A. Cuddon defined the horror story as "a piece of fiction in prose of variable length... which shocks, or even frightens the reader, or perhaps induces a feeling of repulsion or loathing". Ace your assignments with our guide to Frankenstein! These overarching questions relate to Shelley’s key themes in the novel. What is the source of evil in our world?Â, Can we feel pity for the murderous monster? Plutarch’s Lives is about the “great men” of history, which reminds us that the Monster exists because of Frankenstein’s ambition to be great. Shelley’s allusions to the Garden of Eden and Paradise Lost are instructive here. What made Lucifer defy God? Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. How would you describe the personality of the creature? Choose one from the novel to examine. Why do Adam and Eve disobey? How does the creature aid the doctor in his pursuit? The monster begins his own education, reading the books and notes that he found in Victor's jacket in the nearby woods. In what way(s) is the doctor courageous? What is Victor like as a child? From Plutarch's Lives, the creature learns about the histories of the first founders of the ancient republics. He lives for over a year in a “hovel,” a small shed attached to the DeLaceys’ cottage. Explain. Summary. Use examples from the novel in your response. Why does Victor hesitate to return to his hometown when his journey is nearing its end? How does Shelley create anticipation and tension for the story? How would you describe Shelleyâs writing style? In what ways do the doctor and the creature mirror one another? Horror is a genre of speculative fiction which is intended to frighten, scare, or disgust. Frankenstein Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Chapter 15. We would like to show you a description here but the site wonât allow us. The possession of these treasures gave me extreme delight; I now continually studied and exercised my mind upon these histories, whilst my friends were employed in their ordinary occupations. How does the magistrate respond to the doctorâs request for help? What is Victorâs relationship to the natural world? Books also play an important role in the novel, as the origin of the creatureâs understanding of the world. The Monster frequently compares himself to both Satan and Adam. Goethe's Sorrows of Young Werther, Milton's Paradise Lost, and a volume of Plutarch's Lives are the 3 books. The Monster learns to read when he finds three books abandoned on the ground: Paradise Lost, Plutarch’s Lives and The Sorrows of Werter. What are Dr. Frankensteinâs key personality traits? Regarding the destiny of the creature, one cannot help but imagine that his attempt to befriend De Lacey might have been successful if not for the unexpected interruption. A twist of fate led to his irreparable misery. What is his logic? The Visual Thesaurus was built using Thinkmap, a data visualization technology. This book had a far different effect upon me from the Sorrows of Werter. He learns to speak by listening to the DeLaceys. Which excerpt gives the best example of Shelleyâs use of imagery? What reasons does Dr. Frankenstein offer for keeping the truth of Williamâs murder to himself? Why does she give us such a vague picture? II. Do you believe that the doctor really fell asleep in the sailboat? What evidence is there that the doctor is insane? Is he what you expected? What motivates him in his dangerous endeavor? What experiences mold the monsterâs personality? A summary of Chapters 15â17 in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. What reason does the monster give for âpunishingâ Justine? Is the doctor evil or merely thoughtless? Â. Explain the relevance of Shelleyâs full title, F, What is the most important theme (message about life) of. How culpable (guilty) is he? Who suffers more, the doctor or the creature? Frankenstein's Monster is the main antagonist of the novel Frankenstein by the late Mary Shelley and its many film adaptations. Use examples in your answer. What is the root of this anguish? The theories of Locke and Rousseau influenced Shelley’s views on personality development. The creature begins life as a tabula rasa or “blank slate.” He demonstrates the inherent goodness posited by Rousseau. The creature’s experiences mold him into a sociopathic murderer. The book mentioned death and suicide. Why do you think Shelley chose to frame the story of Dr. Frankenstein within the story of Captain Walton? Shelley uses the monster to show that appearances are misleading. The doctor, despite his rational mind, cannot see past the creature’s deformity. For her part, Shelley is also unable to see beyond the appeal of beauty; characters like Elizabeth and Justine possess beauty as an outward expression virtue. How does Clerval compare to Dr. Frankenstein? Scroll down the post for the printable PDF version. As the monster wanders the countryside to escape the wrath of the first town he discovers, he builds a small dwelling to view the outside world from a distance. These Frankenstein discussion questions will get students sharing, analyzing, debating, and evaluating. It creates an eerie and frightening atmosphere. It tells the Biblical story of Adam and Eve, focusing on Satan’s ambition and alienation from God. He found it similar, but at the same time he felt that he was unlike the beings concerning who he read. Through a chink in the wall, the Monster can see and hear everything that happens inside the cottage. Click to access Frankenstein-Discussion-Questions.pdf. FRANKENSTEIN; OR, THE MODERN PROMETHEUS. In what ways does Victor accept responsibility? How does Shelley use descriptions of natural scenes in the novel? Frankenstein's monster or Frankenstein's creature, often informally referred to as simply "Frankenstein", is a fictional character who first appeared in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.Shelley's title thus compares the monster's creator, Victor Frankenstein, to the mythological character Prometheus, who fashioned humans out of clay and gave them fire. The creature related to this book. Page 1 of 6. Are they important? Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, Mary Shelley Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel written by English author Mary Shelley (1797â1851) that tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a grotesque, sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. In your opinion, how does the creature perform in his attempt to introduce himself? By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. These books point to major themes of the novel. It's a tool for people who think visually. Could it all be his fantasy? Explain. He was created in 1816 and made his debut on January 1, 1818. Does the captain make the right choice in cancelling the voyage? Which of the three books makes the greatest impression on the creature? Although he had surprisingly immense powers of speech in the original novel, most adaptations limit, otherwise completely omit, his speaking capabilities. The thirteenth and sixteenth centuries in Europe saw a changing attitude to religion, part of a movement now known as the Renaissance (meaning re-birth) which affected many areas of life from art to exploration. Why do you think Shelley includes a poem in Chapter 5? The creature is the product of Victor Frankensteinâs labors, a shockingly ugly, eight-foot-tall being assembled and animated from dead tissue. What insight does the creature gain from Plutarchâs, What insight does the creature gain from Miltonâs. (See Chapter 7.). What type of person is Captain Walton? Through reading Paradise Lost, Plutarchâs Lives and the Sorrows of Werter, he learns to understand the De Laceyâs and becomes articulate himself. The DeLacey Family can be found in Volume 2 of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. How does the creature persuade the doctor to create a companion? Choose an excerpt that demonstrates Shellyâs word choice (figurative language, imagery, mood, etc.) Do you find the doctorâs thoughts and actions frustrating? In what way(s) is he cowardly? The doctor vacillates between blaming himself and blaming fate. He reflects upon the turning points in his life and the influence of “the angel of destruction.” Is he a victim of fate or is his wretchedness a result of his choices? Why doesnât the doctor explain the secrets of his discoveries? Do you believe his reasons? What clues are there about his future? How does Shelley describe the appearance of the monster? Scroll down the post for the printable PDF version. An online thesaurus and dictionary of over 145,000 words that you explore using an interactive map. In the jacket pocket are Milton's Paradise Lost, Plutarch's Lives of Illustrious Greeks and Romans, and Goethe's Sorrows of Werter. âThe volume of Plutarchâs Lives which I possessed contained the histories of the first founders of the ancient republics. Explain. VOL. IN THREE VOLUMES. She nursed Madame Frankenstein, my aunt, in her last illness, with the greatest affection and care and afterwards attended her own mother during a tedious illness, in a manner that excited the admiration of all who knew her, after which she again lived in ⦠Describe the personality of the creature. Nothing is more painful to the human mind, than, after the feelings have been worked up by a quick succession of events, the dead calmness of inaction and certainty which follows, and deprives the soul both of hope and fear. Enter your email address to follow this blog. The Monster learns to speak by spying on the DeLacey family. I have divided the questions into four sets that align to my reading schedule, but peruse, select, and modify to suit your needs. At the end of this post, I address the essential questions of Frankenstein as a whole. Why do you think Victor feels âtormentedâ by discussions of science and his accomplishments? How might the creature have turned out differently under different circumstances? Why do you think the murdering of William (Chapter 16) thrills the creature so? CHAPTER I. Does the doctor take responsibility for his actions? For pre-reading discussions, check out my Frankenstein Anticipation Guide. Students respond to statements on revenge, ambition, scientific advancement, responsibility, appearances, and more. This is a great way to prepare students for the key themes of the novel. The Monster and the Humanities The Creation of a Pedagogy for the Humanities in Mary Shelleyâs Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus By Eric Meljac, West Texas A&M University. Renaissance Changing attitudes. The Sorrows of Werter is a novel about the alienation of a young man, which underlines the alienation of both the Monster and Frankenstein. Why does the doctor decide to destroy his second creature? Can we believe everything the doctor says? How does Shelley build suspense leading up to Elizabethâs murder? You can view our. What should we question? What is Waltonâs impression of his new friend, Victor Frankenstein? Classically educating children in the way they naturally develop with the desired result of producing a bold educated servant of Christ. The Sorrows of Werter is a novel about the alienation of a young man, which underlines the alienation of both the Monster and Frankenstein. Why does he do this? Plutarchâs massive collection, Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans, profiles some of historyâs greatest men up through that time, and illuminates their shared virtues and shortcomings. Literary historian J. Why does Dr. Frankensteinâs view on his creation change so suddenly and severely? He learned despondency and gloom from Werter's imagination. and analyze it. What are some instances where Dr. Frankenstein is irresponsible? These Frankenstein discussion questions will get students sharing, analyzing, debating, and evaluating. His biography of Alexander the Great is especially compelling. Why does Shelley explore the books found by the creature? Paradise Lost, by the English poet John Milton, is the most significant of the three books. More Books ... a volume of Plutarch's Lives, and the Sorrows of Werter. The list is a virtual required reading list of books that are all influenced by the Romantic movement in England. How might Dr. Frankenstein handle the situation differently? The doctor makes himself miserable by undertaking unwholesome pursuits in isolation. The creature believes that a single companion would ensure his happiness. The lack of companionship is more than unpleasant, it is unnatural and harmful. Shelley explores the theme subject of isolation through various settings and symbolic elements. Answered by Courtney C #984208 on 2/26/2020 3:18 PM Goethe's Sorrows of Young Werther: Visiting an idyllic German village, Werther, a sensitive young man, meets and falls in love with sweet-natured Charlotte. Explain. Frankenstein and the Scientific Revolution. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Is Frankensteinâs mistake due to fate or his own choices? Why doesnât the doctor protect Elizabeth on their wedding night? Is there anything incredible (hard to believe) about where the monster leaves Clervalâs body? How is he different from the other children? The creature and his creator become wholly obsessed with revenge. The monster has succeeded in making the doctor as wretched and violent as himself. Both die in the end but neither gains any satisfaction. Mary Shelleyâs Frankenstein offers a wealth of thought-provoking topics to explore as a class, in small groups, or through Socratic seminar. Explain. How does the Monster learn to speak and read? Explain. Based on the novel so far, what does Shelley think of the justice system? The most fun you've ever had with words. Though the family and the monster have minimum interaction, they play a major role in the monster's development as a character. Plutarchâs Lives is about the âgreat menâ of history, which reminds us that the Monster exists because of Frankensteinâs ambition to be great. In what ways does he deny responsibility. The creature commits horrible acts because he is cast out by society and his own creator. Is the doctor’s dereliction to blame? I hope you have found something in these Frankenstein discussion questions and essential questions that you can use in your teaching. Whether you are using small groups, whole class, or Socratic seminar, getting students to engage in thoughtful discussions is time well spent. Why does Shelley include multiple references to âThe Rime of the Ancient Marinerâ? Romantic authors often include extreme cases of coincidence. The Strange and Twisted Life of âFrankensteinâ ... to writeâthat he should have become acquainted with Werter, with Plutarchâs Lives, and with Paradise Lost, by ⦠Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of Frankenstein and what it means. TOP OF PAGE. Is evil a byproduct of human existence or part of a divine design? In what ways does the story of the De Lacey family fit with the clichés of Romantic literature? Dr. Frankenstein warns Captain Walton about thoughtless ambition. Yet, when it seems the voyage will be aborted, Dr. Frankenstein is furious. Despite his experiences, the doctor cannot help but admire and support pursuits of greatness and discovery. Why does Shelley include the incident with the drowning girl? Why do you think young Victor is so interested in unlocking the secrets of nature? Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein offers a wealth of thought-provoking topics to explore as a class, in small groups, or through Socratic seminar. When Felix DeLacey’s fiancée Safie arrives, the Monster is able to learn more: Safie is Turkish, and the Monster overhears Felix teaching her French as well as the history and politics of Europe. 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