frankenstein context Flashcards
(13 cards)
when, where and why did shelley write the book?
Book was written during a trip to Villa Diodati in Switzerland with her husband, sister, and a few friends
The weather was so bad that they often stayed indoors and decided to each write a gothic story
This was where shelley began writing frankenstein
She origonally published the book anonymously due to female authors not being taken seriously at the time
what did mary suffer from? what is believed to have provoked this?
She suffered many periods of depression
- hostility from her family after he relationship with percy shelley was revealed
- the premature birth and death of her first child
- shelley still being married to his first wife
- 2 miscarriages
- poverty
- percy’s death
what is meant by the enlightenment?
Period from 1660-1789 where key thinkers thought humanity was becoming more enlightened
Progress in science and philosophy were celebrated
It was thought that humanity could cast off superstitious beliefs to become more rational
what is romanticism? how is it relevant to shelley?
Reaction against enlightenment
Believed that humans couldnt become fully rational without losing part of our humanity
Tend to celebrate an emphasis on emotions and imagination
Empahsis on the beauty and importance of nature
Percy was prominent poet of the Romantic Movement - Mary was exposed to the same influences as her husband, and therefore Romanticism influenced her work
who is cornelius agrippa and how is he relevant to frankenstein?
Occultist and alchemist
Influences Victor’s early scientific interests and worldview - drawn to Agrippa’s works, particularly his focus on magic and natural philosophy, which ignites his fascination with understanding the secrets of life and death.
who is Paracelsus and how is relevant to the book?
Physician and alchemist
Paracelsus’s ideas about the body’s internal workings and his belief in the power of chemicals to cure diseases influenced Victor’s interest in anatomy and his quest to understand the secrets of life and death.
who is luigi galvani and how is he relevant to the novel?
Biologist who performed experiments involving electric charges and frogs. He figured out that charges could make frog legs jump even if they were no longer attached to its body
Served as part of shelleys inspiration for the victors experiments, with her novel exploring the potential dangers of this idea
what is the elixir of life and how is it relevant?
Concept explored by alchemists
Said to be a drink that grants eternal life, and possibly create life
Partly inspires victor to defy death and create life artificially
who is prometheus?
A titan that stole the secret to making fire from the greek gods in order to give it to the humans
As a punishment he was chained to a rock where birds could come and peck at his liver which would grow back every night
He challenged divine authority and was punished for it - like frankenstein ( ‘the modern prometheus’)
what is meant by the ‘noble savage’
The idea that humans were inherently good and virtuous before being corrupted by the brutality of civilisation
who was marys mother
Mary Wollstonecraft
Feminist writer and intellectual, famous for her book ‘The Vindication of the Rights of Women’ which argued that women were not naturally inferior to men, it was their lack of education that caused them to seem that way
However after her death, husband godwin posted a biography about her which detailed her suicide attempts, illegitimate children and pre-marital sexual relations with Gilbert Imlay - she was remembered more for her scandalous life than her works
how did marys father influence her?
Prepared he rot be a writer
She had more academic opportunities than other women at the time
She was encouraged to talk about politics and other issues
what is paradise lost and how is it relevant to the book?
Poem by John Milton
Recounts the biblical story of Adam and Eves fall from grace in the garden of Eden and Satans rebellion against god
Mary Shelley’s was heavily influenced by the themes of creation, rebellion, and the consequences of transgression in the poem
The monster’s reading of Paradise Lost also shapes his understanding of himself and his place in the world
