Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Literature Terms – Gothic literature, Romanticism, Frame Story, and Epistolary Novel
1.
2.
1.
2.
3.
1.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Letter 1
To whom is Robert Walton writing the letter?
Explain Walton’s motivations for his trip.
Letter 2
Explain the “one want” that Walton has.
Why does Walton respect both personally and professionally the “master” on the ship?
Walton references The Ancient Mariner. What literary device is this reference? What is the reference’s effect?
Letter 3
Why did Shelley include the quote: “What can stop the determined heart and resolved will of man?”
Letter 4
What causes the ship to not be able to move?
Describe the 1st odd sight that they encounter.
Describe the visitor who boards the ship.
Explain what motivated the visitor to be venturing out in this frigid and uninhabitable region.
What does Walton find in this visitor that he did not think he would?
What motivates the stranger agree to share his tale with Walton?
Chapter 1
Briefly describe the man’s father’s background.
Briefly summarize what happened with Beaufort and how Caroline came into the Frankenstein household.
Explain how Elizabeth Lavenza entered the speaker’s world.
At last, we know our speaker’s name, which is
.
Chapter 2
At an early age, what fascinated Victor?
Describe Henry Clerval.
What motivated Victor’s parents to quit their wandering lifestyle and permanently reside in Geneva?
How does Victor describe his childhood?
What fault did Victor find in his father regarding Cornelius Agrippa?
“Wealth was an inferior object” to Victor because “…glory would attend the discovery, if (Victor) could banish
from the human frame, and render man
to any
but a
death.”
Describe the natural occurrence which inspires him to begin even more research.
“D
was too potent, and her immutable laws had decreed my utter and terrible
destruction.”
Chapter 3
Describe the omen that represented Victor’s future misery.
Why was Henry not allowed to attend the university with Victor?
Analyze why M. Krempe fails to impress Victor.
Explain how M. Waldman “influences Victor’s destiny.
1
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
2.
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
1.
2.
3.
1.
1.
Chapter 4
What has Victor learned to do?
“…listen patiently until the end of my story…I will not lead you on, unguarded and ardent as I then was, to your
destruction and infallible misery. Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous
is the acquirement of
, and how much happier that man is who believes his
native town to be the
, than he who aspires to become greater than his
will allow.”
Describe Victor’s mental state.
Chapter 5
How does the author use the setting to effectively contribute to the novel’s plot?
How long has Victor worked on this project?
Describe what the creature looks like.
Summarize the nightmare that Victor has about his mother and Elizabeth.
In the process of creating the creature, what has Victor gained and lost?
In receiving life, what has the creature gained and already lost?
Chapter 6
List the important points regarding Victor’s family that Elizabeth mentions in her letter to Victor.
Analyze how Victor feels when Henry meets Victor’s professors.
Chapter 7
Explain details about the tragedy involving sweet William.
Discuss how the author effectively utilizes setting to reflect the plot.
Who is assumed to be the murderer by authorities? Who does Victor believe to be the guilty one? Why?
Chapter 8
What circumstances condemn Justine for William’s murder?
What happens to Justine?
Why is Victor guilty?
Chapter 9
How do you see Mary Shelley’s life in the beginning of this chapter?
Describe how Frankenstein is dealing with his guilt. He wanted knowledge. Now, he has it. What are the
consequences of his knowledge and its effects?
Chapter 10
How does Victor greet his Creature?
Describe the allusion that the Creature utilizes.
What does the Creature request of Frankenstein?
Chapter 11
Describe the hut and its inhabitants that the Creature observes.
Chapter 12
Describe the observations regarding human nature that the Creature witnesses about Felix and Agatha.
2
1.
2.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
Chapter 13
Explain how the Creature begins his education.
What motivates him to learn?
Chapter 14
What do you think motivates the creature to eavesdrop on the cottagers?
How did De Lacey’s life change?
What are De Lacey’s kids’ names?
How did Safie come into their lives?
Discuss Safie’s thoughts about the Turks.
Why do you think that the monster mentions the cottagers to Victor? What might he hope to accomplish?
Chapter 15
Discuss the texts that he mentions to Victor. What did the Creature learn from each text?
What reasons did the Creature believe that the cottagers would accept him?
Describe the outcome of the Creature speaking with De Lacey.
How is “man” portrayed in the final paragraph of this chapter?
Chapter 16
What does the creature regret in his dealings with De Lacey and his family?
When the creature returns to the cottage, what does he realize has happened to his “adopted” family?
What emotions does the creature begin to feel?
What does the creature do to the cottage?
“At length the thought of you crossed my mind. I learned from your papers that you were my
, my
creator…”
Describe what happens at the river – the good and the bad.
Discuss the effects of #6’s incident upon the creature.
What is the creature’s initial hope with the beautiful boy?
In regards to #8, what is the reality?
Now, the creature reveals the truth of what happened to Justine. Summarize his
malicious plan.
What request does the creature ask of Frankenstein?
Chapter 17
State the reasons that the creature feels Frankenstein owes him.
What does the creature propose that he will do if Frankenstein grants his request?
Include the where and what.
What is Frankenstein’s decision regarding the creature’s request?
Chapter 18
Discuss Frankenstein’s father’s proposal to Frankenstein.
Who will join Frankenstein in Strasburgh that Frankenstein was not aware?
Immediately upon Frankenstein’s return, what will happen?
Chapter 19
Where are Frankenstein and Henry Clerval?
“If this journey had taken place during my days of study and happiness, it would have afforded me inexpressible
pleasure…but…this barrier was sealed with the blood of William and Justine; and to reflect on the events
connected with those names filled my soul with anguish.” Explain the internal conflict that Frankenstein has.
3
3. What is Henry Clerval’s life dream involving travel?
4. Frankenstein says, “the sight of what is beautiful in nature…could always interest my heart…but I am a blasted
tree; the bolt has entered my soul”. What literary device is Shelley utilizing? Now, what does this convey about
Frankenstein?
5. Explain why Victor and Henry part ways.
Chapter 20
1. List some of the concerns that Victor has about creating a female creature.
2. “I shall be with you on your wedding night.” Who says it? What is the literary device? What motivates the
character to say it?
3. Whose death does Frankenstein interpret the previous quote to reference?
4. Who does Victor receive a letter from? What request is made?
5. When Frankenstein arrives on the shore with his boat, explain what happens involving the Irish locals.
Chapter 21
1. “an old woman near the spot, and endeavored, but in vain, to restore it to life” and “they put it into the bed,
and rubbed it” – who is “it”? Why do you believe that Shelley chose to use “restore it to life” and by rubbing “it”
would bring it back to life? (Consider our background notes)
2. Describe what the Creature does in retaliation to Victor’s actions in the previous chapter that we now find out in
this chapter.
3. At this point, how much blood is upon Victor’s hands? Provide the # and names.
4. Where is Victor now? Why is he confined? Who comes to visit him?
5. What is the result of the court case involving Victor?
6. What does Victor now have to take to get any rest?
Chapter 22
1. What is the main question that Elizabeth asks Victor in her letter?
2. What is the outcome of her request?
Chapter 23
1. Describe the terrible scene that Victor sees.
2. What quote foreshadowed this event occurring that was mentioned more than
once in previous chapters?
3. As Victor gazes out the window, what does he see?
4. Summarize the main points of the magistrate conversation.
Chapter 24
1. Describe the first action that Frankenstein decides to take in the 1st paragraph of this chapter.
2. Why is the Creature “satisfied” and ultimately laughs at Victor?
3. Write one of the messages that the Creature left for Victor to find.
4. In this chapter, the Creature comes upon a cottage. How does he treat these people differently than the
DeLacey family?
5. What request does Victor make of Walton if the Creature appears after Victor has died?
6. What is Victor’s one goal before his death?
7. What do Walton’s men request of him when they enter his cabin?
8. What is the gist of Victor’s speech/reply to this request?
9. Ultimately, what is the outcome?
10. Summarize what the Creature explains to Walton.
4