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Page 1 AP English: Literature and Composition Title: Frankenstein Author: Mary Shelly Date of Publication: January 1, 1818 Genre:

Gothic Science Fiction Historical information about the period of publication or setting of the novel: Time of Romantic books as authors. Woman were suppressed and it was all about men. Name: Biographical information about the author: By the time she was nineteen, Mary Shelly had written one of the most famous novels ever published. Embogying one of the central myths of Western culture, Frankenstein, first published in 1818, tells the story of an overreacher who brings life to a monster

Characteristics of the genre: Dark, atmosphere of mystery and suspense, omens, portents, visions, supernatural of otherwise inexplicable events.

Plot Summary: Do not cut/paste from a website, which is a form of plagiarism.


IN
A SERIES OF LETTERS,

Robert Walton, the captain of a ship bound for the North Pole, recounts to his sister back in England the progress of his dangerous mission. Successful early on, the mission is soon interrupted by seas full of impassable ice. Trapped, Walton encounters Victor Frankenstein, who has been traveling by dog-drawn sledge across the ice and is weakened by the cold. Walton takes him aboard ship, helps nurse him back to health, and hears the fantastic tale of the monster that Frankenstein created.

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Major Works Data Sheet: Do not cut/paste from a website, which is a form of plagiarism.
Major Works Data Sheet

Memorable Quotes at least 3 more is better


Quotation
What may not be expected in a country of eternal light?

Significance
This quote comes from Waltons first letter to his sister in England. It encapsulates one of the main themes of Frankensteinthat of light as a symbol of knowledge and discovery. Waltons quest to reach the northernmost part of the earth is similar in spirit to Victors quest for the secret of life: both seek ultimate knowledge, and both sacrifice the comfort of the realm of known knowledge in their respective pursuits. Additionally, the beauty and simplicity of the phrasing epitomize the eighteenth-century scientific rationalists optimism about, and trust in, knowledge as a pure good.

I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on.

In Waltons final letter to his sister, he recounts the words that the monster speaks to him over Victors dead body. This eruption of angry self-pity as the monster questions the injustice of how he has been treated compellingly captures his inner life, giving Walton and the reader a glimpse into the suffering that has motivated his crimes. This line also evokes the motif of abortion: the monster is an unwanted life, a creation abandoned and shunned by his creator. These lines appear on the title page of the novel and come from John Miltons Paradise Lost, when Adam bemoans his fallen condition (Book X,743745). The monster conceives of himself as a tragic figure, comparing himself to both Adam and Satan. Like Adam, he is shunned by his creator, though he strives to be good. These rhetorical questions epitomize the monsters ill will toward Victor for abandoning him in a world relentlessly hostile to him and foist responsibility for his ugliness and eventual evil upon Victor.

Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay To mould me Man, did I solicit thee From darkness to promote me?

Page 3 Major Works Data Sheet

Characters
Name Robert Walton Role in the story Main narrator Significance Tells the tale of Victer through his letters to his sister. He created all the problems of the book, by making the monster. Created by Victer and sets out revenge, by killing Victers loved ones. Main character Victers step sister and lover, victer is destined to marry her Victers long time friend, can cheer Victer up quite quickly Victers father, pushes Victer to marry Elizibeth Youngest brother of Victer, the first to die Maid of the Frankensteins, she is framed for murder and executed Adjectives Brave, overachieving, adventuring Overachieving, emotional, smart Intellectual, vengeful, strong, fast

Victer Frankenstein

Protaginist Antagonist

The monster

Elizibeth Lavenza

Beautiful, kind, caring, pure Nice, friendly, smart

Henry Clerval

Main Character

Alphonse Frankenstein

Main Character

Kind, old, caring, wise,Fatherly

Wilheim Frankenstein

Minor Character

Pure, innocent, young

Justine Moritz

Minor Character

Pretty, young, innocent, pure

Caroline Beaufort

Minor Character

Victers mother that is already dead, she dies Kind hearted, pure, nursing Elizebeth back to caring, saint like health.

Page 4 Major Works Data Sheet Setting Germany, Ireland, Britain Significance of the opening scene Tells the tale of Robert, going out to sea on his own outrageous goal, like Victer. Sets up for the two to be compared.

Symbols or Motifs (at least three) Light and fire- light equals knowledge while fire equals the Greek Legend of Prometheus Abortion- Victer tries to kill his own creation Passive Woman- There are no strong females

Significance of the ending / closing scene It shows that not everyone is like Victer and would stop at nothing to achieve their goal.

Possible Themes Topics of Discussion (elaborate) minimum of 3


Dangerous Knowledge The pursuit of knowledge is at the heart of Frankenstein, as Victor attempts to surge beyond accepted human limits and access the secret of life. Likewise, Robert Walton attempts to surpass previous human explorations by endeavoring to reach the North Pole. This ruthless pursuit of knowledge, of the light (see Light and Fire), proves dangerous, as Victors act of creation eventually results in the destruction of everyone dear to him, and Walton finds himself perilously trapped between sheets of ice. Whereas Victors obsessive hatred of the monster drives him to his death, Walton ultimately pulls back from his treacherous mission, having learned from Victors example how destructive the thirst for knowledge can be.

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