Gothic conventions used in frankestein

Question 1

Define gothic conventions

Answer 1

Gothic conventions are typical features found in gothic literature, a genre known for its dark, mysterious, and often frightening atmosphere

Question 2

What Gothic conventions are used in Frankenstein?

Answer 2

1. Doppelgänger; Monster reflects Victor’s desires. ‘my own spirit let loose from the grave”
2. Crisis; aims to understand “moments of great” change.
3. Hero villain; Victor.
4. Women in distress; Elizabeth, Justine.

Question 3

explain Doppelgänger; Monster reflects Victor’s desires.

Answer 3

A doppelgänger in stories is like a mirror image of a character, usually showing their hidden side. In “Frankenstein,” the monster is like a darker version of Victor, showing the consequences of Victor’s desire to defy death and create life. The creature acts out Victor’s suppressed wishes and fears, making it a classic doppelgänger.

Question 4

explain Crisis; aims to understand “moments of great” change.

Answer 4

Crises in Gothic stories are key moments that drastically change the direction of the story. “Frankenstein” is built around such crises—like when Victor brings the monster to life, which changes his life forever. These moments are when characters have to face the big, often scary changes they’ve set in motion.

Question 5

explain Hero villain; Victor.

Answer 5

Victor Frankenstein is a mix of hero and villain. He starts with good intentions, driven by his passion for science, but as he becomes more obsessed with his work, he makes bad choices that hurt others. His role as the creator of the monster places him in a villainous position by the end of the novel, showcasing the complex nature of his character.

Question 6

explain Women in distress; Elizabeth, Justine.

Answer 6

In Gothic novels, female characters often face serious threats or are mistreated, which is used to create suspense and evoke sympathy. In “Frankenstein,” Elizabeth and Justine both suffer because of the monster that Victor created. Elizabeth is killed, and Justine is falsely accused and executed, showing the tragic side-effects of Victor’s pursuit.

Question 7

Which convention is defied

Answer 7

Dilapilated buildings:
While Gothic novels often take place in decaying structures that mirror the characters’ turmoil, “Frankenstein” often shifts the action to natural settings, like the Arctic or the mountains. There are significant scenes in laboratories and graveyards, but they are not the dilapidated Gothic structures you might expect.

Supernatural events:
“Frankenstein” is interesting because it borders on the supernatural—creating life from death—but it is grounded in scientific possibility. Victor’s creature is not a magical or supernatural being; it’s a product of scientific experimentation, which somewhat defies the typical use of inexplicable supernatural events in Gothic novels.