English frankenstein chapters 5-9 study questions

Question 1

1. How does Victor react when his creation comes to life? Explain your feelings about his reaction to his creation. Were you surprised? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Victor’s reaction to when his creation comes to life is horror and revulsion. He reacts with disgust and leaves the laboratory in a rush. I feel like his reaction was understandable because of the way the creature was described.

Question 2

2. Describe how Victor’s dream takes on the mood of a horror story.

Answer 2

Victor’s dream takes on the mood of a horror story through its imagery of death. The way his dead mom’s corpse and the new creature transform into one creates a horror story.

Question 3

3. Show how the passage from Coleridge’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” applies to Victor Frankenstein.

Answer 3

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner applies to Victor Frankenstein because both the Mariner and Victor are driven by ambition, leading to terrible consequences.

Question 4

5. Surmise what the monster does after leaving Victor’s laboratory.

Answer 4

After leaving Victor’s laboratory, the monster runs away and wanders into the forest trying to understand the world around him.

Question 4

4. Explain how Victor reacts to Henry Clerval’s arrival in Ingolstadt.

Answer 4

Victor reacts to Henry’s arrival with joy and relief. Henry provides a distraction for Victor from the monster he created.

Question 5

6. Explain the favor that Henry asks of Victor.

Answer 5

Henry asks Victor to become his companion in Ingolstadt and share his intellectual ideas.

Question 6

7. Summarize Elizabeth’s letter to Victor.

Answer 6

Elizabeth’s letter to Victor expresses her concern for his well being and her joy at his upcoming return home.

Question 7

8. Relate how Justine comes to live with the Frankenstein family.

Answer 7

Justine comes to live with the Frankenstein family as a domestic servant and companion to Elizabeth.

Question 8

9. Visually or descriptively illustrate William Frankenstein.

Answer 8

William Frankenstein is a small, innocent, bright, playful, and cheerful child.

Question 9

10. Analyze how Victor feels after he reads Elizabeth’s letter.

Answer 9

Victor feels a mix of emotions after he reads Elizabeth’s letter. He feels anticipated, joyful, and sort of guilty.

Question 9

11. Generalize how M. Waldman and M. Krempe speak of Victor when he and Clerval visit them. What is the irony of this?

Answer 9

Waldman speaks favorably of Victors potential and knowledge. Krempe initially dismisses Victor’s studies. The irony in this is that Krempes dismissal of Victor pushes him to pursue more advanced studies which lead to the creation of the monster.

Question 10

12. What do Victor and Clerval begin studying together?

Answer 10

They begin studying natural philosophy and chemistry together.

Question 10

13. Assess how Clerval affects Victor and his mood.

Answer 10

Clerval affects Victor in a positive way. Clerval helps Victor regain his enthusiasm for life and learning.

Question 11

Why does Elizabeth blame herself?

Answer 11

Elizabeth blames herself because she was responsible for taking care of him, and she failed to protect him.

Question 11

How does William die?

Answer 11

William dies after being strangled by the monster.

Question 12

Contrast Victor’s feelings about the Swiss landscape during the day with how he views it at night.

Answer 12

During the day Victor finds the Swiss landscape beautiful and comforting. At night, he views it as dark and sinister, reflecting Victors guilt.

Question 12

Explain what Victor mistakenly believes when he tells Ernest, “The murderer discovered! Gold Gold How can that be? Who could attempt to pursue him? It is impossible; one might as well try to overtake the winds, or confine a mountain stream with straw.”

Answer 12

Victor mistakenly believes that the murderers escape is inevitable, comparing it to unstoppable forces of nature.

Question 13

Examine the accuracy of Justine’s assertion, “1 believe that I have no enemy on earth, and none surely would have been so wicked as to destroy me wantonly.”

Answer 13

Justines assertion is inaccurate. The creature is her enemy and she is a victim to circumstance.

Question 14

Tell why Victor does not announce the real murderer, nor confess to the crime himself.

Answer 14

Victor does not announce the real murderer not confess to the crime because he fears the consequences of revealing the truth.

Question 15

How does Victor talk himself out of pursuing the beast?

Answer 15

Victor rationalizes and convinces himself that capturing the creature is impossible.

Question 16

Specify the evidence that is used to charge Justine with the crime.

Answer 16

The evidence that is used to charge Justine with the crime is the miniature portrait and her previous association with William.

Question 17

Examine how the author utilizes the lightning motif as Victor returns home.

Answer 17

The lightning symbolizes impending doom and mirrors the chaos and destruction that Victor has caused.

Question 18

How long has it been since Victor has been home?

Answer 18

Its been several months since Victor has been home.

Question 19

Why does Elizabeth refuse to believe that Justine is guilty?

Answer 19

Elizabeth refuses to believe that Justine is guilty because she knows Justine’s good morals and kindness.

Question 20

Discuss how the evidence against Justine builds.

Answer 20

The evidence like the miniature portrait on top of Justine’s emotional distress and inability to provide and alibi makes her seem guilty.

Question 21

Explain how Elizabeth defends Justine.

Answer 21

Elizabeth defends Justine by testifying to her kind character.

Question 22

Why does Victor claim he is suffering worse than the accused?

Answer 22

Victor claims he is suffering worse than the accused because he carries the guilt for William’s death.

Question 23

Tell why Justine confesses to William's murder.

Answer 23

Justine confesses because she is overwhelmed by accusations and is trying to protect Victor.

Question 24

Tell how Victor responds to William's and Justine's deaths.

Answer 24

Victor responds to William’s death with overwhelming grief and guilt. Victor responds to Justine’s death despite knowing of her innocence with a temporary relief from accusations but ultimately intensifies his internal suffering.

Question 25

Summarize what Victor does at night after the rest of his family has gone to bed.

Answer 25

Victor spends his nights consumed by guilt, wandering outside, and enduring nightmares.

Question 26

Show the irony in Victor's desire to "extinguish the life which I [hel had so thoughtlessly bestowed."

Answer 26

The irony is in Victor’s attempt to undo the monster, showing his irresponsibility in bringing the creature to life and his unwillingness to accept the consequences of his actions.

Question 27

Explain why Victor feels that he is the "true murderer" of William and Justine.

Answer 27

Victor feels responsible for both deaths because his creation of the monster directly killed William, and indirectly led to Justine's wrongful conviction and execution because of Victor's lack of confession.