Frankenstein

1
Frankenstein

• Mary Shelleys

Letters 1-4 and Chapters 1 2
2
Frankenstein

• Mary Shelleys

Letters 1-4 and Chapters 1 2
Chapter Summaries
3
Frankenstein

• Mary Shelleys

Letters 1-4 and Chapters 1 2
Allusions, History and Science
He prayeth best, who loveth best All things
both great and small For the dear God who loveth
us, He made and loveth all.
ALLUSION Making reference to another text,
person, literature, art, etc.
PROMETHEUS (Greek Mythology) -Sought knowledge
and stole fire from Gods -Gave fire to man man
caused destruction -Punished my being chained to
rock and having liver removed from body every day
by an eagle
EMOTIONS -Waltons emotions in letters -Victors
emotions upon rescue -Happiness and warmth of
Victors childhood
WHY DO AUTHORS USE ALLUSIONS?
4
Frankenstein

• Mary Shelleys

Letters 1-4 and Chapters 1 2
Allusions, History and Science
ROLES OF WOMEN
CONSIDER -Loving mother -Innocent and beautiful
child -Lover -Women need care and protection of
men
WEIRD RELATIONSHIPS
-Frankensteins father married girl he was taking
care of, despite age difference -Elizabeth
given to Frankenstein as a beautiful present.
Mother later states my firmest hopes of future
happiness were placed on the prospect of your
union."
5
Frankenstein

• Mary Shelleys

Letters 1-4 and Chapters 1 2
Allusions, History and Science
STUDY OF SCIENCES
FRANKENSTEIN It was the secrets of heaven and
earth that I desired to learn and whether it was
the outward substance of things, or the inner
spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man
that occupied me, still my inquiries were
directed to the metaphysical, or, in its highest
sense, the physical secrets of the world.
(Chapter 2)
METAPHYSICAL
PHYSICAL
Studying the nature of being and the connections
within the world. Philosophy
Studying how things work, like chemistry,
geology, biology. True Science
Allusions to outdated beliefs of Cornelius
Agrippa (divine connected to natural world) and
new understandings of galvanism and electricity
6
Frankenstein

• Mary Shelleys

Letters 1-4 and Chapters 1 2
Introducing Themes
7
Frankenstein

• Mary Shelleys

Letters 1-4 and Chapters 1 2
Dopplegangers
Robert Walton Victor Frankenstein
Situation
Goals
Attitude
Personal Qualities
Other
A twin, dark double or shadow self. (i.e. The
Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde