English IV
Frankenstein Essay
Seeley
Notes. After reading the novel Frankenstein, viewing the Great Books: Frankenstein video,
and reading the notes below, devise a clear, specific, non-trivial thesis for a literary analysis
of the novel. Write a clear, organized essay of 500 to 800 words. Do not plot summarize.
Major Themes:
1. Parents must take responsibility for their children, and creators must take responsibility
for their creations.
2. Nature is a source of solace and inspiration.
3. Manipulation of nature has devastating effects.
4. Excessive pursuit of knowledge or ambition leads to destruction.
5.Human beings need love and companionship; repeated rejection and alienation leads to
antisocial behavior.
Available Topics for Literary Analysis Essay (Choose one):
1. Thematic Analysis. Choose one of the above themes, and analyze how Shelley
expresses the theme in the novel. Note that this must be an essay with a clear thesis,
structure, and organization.
2. Pathetic Fallacy. Choose a scene in which nature or the weather or nature plays a big
part. In introduction, thoroughly contextualize the location of the excerpt (chapter
number, what is happening at the time, and quote two sentences at the beginning and
end of the quote, saying, “The passage begins with the sentence . . . and ends with
the sentence . . . . .”) Then analyze how Shelley uses nature to mirror either the plot
events, character traits, or character’s attitude(s) in the scene.
3. Compare and contrast Victor Frankenstein and Robert Walton, ending with a
discussion of how Robert Walton learns from Victor Frankenstein’s mistakes.
4. Analyze a key scene from the novel, discussing how this scene in particular advances
one of Shelley’s major themes. In the introduction, contextualize the scene (where
in the novel it is located, what characters are present). Then have a clear thesis in
which you make your assertion about the scene’s importance (to plot, character, and
theme).
5. Choose a theme from the play (listed above), and analyze how Shelley uses
dialogue, characterization, diction, irony, symbolism, or any other literary
techniques to express the theme effectively.
6. Evaluate the character of either Victor Frankenstein or the monster, taking into
account how she changes over the course of the novel.
7. Position paper: One view about education is that “a school is for opening the minds
of young people.” How do you think a person who holds that view would regard
Frankenstein? From the perspective of such a person, is the play an appropriate
choice for study by high school students? Cite textual evidence to support your
views.
8. Defend, refute, or qualify the following critical commentary:
Frankenstein illustrates the paradoxical character of good and evil. Mary Shelley questions
not only the possibility of perfection but also the wisdom of its pursuit in either nature or
humanity. Seemingly counter to the Romantic ideal of lone struggle, she opposes the
poignancy of family and friends left behind. Through Victor Frankenstein, she portrays the
peril of creative action without the moral direction that social interaction provides. Alone,
with only his subjective consciousness to guide his creativity, he loses touch with reality and
becomes a victim of his own imagination.
As Victor Frankenstein assembles his creation, creative obsession disassembles him. He
becomes, in effect, a victim of his own imagination. He starts out as a self-possessed,
confident, creative young scientist. By the end, he is a man driven by fear and guilt; even
the most basic of human comforts--a warm, dry place out of the rain--is beyond his reach.
He sacrifices his health, his delight in nature, his friends, his family, and his sanity.
Frankenstein’s breakdown is so complete that it is as though he has transferred his own
life’s energy to the creature.
Guidelines for Essay
1. Most importantly, say something insightful or thought-provoking. THINK!
2. Paper must be 500 words minimum and 800 words maximum, typed, double-spaced, with
1” margins &12 pt. font.
3. You should have an informative or creative title.
4. Textual evidence, in the form of short quotations, should support your ideas. After a
quotation, cite page number followed by chapter, as follows (216; ch.10).
5. Quotations must be introduced and incorporated into grammatical sentences.
6. Do not summarize the story. An essay is your opinion (but don’t say “in my
opinion), so make an assertion of some kind about a theme or idea you think Mary Shelley
was trying to express. Do not use first or second person.
7. Paper must be letter-perfect. No RUN-ONS,FRAGMENTS, spelling, verb tense, subject
verb, pronoun-antecedent, pronoun usage, or punctuation errors.
8. Notes and/or rough draft(s) should be attached to the finished copy.
9. Use transitions at the beginning of each paragraph after first. See grammar book or
class notes for help.
10. Plagiarism will be severely punished. You may, however, use your class notes.
11. Do your best to avoid wordiness. Try to vary your sentence structure.