Frankenstein Flashcards
(18 cards)
First example of the danger of knowledge, ambition
Victor seeks to play God and access the secret of life, but his creation ironically takes the lives of those dear to him
Second example of the danger of knowledge and ambition
Walter’s ambition to surpass previous human explorations and reach the North Pole leave him trapped in the ice
How do Walter and Victor’s ambitions end differently?
Walter learns from Victor’s death how dangerous unchecked ambition and a thirst for knowledge can be
Definition of sublime nature
Embraced by Romanticism - the sublime natural world is a source of unrestrained emotional experience and offers spiritual renewal
Connection between mountains and sublime nature
Following the deaths of William and Justine, VIctor goes to the mountains to renew his spirits
Connection between the seasons and sublime nature
Following a cold, harsh, and lonely winter, the monster feels hope and a lightness as spring approaches
Connection between sublime nature and the arctic desert
Victor obsessively chases the monster while nature symbolizes his struggle in the form of the arctic desert
Theme of relationships and alienation
Horror and suffering come from losing relationships
The monster and relationships, alienation
He idolizes the Delacy’s and reaches his breaking point upon losing them. He blames his murderous character on a lack of companionship
Victor and relationships, alienation
The monster kills the Frankenstein’s, Victor’s alienation from his family results in his monstrous creation
Consequences of alienation
Death - Frankenstein drives himself to death and the monster commits suicide (no social connections = no self worth)
Setting
Frankenstein travels from the beautiful Swiss Alps to the harsh Arctic
Importance of setting
The physical journey mirrors the intellectual journey. Frankenstein seeks exciting new knowledge but goes too far and creates a monster. Not everything in nature is safe for humans to discover or experience.
Style
The characters demonstrate education and sophistication through formal and elaborate diction
Style and Walton
His perfect friend would be intellectually and culturally sophisticated
How are Victor and the monster similar?
The monster’s elegant command of language supports his innate humanity. He and Victor’s share their style of speech
Tone of the overall story
Victor’s tragic recount of his life starts the story with a dark shadow of an unhappy ending, contributing to the gloomy tone
Tone at the end of the story
Victor’s life is made out to be a tragic failure that only brought death and suffering.
Wlaton’s journey fails, so he returns to England feeling regret and disappointment.
