English 12CP1 Frankenstein, An Introduction. AP English Literature2 Mary Shelley Born to radicals Born to radicals Mary Wollstonecraft, feminist writer,

English 12CPEnglish 12CP 11

Frankenstein, An Frankenstein, An IntroductionIntroduction

AP English LiteratureAP English Literature 22

Mary ShelleyMary Shelley Born to radicalsBorn to radicals

Mary Wollstonecraft, feminist writer, Mary Wollstonecraft, feminist writer, A Vindication of the Rights A Vindication of the Rights of Women of Women (1792) which drew attention to women’s second class (1792) which drew attention to women’s second class statusstatus

William Godwin, ex-minister, atheist, influential writer (politics, William Godwin, ex-minister, atheist, influential writer (politics, morality); name became associated with truth, justice and libertymorality); name became associated with truth, justice and liberty

Both influenced by French RevolutionBoth influenced by French Revolution Both anti-marriage, but did wed when Mary became pregnantBoth anti-marriage, but did wed when Mary became pregnant Mother died of septicemia (blood poisoning) after Mary’s birthMother died of septicemia (blood poisoning) after Mary’s birth

Father remarriedFather remarried Emotionally void, but intellectually guidedEmotionally void, but intellectually guided


Mary & Percy ShelleyMary & Percy Shelley Met in 1814Met in 1814 Shelley, “Romantic”, attached self to Godwin Shelley, “Romantic”, attached self to Godwin

and his idealistic political notionsand his idealistic political notions Shelley abandoned wife to spend time at Shelley abandoned wife to spend time at

Godwin houseGodwin house Eloped in July 1814Eloped in July 1814 1815 Mary gives birth to 11815 Mary gives birth to 1stst baby, but baby dies baby, but baby dies

a few days after birtha few days after birth ““Dream that my little baby came to life again: that it Dream that my little baby came to life again: that it

had only been cold, and that we rubbed it before the had only been cold, and that we rubbed it before the fire and it lived.” fire and it lived.”


Mary & Shelley in GenevaMary & Shelley in Geneva

Opposite of gloomy London, yet rained Opposite of gloomy London, yet rained much in summer to confine to housemuch in summer to confine to house

Ghost story contestGhost story contestMary, Percy, Lord Byron, and othersMary, Percy, Lord Byron, and others

Discussion of Erasmus Darwin’s Discussion of Erasmus Darwin’s experiments with galvanism (uses of experiments with galvanism (uses of electricity)electricity)

Dreamed about monster coming to lifeDreamed about monster coming to life


Historical ContextHistorical Context The French Revolution and the Rise of The French Revolution and the Rise of

IndustrialismIndustrialism Early Romantic writers strongly advocated the French Early Romantic writers strongly advocated the French

Revolution,Revolution, Revolution signaled throwing off of old traditions and Revolution signaled throwing off of old traditions and

customs of the wealthy classescustoms of the wealthy classes Balance of economic power shifted toward the middle Balance of economic power shifted toward the middle

class with the rise of industrialism. class with the rise of industrialism. Advanced machinery and technology threatened to Advanced machinery and technology threatened to

replace workers replace workers England's literary thinkers welcomed revolution England's literary thinkers welcomed revolution

because it represented an opportunity to establish a because it represented an opportunity to establish a harmonious social structure. harmonious social structure.


Historical Context, con’tHistorical Context, con’t

Napoleon crowned emperor in 1804. England now at Napoleon crowned emperor in 1804. England now at war against France war against France

After the war ended in 1815, the English focused on After the war ended in 1815, the English focused on economic and social problems economic and social problems

England didn’t regulate the economic shift from a England didn’t regulate the economic shift from a farming-based society to an industrialized society farming-based society to an industrialized society stemmed from a hands-off philosophy of non-stemmed from a hands-off philosophy of non-governmental interferencegovernmental interferenceleading to extremely low wages and terrible leading to extremely low wages and terrible

working conditions for employees who were working conditions for employees who were prevented by law from unionizing.prevented by law from unionizing.


Science and TechnologyScience and Technology Technology/machines replaced workers creating Technology/machines replaced workers creating

low wages and poor working conditionslow wages and poor working conditions People encouraged to sabotage machines that People encouraged to sabotage machines that

took jobs away from workers. took jobs away from workers. Erasmus Darwin, scientist who wrote about Erasmus Darwin, scientist who wrote about

biological evolution big influence (people began biological evolution big influence (people began to question power of God)to question power of God)

Percy and Mary also attended lecture by Andrew Percy and Mary also attended lecture by Andrew Crosse, scientist who experimented with Crosse, scientist who experimented with electricityelectricity discussed galvanism, or the study of electricity and its discussed galvanism, or the study of electricity and its

applications. applications.


Arctic ExplorationArctic Exploration

The late 1700s also marked the beginnings of a The late 1700s also marked the beginnings of a new era of ocean exploration. new era of ocean exploration.

England's Royal Academy, which promoted the England's Royal Academy, which promoted the first voyage to the South seas, appealed to first voyage to the South seas, appealed to scientists and travelers alike.scientists and travelers alike.

Explorers wanted to find a trade route through Explorers wanted to find a trade route through the Arctic to connect the Atlantic and the Pacific. the Arctic to connect the Atlantic and the Pacific.


Romantic WritersRomantic Writers

Began in 18Began in 18thth century centuryPromote unique individual imagination and Promote unique individual imagination and

expressionexpressionNature, spirituality and humankind Nature, spirituality and humankind

interrelatedinterrelatedPublication of Wordsworth’s and Publication of Wordsworth’s and

Coleridge’s Coleridge’s Lyrical BalladsLyrical Ballads the beginning the beginning


Characteristics of RomanticsCharacteristics of Romantics

Emphasis on intuition and emotion – Emphasis on intuition and emotion – rejected rational and intellectual (didactic – rejected rational and intellectual (didactic – for sermons); emotions for artfor sermons); emotions for art

Emphasized strange and bizarre – Emphasized strange and bizarre – common has no place in artcommon has no place in art

Choose subject not encountered in Choose subject not encountered in everyday lifeeveryday life

Not always interested in creating viable/ Not always interested in creating viable/ believable charactersbelievable characters


Characteristics of RomanticsCharacteristics of Romantics Setting usually obscure, remote or unknown Setting usually obscure, remote or unknown

place (or foreign country)place (or foreign country) Rugged, natural settings provide comfort and Rugged, natural settings provide comfort and

visual appealvisual appeal Creation of new/different worlds so readers Creation of new/different worlds so readers

concentrate on themes and ideasconcentrate on themes and ideas Close relationship and concern for poor and less Close relationship and concern for poor and less

fortunatefortunate Searched for fundamental knowledge and Searched for fundamental knowledge and

consequences of acquiring knowledgeconsequences of acquiring knowledge Humans born inherently kindhearted and moralHumans born inherently kindhearted and moral


Gothic StyleGothic Style

Supernatural forcesSupernatural forces Imaginative excessImaginative excessDelusionsDelusions religious and human evilreligious and human evilSocial transgressionsSocial transgressionsMental disintegrationMental disintegrationSpiritual corruptionSpiritual corruption


Gothic Style – Stock FeaturesGothic Style – Stock Features torturous, fragmented torturous, fragmented

narrativenarrative horrible images and life-horrible images and life-

threatening chasesthreatening chases spectresspectres monstersmonsters demonsdemons corpsescorpses skeletonsskeletons evil aristocratsevil aristocrats monksmonks

nunsnuns fainting heroinesfainting heroines banditsbandits scientistsscientists criminalscriminals madmenmadmen monstrous doubles monstrous doubles

((dopplegangers)dopplegangers) signifying evil and signifying evil and duplicityduplicity

wild landscapeswild landscapes


Reaction to Gothic StyleReaction to Gothic Style

Perceived as subversivePerceived as subversivePromoted violence and vice, celebrated Promoted violence and vice, celebrated

criminal behaviorcriminal behaviorTexts give free reign to selfish ambitions Texts give free reign to selfish ambitions

and desires beyond law and family dutyand desires beyond law and family duty


Gothic MotifsGothic Motifs

images of light and darkimages of light and darkduality of selves (alter ego)duality of selves (alter ego)conflicts between reason and passionconflicts between reason and passionsupernatural and naturalsupernatural and naturalpast and presentpast and presentsacred and profane sacred and profane


LITERARY TERM – FRAME LITERARY TERM – FRAME STORYSTORY

Narrative techniqueNarrative techniqueMain story sets the stage for internal story Main story sets the stage for internal story

or smaller narrativesor smaller narrativesWithin Within FrankensteinFrankenstein, Robert Walton’s , Robert Walton’s

letters to sister set the stage for Victor letters to sister set the stage for Victor Frankenstein’s taleFrankenstein’s tale


Theme TopicsTheme Topics

Alienation and LonelinessAlienation and LonelinessNature vs. NurtureNature vs. NurtureAppearance vs. RealityAppearance vs. RealityDuty and ResponsibilityDuty and ResponsibilityJustice and InjusticeJustice and Injustice


Sources Sources

http://www.answers.com/topic/frankenstein-novel-3

Mary Shelley’s FrankensteinMary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Cliff’s Notes, Cliff’s NotesRobinson, Robbie. Robinson, Robbie. Lecture NotesLecture Notes Shelley, Mary. Shelley, Mary. FrankensteinFrankenstein. New York:. New York:

Penguin Books USA Inc. 1818, Penguin Books USA Inc. 1818, 1992. 1992.

www.wikapedia.com

Documents

English 12CP1 Frankenstein, An Introduction. AP English Literature2 Mary Shelley Born to radicals Born to radicals Mary Wollstonecraft, feminist writer,