Why do you think Shelley included
the De Lacey family?

Put the following statements in order of how much you
agree with them. Be ready to explain your views.
◦ To help us feel sympathy for the creature?
◦ To demonstrate family values and domesticity?
◦ To demonstrate that everything, even if on the outside is perfect,
is corrupted on the inside?
◦ To act as a foil for Victor’s solipsism and solitude?
◦ To illustrate the idea of the Noble Savage?
◦ To act as a parallel for the Frankenstein family?
◦ To present a social critique?
◦ To simply allow the monster to see good qualities of human
nature?
◦ As a convenient device by which the monster can learn to talk
and communicate?
Allusions to Paradise Lost in Chaps 10 & 11

“I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather thy fallen angel”
[...] Soft on the flowrie herb I found me laid
[...] Stood on my feet; about me round I saw
Hill, Dale and shadie Woods, and sunnie Plains,
[...] Birds on the branches warbling; all things smil’d
With fragrance and with joy my heart oreflow’d [...]
But who I was, or where, or from what cause
Knew not; to speak I tri’d, and forthwith spake,
My Tongue obey’d and readily could name
What e’re I saw.Thou Sun, said I, fair Light [...]

Paradise Lost, Book 8 – Adam describes his early experiences
The Noble Savage

How does the creature personify the idea
of the Noble Savage?
John Locke

...was an 18th Century philosopher who established
key ideas about the theories of knowledge and how
we acquire our understanding of the world.

...he viewed the new-born human as a blank slate
(tabula rasa) which would learn by interacting with
the world.

This counteracted biblical notions of innate sinfulness
in man – babies ‘learn’ evil from the world around
them.

To what extent does the creature demonstrate this?
Presentation of the creature in
Chapter 16
Learning Objective: to understand the different ways to
‘read’ the monster’s character in Chapter 16 (AO3)
1931 – ‘drowning girl’ scene
Why do you
think the filmmakers have so
drastically
changed what
happens in this
scene?
Click poster for YouTube link to clip.
“Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I
live? Why, in that instant, did I not
extinguish that spark of existence
which you had so wantonly
bestowed? I know not; despair
had not yet taken possession of
me; my feelings were those of
rage and revenge. I could with
pleasure have destroyed the
cottage and its inhabitants and
glutted myself with their shrieks
and misery.”
• Why is this an effective
opening to Chapter 16?
• Which language
features strike you as
particularly interesting?
• How does this relate to
Shelley’s key
philosophical ideas?
• What is the effect of
the monster directly
addressing
Frankenstein?
There are many different ways to ‘read’ (i.e. interpret)
the monster’s character in Chapter 16.
• The monster is presented in Satanic/devilish terms,
or compared to animals.
• The monster is presented in a sympathetic light as
he describes his despair.
• The monster is shown to be innocent and childlike,
living constantly in hope.
• The monster is shown to have great respect for
physical beauty.
• The monster is presented as actively malevolent
(wishing evil).
• The monster is used by Shelley to form a social
critique.
Make notes on your group’s analytical stance, using
quotations and analysis as evidence.
“I am alone and miserable;
man will not associate with
me; but one as deformed
and horrible as myself
would not deny herself to
me. My companion must be
of the same species as me
and have the same defects.
This being you must
create.”
• Why is this an effective
ending to Chapter 16?
• What key ideas are
illuminated by Shelley’s
use of language here?
• The monster’s narrative
is framed by Victor’s
narrative, which is
framed by Walton’s
narrative. This is
sometimes called a
Chinese box structure.
Why is this effective?
Homework
• Detailed annotations of Chapters 17-20 by
Monday 17th, and of Chapters 21-24 by
Monday 24th.
Plenary
As easy as 1-2-3...
1. The monster could be
‘read’ in several different
ways in Chapter 16.
2. The monster’s narrative is
framed within two other
narratives.
3. Shelley carefully crafts the
opening and ending of
Chapter 16 for maximum
impact.