Frankenstein: Intro, Letters 1-4 Flashcards
What do you learn about Shelley, and how might these “things” have impacted her writing?
- Being the daughter of two famous parents, she was not destined to be a writer; it was an avocation that she worked at. She recalls as a child writing stories to pass the time and to amuse friends. Her only audience was the select few she allowed to read her writing. But, through it all, she continued to write stories of imagination and of the fantastic. These stories were not meant to be personal but works of flight and fancy
- Percy Bysshe Shelley encouraged her work as a writer. She remarks that she was less than enthusiastic about writing. Instead, she worked at home, traveled, studied, and read. It was a trip to Switzerland, however, that changed everything.
- Mary tells a little about each tale that was concocted and what happened to the end result. All the others abandoned their stories when the weather cleared, except Mary. Conversations between Lord Byron and Percy Shelley fueled her curiosity and desire to create a good story:”One which would speak to the mysterious fears of our nature, and awaken thrilling horror done to make the reader dread to look around, to curdle the blood, and quicken the beatings of the heart.” And so she begins her novel.
where is Walton going and why he is making this voyage?
Russia/ north pole ; he wanted to go to a place never discovered by man before; he likes the glory and fame so he wants to go on a dangerous journey to find something unknown to man for knowledge
What themes of the novel are established in the first letter, and how?
A theme in the first letter is exploration. This is because Walton’s desire for geographic exploration is widely explored in the letter as he is exploring for knowledge. Another theme is isolation as he is in the sea doing this dangerous exploration he has no one.too sophisticated to find comfort in his shipmates and too uneducated to find a sensitive soul with whom to share his dreams.
what scene/mood/tone(s) are established, and how? Introductory details? What sort of a story is Shelley setting us up for AT THIS POINT?
Well so far it has just been a sort of “traveling diary” even though we know it is not. It is entertainment with a serious twist. The need for knowledge seems to be important as the “stranger” warns him of the dangers. Also it talks about friendship and how much Walton wanted one which kind of brings a sad tone.
Walton’s history, what led him to this moment, etc. DETAILS.
Walton, a well-to-do Englishman with a passion for seafaring, is the captain of a ship headed on a dangerous voyage to the North Pole. In the first letter, he tells his sister of the preparations leading up to his departure and of the desire burning in him to accomplish “some great purpose”—discovering a northern passage to the Pacific, revealing the source of the Earth’s magnetism, or simply setting foot on undiscovered territory.
In Letter II, Walton laments the absence of …? Why does he desire this?
he is sad from the absence of a friend or someone like him. The reason he wants one is because he feels lonely and isolated due to the goals he wishes to attain.
He goes into a description of the various members of his crew. What does he share about them, how and why might these details be significant?
he gives a description of crew members such as his lieutenant which he describes as courageous and glorious. He says all these nice things about these shipman. These details may be significant because it shows that even though his shipmates are all nice he never had a connection with them and needs someone like him.
What is the significance of beginning the journey in the spring?
It is significant because spring is like the new start after the harsh winter and this journey is Waltons new beginning in his life as he wants something to fulfill his life.
letter 3 …is crazy brief. Why’s it there? What purpose does it serve?
The ship sets sail, and Walton seems to think that things are going according to plan.
Since everything is going so well, something is probably going to happen soon. Either good or bad.
What mood/tone/scene(s) been set at the start of Letter 4?
The tone of Letter 4 is curiousity. A stranger has boarded the ship, he is starved and almost dead and he questions Walton and his crew on where they are going which is pretty strange. He was a quiet man but gave walton knowledge about his experience.
The crew has a strange sighting from the ship - note it. And the description. THEN note the arrival of Frankenstein - compare this to the earlier sighting. And?
He first relates that one day he had seen a gigantic man on a sled driven by dogs. And then later he had encountered another man, very worn down by fatigue, who had to be persuaded to enter the vessel rather than die outside in the cold.
You can tell he was chasing or following the bigger creature.
He was fascinated by the first creature because he was fast and in a rush while the other one was literally dying.
What is surprising about Frankenstein’s first few words to Walton? What might this indicate?
‘before I come on board your vessel/ will you have the kindness to inform me whither you are bound’
This might indicate that he is very distance with people and does not trust people Most would expect him to jump at the chance of being rescued by anyone and not care where the ship was going.
what is his mission?
his mission is to warn Walton of his past mistakes with his knowledge.
How does Walton seem to regard Frankenstein?
Walton seems to regard frankenstein as his new friend. He is fond of him and likes to hear his stories.
How does Frankenstein seem to regard the desire and quest for knowledge? What is he warning Walton of/from?
the desire and quest for knowledge is something that he once wanted and he wants to tell walton the dangers of it. He hopes that his curiosity does not hurt him like it has hurt himself.
