1 Prepare answers to these questions The following quotes show that Frankenstein begins living like the creature: I abhorred the face of man. Oh, not abhorred! They were my brethren, my fellow beings, and I felt attracted even to the most repulsive among them, as to creatures of an angelic nature and celestial mechanism. But I felt that I had no right to share their intercourse. I had unchained an enemy among them whose joy it was to shed their blood and to revel in their groans. How they would, each and all, abhor me and hunt me from the world did they know my unhallowed acts and the crimes which had their source in me! Liberty, however, had been a useless gift to me, had I not, as I awakened to reason, at the same time awakened to revenge. I have traversed a vast portion of the earth and have endured all the hardships which travellers in deserts and barbarous countries are wont to meet. How I have lived I hardly know; many times have I stretched my failing limbs upon the sandy plain and prayed for death. But revenge kept me alive; I dared not die and leave my adversary in being. Question: What is Shelley s point in having Victor become like his creation? Another Question: Why does Shelley include the story of the cottagers in this novel?
2 Prepare answers to these questions Read the story of creation and The Fall of Man in the Book of Genesis, Chapter 1. Then answer these questions: There are several allusions to the biblical story of Adam and Eve. The creature says, Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed. But the apple was already eaten, and the angel's arm bared to drive me from all hope. Why does Shelley include these allusions? The creature compares himself with Adam, saying, Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far different from mine in every respect." (Ch. 15) What is one of the major differences he names? Here s another question: In his last letter to Margaret, Walton relates Frankenstein's speech to Walton's crew when they ask that Walton end his voyage to the North Pole when/if the ice breaks. Re-read the speech. What does this speech say about Frankenstein? What do Walton's actions on this matter say about him? Identify a theme in the novel that you feel is developed by Shelley s sustained reference to the creation story in Genesis.
3 Prepare answers to these questions: Early in the novel, Frankenstein tells Walton: A human being in perfection ought always to preserve a calm and peaceful mind and never to allow passion or a transitory desire to disturb his tranquility. I do not think that the pursuit of knowledge is an exception to this rule. If the study to which you apply yourself has a tendency to weaken your affections and to destroy your taste for those simple pleasures in which no alloy can possibly mix, then that study is certainly unlawful, that is to say, not befitting the human mind. If this rule were always observed; if no man allowed any pursuit whatsoever to interfere with the tranquility of his domestic affections, Greece had not been enslaved, Caesar would have spared his country, America would have been discovered more gradually, and the empires of Mexico and Peru had not been destroyed. (Ch. 4) Frankenstein's last words to Walton: Seek happiness in tranquility and avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries. Yet why do I say this? I have myself been blasted in these hopes, yet another may succeed. What does Shelley seem to be saying about people's desire for knowledge and greatness? Do you agree with her? Why or why not? If your group does not agree, explain all positions.
4 Prepare answers to these questions: Re-read the creature's speech to Walton after the death of Frankenstein. Considering this in light of the tale he told Victor upon the glacier, does the creature seem like a credible speaker? If you had to write a character sketch of the creature, what would you say about him? Also consider: Is he a villain or a victim? In creating this character, what is Shelley saying about human nature? About society? About good and evil?
Seminar: Choose two members of your group to represent you in a discussion with members from the other groups. Choose one person from your group to be the inquisitor. The 8 representatives will sit in a circle in the center of the room and engage in a seminar that is guided by some of the the questions below the same questions you discussed in your groups and also some of the questions created by each group. If a question requires background references (the creation story in Genesis, the speech the creature gives to Walton, etc.), the representative from the group that covered the question must first offer a summary of the background information before the discussion of that question begins. The inquisitors will take turns selecting questions for the gang of 8 to discuss. The rest of the class will exchange places with the gang of 8 after a period of time determined by your sensei (me). Here are all of the group questions you discussed: The following quotes show that Frankenstein begins living like the creature: I abhorred the face of man. Oh, not abhorred! They were my brethren, my fellow beings, and I felt attracted even to the most repulsive among them, as to creatures of an angelic nature and celestial mechanism. But I felt that I had no right to share their intercourse. I had unchained an enemy among them whose joy it was to shed their blood and to revel in their groans. How they would, each and all, abhor me and hunt me from the world did they know my unhallowed acts and the crimes which had their source in me! Liberty, however, had been a useless gift to me, had I not, as I awakened to reason, at the same time awakened to revenge. I have traversed a vast portion of the earth and have endured all the hardships which travelers in deserts and barbarous countries are wont to meet. How I have lived I hardly know; many times have I stretched my failing limbs upon the sandy plain and prayed for death. But revenge kept me alive; I dared not die and leave my adversary in being. Question 1: What is Shelley s point in having Victor become like his creation?
Question 2: Why does Shelley include the story of the cottagers in this novel? There are several allusions to the biblical story of Adam and Eve. The creature says, Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed. But the apple was already eaten, and the angel's arm bared to drive me from all hope. Question 3: Why does Shelley include these allusions to the Bible? The creature compares himself with the Adam, saying, Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far different from mine in every respect." (Ch. 15) Question 4: What is one of the major differences he names? In his last letter to Margaret, Walton relates Frankenstein's speech to Walton's crew when they ask that Walton end his voyage to the North Pole when/if the ice breaks. Re-read the speech. Question 5: What does this speech say about Frankenstein? What do Walton's actions on this matter say about him? Identify a theme in the novel that you feel is developed by Shelley s sustained reference to the creation story in Genesis. Early in the novel, Frankenstein tells Walton: A human being in perfection ought always to preserve a calm and peaceful mind and never to allow passion or a transitory desire to disturb his tranquility. I do not think that the pursuit of knowledge is an exception to this rule. If the study to which you apply yourself has a tendency to weaken your affections and to destroy your taste for those simple pleasures in which no alloy can possibly mix, then that study is certainly unlawful, that is to say, not befitting the human mind. If this rule were always observed; if no man allowed any pursuit whatsoever to interfere with the tranquility of his domestic affections, Greece had not been enslaved, Caesar would have spared his country, America would have been discovered more gradually, and the empires of Mexico and Peru had not been destroyed. (Ch. 4) Frankenstein's last words to Walton: Seek happiness in tranquility and avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries. Yet why do I say this? I have myself been blasted in these hopes, yet another may succeed.
Question 6: What does Shelley seem to be saying about people's desire for knowledge and greatness? Do you agree with her? Why or why not? If your group does not agree, explain all positions. Re-read the creature's speech to Walton after the death of Frankenstein. Considering this in light of the tale he told Victor upon the glacier, does the creature seem like a credible speaker? Question 7: If you had to write a character sketch of the creature, what would you say about him? Is he a villain or a victim? Question 8: In creating this character of the creature, what is Shelley saying about human nature? About society? About good and evil?