Frankenstein study guide

Letter 11. To whom is Robert Walton writing?Frankenstein study guide2. How does Walton feel about traveling to the North Pole?3. How did Walton’s father feel about his son living a “seafaring life”?4. What does Walton prefer to accomplish rather than wealth?5. What does Walton intend to do when he reaches Archangel?Letter 21. What important goal has Walton reached in the beginning of the second letter?2. What one “want” has Walton not been able to satisfy and considers a “severe evil”?from Frankenstein (1931)played by Boris KarloffLetter 31. How does Walton promise to act regarding his voyage north?2. In what month is the letter written?Letter 41. In what month is the letter written?2. Describe what Walton and his crew saw traveling across the ice. Why were they so surprised?3. Why does the stranger decide to tell his story to Walton?4. What span of time do all four letters cover?Chapter 11. Where was Victor born?2. How does Victor describe his childhood?3. How does Elizabeth come to join the Frankenstein family?Chapter 21. Describe the differences between Victor’s and Elizabeth’s personalities.2. Describe Victor’s boyhood friend Henry Clerval.3. What does Victor hope to accomplish by studying the science of Nature?4. What event in the mountains of Jura encouraged Victor’s curiosity for the powers of Nature?Chapter 31. What according to Victor was the “first misfortune of my life,” which was to serve as an omen of his future misery?2. What was Professor Krempe’s view of Victor’s study of Albertus Magnus and Paracelsus?3. What advice does Waldman give Victor regarding being a true man of science?

Chapter 41. What did Victor do that earned him the admiration of the University?2. What did Victor study with intensity in the field of anatomy?3. What did Victor say he had discovered in his in-depth study of anatomy and decay?4. How did Victor think mankind would feel about his discovery? How did Victor think the new species he created would feel about him?Literary Focus: Foreshadowing (Chapters 1-4)Foreshadowing is a technique authors use to drop hints about future events in a novel. When an author uses this technique, it often creates a sense offoreboding or anticipation. The mood or atmosphere created by foreshadowing is often one of suspense. In Chapters 1–4, the author uses foreshadowing quiteextensively. Use the chart below to determine the event that is being foreshadowed and its overall effect on the plot. Find two examples of foreshadowing on yourown to fill into the last two rows.Foreshadow Meaning Effect on the Plot“I feel exquisite pleasure in dwelling on therecollections of childhood, before misfortune hadtainted my mind and changed its bright visions ofextensive usefulness into gloomy and narrowreflections upon the self.”“I entered with the greatest diligence into the searchof the philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life; but thelatter soon obtained my undivided attention.”“He said little, but when he spoke I read in hiskindling eye and in his animated glance a restrainedbut firm resolve not to be chained to the miserabledetails of commerce.”Example: Something bad happened when Victor gotolder.Example: The reader can expect something bad tohappen to Victor that will cause him not to beuseful in society and withdraw within himself.Perhaps he will go mad?Chapter 51. What time of year did Victor Frankenstein finally achieve his goal and create “the monster”?2. What was Victor’s reaction when the creature opened his eye?3. Describe the creature that Victor created.4. Why do you think the creature reached out for Victor?5. Who does Victor meet in Ingolstadt?6. Who nursed Victor to health? Why did he not send Victor back home?7. Why does Victor quote lines from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” in this chapter?from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994)played by Robert DeNiroChapter 61. What is the subject of the letter from Elizabeth to Victor?2. How did Justine Moritz enter the Frankenstein family?3. What objects seem to upset Victor and hinder his progress in recovering his health?4. How did Clerval teach Victor to regard Nature?

Chapter 71. What is the subject of Alphonse’s letter?2. How did Victor feel about entering his homeland once again? How did his feelings change as he got closer to home?3. Who murdered William? How does Victor know?4. Why didn’t Victor tell his family the truth about the murderer?5. What evidence was found on Justine to cast suspicion on her as the murderer?Literary Focus: The Setting Sets the Tone (Chapters 5-7) Answer the questions below using the text from Chapters 5–7.1. Describe the setting at the time the creature is brought to life.a) time of dayb) weatherc) placed) time of the year2. What is the general tone of this section?3. Describe the general tone at the end of Chapter 6. Support your answer with examples from the text.4. Have your feelings (mood) changed since reading the beginning of Chapter 5 in comparison with the end of Chapter 6? Explain your answer.5. What is the tone created in Victor’s homecoming?a) wordsb) weatherc) imagesd) symbolse) placeChapter 81. Why did Victor not testify about the true murderer of William?2. In her explanation to Elizabeth, why did Justine admit guilt to the crime?3. Why does Victor think the tortures of Justine do not equal his own tortures?Chapter 91. What is Victor’s father’s advice concerning a survivor’s “duty” after the death of a loved one?2. What did Victor fear?3. Why does Elizabeth see men as a “monsters”?

4. Why did Victor leave his home and travel to Chamounix and Mount Blanc?Chapter 101. What is it that Victor sees that always seems to give him peace?2. How does Victor address his creation when he first confronts him on the mountain?3. What does the monster want Victor to do for him? What threat does he make if Victor refuses to comply?4. What does the monster compare himself to?5. Record passages from chapters 7-10 that provide insight into Frankenstein’s state of mind (fear, anguish, remorse, despair, guilt, etc.)6. Record passages that address how he experiences nature as a restorative power.Chapter 111. How does the monster describe his first days of life? What does he rely on for survival?2. What does the monster learn about fire?3. How do people react to the monster?4. How did the monster feel about the family that lived in the cottage?Chapter 121. How did the monster help the cottagers?2. How does the monster discover his own deformity?3. Who is the “good spirit”?4. What motivates the monster to master the art of language?Chapter 131. What changed Felix’s feelings of sorrow to that of joy?2. How does the complex nature of man confuse the monster?3. What question did the monster keep asking himself as he learned about the cottagers and human relationships?Chapter 141. What two things actually condemned Safie’s father?2. What happened to Felix’s family?3. Why did Safie’s father not want his daughter to marry Felix?

Chapter 151. Why did the monster look upon crime as a “distant evil”?2. Why did the monster curse his creator?3. Why is De Lacey not alarmed at first by the monster’s visit?Creature4. How did Felix react to the monster when he saw him?Literary Focus: CharacterizationComplete the compare-and-contrast diagram (right) using details from the novel.Chapter 161. The creature asks, “Why, in that instant, did Inot extinguish the spark of existence whichyou had so wantonly bestowed?”Who else in the novel had also asked that questionof himself? What is ironic about the monsterexpressing this feeling to Victor?2. What did the monster do when the girl fell in the water?What happened to the creature?3. What caused the monster to become angry with William?AdamSatan4. What demand does the creature make of Victor? Why?Chapter 17What part of the creature’s tale persuaded Victor to consent to the creature’s request for a companion?Chapter 181. What does Victor’s father think is the cause of Victor’s unhappiness?2. Why doesn’t Victor want to marry Elizabeth at this time?3. Why does Victor leave for England?4. How does Victor describe Clerval?Chapter 191. What did Victor hope to accomplish in London?2. What is Clerval’s “design” while in London?3. Why is Victor’s joy during his travels marred by bitterness?4. Why does Victor wish to make the tour of Scotland alone?Chapter 201. Why does Victor decide not to go through with his plans to create a mate for the creature?2. What does Victor think the creature intends to do on his wedding night?

3. What did Victor do to the remains of his female creation?4. Why is Victor handed over to Mr. Kirwin?Chapter 211. Who has been strangled?2. What surprises Victor about Mr. Kirwin?3. Why does Victor wish to return to Geneva as quickly as possible?Chapter 22What does Victor promise to tell Elizabeth the day after they are married?from Young Frankenstein (1974)played by Peter BoyleLiterary Focus: Identifying Themes in Literature Read the following quotes from Frankenstein and state the theme that Shelley is trying to suggest.1. “ I preferred glory to every wealth placed in my path.”“…how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.”2. “you cannot contest the inestimable benefit which I shall confer on all mankind, to the last generation, by discovering a passage near the pole…”“I might in process of time…renew life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption.”3. “During the whole of this wretched mockery of justice I suffered living torture.”“Ever since I was condemned, my confessor has besieged me; he threatened and menaced until I almost began to think that I was the monster that hesaid I was.”4. “Frankenstein! You belong then to my enemy—to him toward whom I have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim.”“My revenge is of no moment to you; yet, while I allow it be a vice, I confess that it is the devouring and only passion of my soul.”5. “All men hate the wretched.”“They are kind—they are the most excellent creatures in the world; but, unfortunately, they are prejudiced against me. …where they ought to see a feelingand kind friend, they behold only a detestable monster.”Think of ways the following topics emerge in the novel. Then articulate a theme statement expressing Mary Shelley’s view.a) gender rolesb) secrecyc) destiny/free willd) health/illnesse) simple, rustic lifef) storytellingChapter 231. How did Victor’s father die?2. How does the magistrate react when Victor tells him who is responsible for the deaths in his family?

3. Why is the following statement from Victor considered ironic? “Man, how ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom!”Chapter 241. What gives Victor strength and composure after Elizabeth’s and his father’s death?2. Why does the creature say that he is “satisfied”?3. Why does the creature want Victor to meet him in the Far North?4. What does Victor want Walton to swear to should he die before the creature is destroyed?5. What does Walton fear will happen as a result of the prolonged despair his men feel?6. Before his death Victor accepts his responsibility as creator of the monster. What does Victor say he should have done? Why did he not make a femalecompanion for the creature?7. How did the creature feel about the murders he committed? Why did he commit them?8. Who does the creature compare himself to?9. How does the creature feel about himself?10. What does the creature plan to do at the end of the novel? Do you think he accomplished his goal?Literary Focus: Irony Explain the irony in each of the following quotes or examples and identify the type of irony being used.1. “I shall be with you on your wedding-night.” (the monster to Victor)2. “Man,” I cried, “how ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom! Cease; you know not what it is you say.” (Victor to the magistrate)3. Victor hurries home to protect his father and brother from the monster, but his father dies when Victor tells him of Elizabeth’s death.4. “This ice is not made of such stuff as your hearts may be; it is mutable and cannot withstand you if you say that it shall not.” (Victor to Walton’s crew)Discussion Questions (Whole Novel)1. What elements of Romanticism are found in Frankenstein?2. Why did Victor Frankenstein create the monster?3. How is the idea of justice addressed in the novel?4. What does the monster say made him a fiend? Do you agree?5. Do you think the monster had the right to question Victor?6. Why does the author spend so much time on the monster’s first months of existence?7. Why do you think the monster identifies with the character of Satan in Paradise Lost?

8. Discuss the theme of alienation and rejection in this novel. How do the main characters deal with these feelings?9. How does the author view pride?10. Why does the author begin the novel with Capt. Robert Walton and his voyage to the Artic?11. How is Walton similar to Frankenstein?12. Why do you think the creature wants the love of Victor so badly?13. What do you think is man’s purpose for existence? Do any of the characters live up to your ideas?14. What is the purpose of the character of Clerval?15. What is women’s role in the novel?16. How does the monster show compassion and kindness in the novel?17. How does the monster show anger in the novel and ultimately brutality?18. In your opinion does nature or nurture shape the actions of a man?19. Do you think Walton understood what had taken place between Frankenstein and his monster?20. Mary Shelley titled her novel Frankenstein: A Modern Prometheus. Why? What allusion is she making? What is the connection between the twopieces of literature?Ethical Discussion Questions1. Is Victor Frankenstein responsible for the actions of his creation?2. In modern science is the scientist or creator responsible for his creation or experiment? Is the responsibility legal or moral? If he is responsible, should he bepunished?3. What current issues in medical ethics present doctors as “playing God?”4. How is Victor Frankenstein’s experiment like that of cloning? What are the potential risks? Can they prepare for them? Could Victor have prepared for hisdilemma?5. What is the risk we as a society face if we place restrictions on experimentation? Is government control a good thing? If the government funds a project, are theyresponsible for the outcome?