Transcript
Page 1: The Frankenstein Unit - Chandler Unified School District · • “Frankenstein’s Musical Christmas” • “Alvin and the Chipmunks meet Frankenstein” • “Frankenstein vs

The Frankenstein Unit

Page 2: The Frankenstein Unit - Chandler Unified School District · • “Frankenstein’s Musical Christmas” • “Alvin and the Chipmunks meet Frankenstein” • “Frankenstein vs

Mary Shelley’s background

(August 30, 1797-February 1, 1851)

Born on August 30th 1797.

Mother: Mary Wollstonecraft

a famous feminist author

who died 11 days after

giving birth to Mary

Father: William Godwin

A famous 19th century

philosopher who believed

in the rights of the

individual.

Page 3: The Frankenstein Unit - Chandler Unified School District · • “Frankenstein’s Musical Christmas” • “Alvin and the Chipmunks meet Frankenstein” • “Frankenstein vs

Shelley’s marriage

• At 15 years of age Mary met her future husband Percy Bysshe Shelley, a disciple of William Godwin and a famous poet.

• Despite being previously married to another woman, Percy ByssheShelley convinces Mary to elope with him in France when she was 17.

Page 4: The Frankenstein Unit - Chandler Unified School District · • “Frankenstein’s Musical Christmas” • “Alvin and the Chipmunks meet Frankenstein” • “Frankenstein vs

The Making of Frankenstein

• On 19 March 1815 Shelley recorded in her journal, after the death of her first child: "Dream that my little baby came to life again--that it had only been cold & that we rubbed it before the fire & it lived."

Page 5: The Frankenstein Unit - Chandler Unified School District · • “Frankenstein’s Musical Christmas” • “Alvin and the Chipmunks meet Frankenstein” • “Frankenstein vs

Byron’s Challenge

• In the summer of 1816, Percy and Mary visit Lord Byron’s estate in France.

• The summer of 1816 had fall like weather because a massive volcano in Indonesia spewed ash around the world.

• Because of the gloomy weather, Byron issued a challenge to his guests to create the best horror story.

Page 6: The Frankenstein Unit - Chandler Unified School District · • “Frankenstein’s Musical Christmas” • “Alvin and the Chipmunks meet Frankenstein” • “Frankenstein vs

The Publishing of Frankenstein

• At Byron’s estate, Mary

has a dream about a man

who plans to bring life to

the dead.

• She turns her idea into a

story and is encouraged by

her husband to turn the

story into a novel.

• In 1818, Shelley publishes

the novel at the age of 19.

Page 7: The Frankenstein Unit - Chandler Unified School District · • “Frankenstein’s Musical Christmas” • “Alvin and the Chipmunks meet Frankenstein” • “Frankenstein vs

The Title of the Novel

• The name “Frankenstein”

originates not from the

Creature, but the Creator,

Victor Frankenstein.

• Victor, like Shelley,

suffers the loss of many

loved ones at an early age.

• He creates his creature as

a way to bring back the

dead.

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The Doppelganger

• The story is a Doppelganger, or German word for “double image.”

• Both the Creature and Victor mirror each other in their effort to destroy the other.

• The Doppelganger represents a divided self, or two alter egos who are more alike than different.

Page 9: The Frankenstein Unit - Chandler Unified School District · • “Frankenstein’s Musical Christmas” • “Alvin and the Chipmunks meet Frankenstein” • “Frankenstein vs

Famous Doppelgangers

• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

• Batman and the Joker

• Bruce Banner and The

Incredible Hulk

• James Bond and Blofeld

• Mario and Donkey Kong

• Optimus Prime and

Megatron

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The Modern Prometheus

• Mary Shelley’s subtitle for Frankenstein is “The Modern Prometheus”

• In Greek Mythology, the titan Prometheus stole fire from the sun and gave it to humanity.

• This angered the Greek god Zeuswho did not want humans to control fire.

• He was punished by being chained to a lake while an eagle would feast on his liver.

• The Prometheus Myth has become a metaphor of what happens when humans get a hold of something they cannot control and reach beyond their ability.

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The Creature

• Unlike the Hollywood

stereotype, the

Creature is an

intelligent being

whose rage stems

from his neglect from

Victor.

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Themes in the Novel

1. Personal Responsibility:

Are we responsible for

our own actions?

2. Responsibility to Others:

Are we responsible for

the actions of others?

3. Recreate the Past: Can

we reshape the past?

Page 13: The Frankenstein Unit - Chandler Unified School District · • “Frankenstein’s Musical Christmas” • “Alvin and the Chipmunks meet Frankenstein” • “Frankenstein vs

The Hollywood Stereotype

• James Whale directed the 1931 film Frankenstein where our image of the Creature comes from.

• In the film, a mad scientists creates a creature with little intelligence who rages against humanity.

Page 14: The Frankenstein Unit - Chandler Unified School District · • “Frankenstein’s Musical Christmas” • “Alvin and the Chipmunks meet Frankenstein” • “Frankenstein vs

The Cultural Myth

• There are over 100 films

about Frankenstein.

• Frankenstein has been

used to sell merchandise

such as Twix candy bars,

Levi’s Jeans, Coca-Cola,

Frankenberry Cereal,

M&Ms, Penzoil, and Pez.

Page 15: The Frankenstein Unit - Chandler Unified School District · • “Frankenstein’s Musical Christmas” • “Alvin and the Chipmunks meet Frankenstein” • “Frankenstein vs

Favorite Titles of Frankenstein

Movies

• “Frankenstein’s Musical

Christmas”

• “Alvin and the Chipmunks

meet Frankenstein”

• “Frankenstein vs.

Dracula”

• “Frankenstein: the College

Years”

• “Blackenstein”

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Films, Films, Films Oh My!

Because the myth of

Frankenstein has

become such a part of

our pop culture we

will be watching clips

from various versions

of “Frankenstein.”

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Read the Book, then the Sparknotes!

I realize there are

websites like

Sparknotes that

summarize the book,

please use this as a

resource. To pass

you must read the

book!!!

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