Frankenstein - context

Question 1

Mary Shelley

Answer 1

Romanticism, emphasis on the glorification of nature and expression of emotion, during the Enlightenment period, which emphasised logic, science and reason.
Her fathers main viewpoint - everyone should act only for the good of mankind and selfishness would lead to the destruction of society, V.F only thinks of his own personal gain, therefore endangering society

Question 2

Prometheus Unbound

Answer 2

Novel’s subtitle: ‘The Modern Prometheus’
Figure in Ancient Greek tragedy that made humans out of clay and stole fire from Gods for the humans, he was punished by being chained to a rock and calling an eagle to tear his liver every day. Like Prometheus’ sacred fire, V.F’s science gives humans what once had only belonged to Gods: immortality. Monster also represents Prometheus in that they signify liberation from a creator.
Lessons in both: if you overreach and challenge the authority of the gods, you will face severe consequences.

Question 3

Paradise Lost

Answer 3

Epic poetry.
Creature - like God in that he punishes V.F for not making him a companion, like Satan in that he defies his creator, social norms and is wretched BUT he sees himself as an inferior state of Satan bc “Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and detested”
V.F - like God in that he creates and gives life BUT fails to provide for the needs of his creation, like Adam in that he was once innocent but his search for knowledge causes him to fall from God’s grace and endure permanent consequences - loses his Paradise

Question 4

Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Answer 4

Both tales emphasise the power of natural forces through the albatross and Frankenstein’s creation. ROTAM serves as a reminder to Salon that the quest for knowledge comes with a price; like the mariner, he is going to an unexplored region but he won’t make the same mistakes as the mariner. S does this to relate to V.F who makes the blinded decision to create the creature and spends most of the story paying for his actions.

Question 5

Epistolary device

Answer 5

A novel told through letters to add realism to a narrative, they imitate real life and provide readers with realistic correspondence through forms they are familiar with

Question 6

Bildungsroman

Answer 6

A novel that depicts and explores the manner in which the protagonist develops morally and psychologically

Question 7

Frame narrative

Answer 7

story within a story