Letters
Who is writing the letters at the beginning of the book, and who are they being written to?
Robert Walton is writing letters to his sister, Margaret.
Who is Elizabeth and how is she connected to the Frankenstein family?
Elizabeth was a young poor orphan who was brought into the Frankenstein family and raised with the other children.
Describe Victor's response to his creation when it first comes to life.
He is disgusted and runs away.
Tell who the cottagers were and why they were important to the monster's education and growth.
The monster lives in an open space under the Cottager's house. The Cottagers - old man DeLacey, Felix, and Agatha
Victor learned to read and write as Felix taught others; found out about emotions, relationships, and how they cared for each other.
What happens on Victor and Elizabeth's wedding night? How does this affect Victor's father?
The monster enters the house and kills Elizabeth. Victor's father is so grieved that he dies soon after.
Where is the letter-writer going and why is he making the journey?
Walton will travel to Russia, purchase a boat and crew and head to the North seas. He hopes to find a Northwest passage for trade ships.
Victor read books written by this ancient scientist who taught a mix of science and magic.
Cornelius Agrippa
After Victor's tireless work to bring the Creature to life, he falls ill and is nursed back to health by whom?
Henry Clerval
Tell what happens when the Monster tries to make friends with the Cottagers.
DeLacey, who is blind, listens to him but the meeting is interrupted by the return of the rest of the family. They are hysterical and run him out of the house.
After the death of Victor's father, what is Victor's goal? What is the monster's goal?
Victor is enraged and sets out to find the monster and fight to the death.
The monster wants to stay ahead of Victor and avoid confrontation because the longer Victor is alive, the longer he will suffer.
How do Walton and Victor Frankenstein first meet?
Walton and his crew rescue Victor from the icy sea.
What discovery did Victor become obsessed with?
Finding the elixir of life, or the secret of bringing life to something.
After nursed back to health, Victor receives a painful letter from his father. What is the bad news he tells?
Victor's younger brother William was strangled to death.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein opens with Walton telling a story to his sister, about Victor telling a story to him, then about the story the monster tells and so on...
This kind of literature is called a ______ story.
Frame story
As Victor is finishing his story, Walton's ship is stuck in ice. When the ice breaks and they can move, what does Walton decide to do?
Walton decides to return to England instead of continuing to pursue the passage amidst the danger for himself and his crew.
Why does Victor decide to tell Walton his life story?
Victor wants to warn Walton not to make some of his mistakes.
How did Victor's mother, Caroline, die?
Caroline became ill while nursing Elizabeth back to health, and then died herself.
Give details about William's murder, including how a necklace is involved, and who is under arrest for the murder and why.
the murder happened while William and his brother were playing in the woods. Elizabeth let him wear a necklace of hers that he liked and it was missing from William's body. The likely theory is that he was killed for the necklace. Justine, a close family servant is arrested because the necklace was found with her belongings.
The monster asks Victor to make him a companion/mate. Explain the monster's side. Explain Victor's side.
Monster argues: you created me in this hideous way and left me alone. You owe me happiness and companionship. My mate and I will leave you alone.
Victor: can't make a second Monster. Mate may not stay away; monster and his mate may make "mini-me" monsters; Mate may not like the monster; monster may come after me if I say no
What makes the monster run away howling that he will light himself on fire?
He sees that Victor has died.
What are the names of Victor Frankenstein's parents and his best friend growing up.
Caroline and Alphonse Frankenstein are the parents.
Henry Clerval is his best friend.
Victor had two professors at the university that were noteworthy in his education. What were there names, and which one was most like Victor?
Professors Krempe and Waldman. Waldman was more in line with Victor's scientific pursuits.
While out in the mountains, The monster finds Victor and begs him to listen to his tale of misery. Explain what the monster's earliest memories of sensation, bonding, and interactions with people were like.
Sensory overload - sights, sounds, smells
Bonding - being alone, no one to explain or teach him
Interactions - people yelled, fainted, threw things at him
What is different about making the second creature? Does Victor finish? Why or why not.
Victor was excited about his work the first time and wanted to accomplish something no one else had done. The second time he is disgusted by the work and avoids it if he can. His heart is not in it.
He does not finish. He seems to come to his senses and decides he can't do it. He sees the monster at the window grinning and so he destroys the second creation.
Name 3 characteristics of Romanticism.
Healing power of nature
importance of relationships
Emotions over reasoning
Individual's sense of self over the good of the group