientific. Contrasting these two elements helps to bring out the importance of both in Frankensteins life. Secrecy - Secrecy plays a huge role in this novel because, at the beginning, Frankenstein must keep his findings and then his experiments a secret from the rest of the college. And after that, he conceals the existence of his monster from society because he is afraid of the perception he will be given. Monstrosity The creatures ugliness plays a key role in this story as well. If Frankenstein had been able to make him beautiful, then people would have accepted the monster, but instead they were frightened by him, which caused his sense of isolation and loneliness. Heart vs. Sight- Humans had a hard time excepting the monster not of his manner but of his hideous looks Promise vs. Reason- Although Victor made a promise to make the monster a mate he held his reasons incapable of him to do such a thing and fled.