Frankenstein

Romanticism is best seen as.....

a reaction to the modern world: its industrialization, its urbanization, its secularization, and its consumerism.

gothic villains

powerful males who prey on young women

To be a romantic is to.....

take the side of nature against industry

Romanticism refers to....

the birth of a new set of ideas, it's about a mindset and a way of feeling

how does the monster explain why he is miserable?

-monster says that because frankenstein rejected him and ran away from him he is now the miserable monster that he is (nature vs nurture) -monster had the potential to be a kind creature but was abandoned and was turned miserable

letter from frankenstein's father in ch.7

-letter saying that william has been killed -lots of emotional diction and expression, lots of questions and exclamation points

Saint-Germain, Paris 1863 The French poet Charles Baudelaire writes about a Flâneur, meaning a stroller or loafer What was the significance of this character? Why would Romantics celebrate him?

-A flaneur is a casual wanderer who has no job and spends his time observing street life in a modern city. The flaneur is significant because of his playfulness and lack of practicality. Baudelaire makes him out to be a prince unlike boring wage slaves who rush to the new offices of capitalism. -Romantics would celebrate him because he is separate from the industrial and mechanical side of society. He is also spontaneous and lacks practicality which are things that romantics valued.

Brook Street, London 1770 Poet Thomas Chatterton's suicide. Why did he take his life? Moreover, why was his life celebrated? The video elaborates on how Chatterton became a symbol for....

-Because no one wanted to publish his poetry and his family wanted him to become a lawyer. -He was a sensitive artist that was rejected by the world and was denied the opportunity to revel in beauty. His poetry was concerned with beauty and wisdom and he represented part of the romantic movement. -The romantic movement

john locke

-a 17th century philosopher -creator of the philosophy tabula rasa

jean-jacques rousseau

-a 18th century philosopher -believed that humans are born with two instincts: self-preservation & compassion

rime of the ancient mariner

-a ballad and another frame narrative that shelley alludes to -frame narrative: a mariner stops a wedding guest and tells him what happened he was out to sea -main narrative: on his journey his crew is caught by a storm and is caught in ice, he kills a sea bird which is a good omen, two visitors come to him that symbolize death, his eternal curse is to tell this story

comparing monster's creation to adam's creation

-adam= first person to be created by god, told not to eat from the tree of knowledge/sin, a snake (the devil) convinces them to eat from the tree and adam and eve are rejected from the garden -monster= frankenstein's adam -satan was originally an angel, he and others were jealous of god and were thrown down into hell, by tempting adam and eve to eat the apple is his vengeance on god

allusion to mutability poem (page 67)

-before the allusion, the setting is darker -he can create the monster because of human advancement, but now his life is full of change and fear of the monster -he is so obsessed with what change will come from the monster that he forgets about marrying elizabeth

gothic period

-coincided with romantic period -focus on imagination, the surreal, nightmares; fascination w/ the darker side of human nature

reference to dante;) (pg 36)

-dante= one of the most remarkable authors to describe what hell looks like -in the divine comedy, the character dante must go through hell (inferno), purgatory, and heaven in order to gain personal salvation -inferno= icy, frigid environment that is furthest away from god's warmth and fire -allusion= even dante who has created the most terrifying creatures of all time could not have created frankenstein's monster

nature vs nurture

-elizabeth→ she was naturally more noble than the commoners and shined brighter -victor's father failed to teach him what sciences he "should be" studying -frankenstein makes his parents seem like the perfect parents and makes us think he had the perfect childhood -frank compares himself to Henry→ henry's parents didn't want him going to school + henry was more interested in the arts and creative studies -frank, elizabeth, and henry all grew up together but are very different -elizabeth concerned with beauty

how does story emphasize romantic ideals?

-frankenstein wanders through nature to find peace, that eventually leads him to the monster -in the beginning there is irony→ romantics studied classic civilizations and literature, frank studied classic scientists

purpose of elizabeth's letter in ch.6

-gives reader the history of justine -why did she have to write a letter about all of this? because this sets the foundation of what elizabeth will say later about justine's good characters, sets the foundation for what will happen after Justine is convicted

gothic characteristics of frankenstein

-gothic setting: setting has a personality of its own, even mentions castles -frankenstein's mood changes with the weather -supernatural (monster) attempted to be explained by natural terms

what is the role of women in frankenstein?

-mother is a damsel in distress--> frank's father "saved" her after her dad died -all dominant characters are male -females don't really speak, only come into play when they are taking care of the men or when they are in trouble -elizabeth is only talked about for her beauty, she was initially called "a gift" for victor -women are actually the savoirs in the text, they inspire the men to make better choices

nature and romanticism

-romantics sought solitude in nature, believing that the key to all emotional healing could be found in nature -nature imagery is the most predominant feature of romantic literature

how does locke's theory relate to the creature?

-the creature keeps explaining how he is only a monster bc of the way people treat him (similar to the external world writing itself onto his slate) -the creature began as a kind soul, he continued to help others, even though he was constantly attacked and avoided -eventually, the monster decided he could not take any more ridicule and cursed all of mankind, making him the monster everyone treated him as

the idea of the disenfranchised man

-very common romantic idea -such men, who found themselves unable to live in society, were often revered and/or sympathized with -frankenstein and his creature are both disenfranchised men—the creature because his form keeps him from any human company, and frankenstein because he eventually feels that he cannot enjoy the company of his fellow men after unleashing a monster among them

how does rousseau's theory relate to the creature's story?

-when the monster is in the woods, he manages to do everything he can to keep himself alive, like stealing the de lacey family's food and wood...this represents the first instinct in rousseau's theory: self-preservation -he also tends to have natural instincts to satisfy basic needs such as hunger, thirst, and the need to rest -however, when he notices that stealing the cottagers' food worsens the family's meager situation, he decides to stop stealing the family's food and gather wood for them during the night so felix has one less job to do....this represents the second instinct mentioned by rousseau: compassion

does frankenstein live by romantic ideals?

-yes, he spends a ton of time in nature and finds peace in it.....but also feels the desire to gain knowledge -If he could just find happiness with nature then he might be able to find peace and give up his pursuit for knowledge

characteristics of gothic lit

1) Atmosphere= mystery, suspense, fear; atmosphere is enhanced by elements of the unknown and unexplained 2) Focus on paranormal/unnatural forces, but usually the paranormal forces are explained by natural/scientific reasoning 3) Melodramatic- very high emotion, sentimental language, feelings of panic and terror, feeling wild and out of control (frankenstein goes crazy) 4) Omens- symbols of what is to come, foreshadowing; can occur in dreams or visions (example- frankenstein sees elizabeth in a dream and she turns into his dead mother, forebodes waking up to the monster) 5) Setting is extremely intricate and sets the mood; lots of description of weather; many older gothic novels take place in castles with eerie settings (frankenstein set in eerie wilderness 6) Maiden in distress + gothic villains

themes of frankenstein

1) The effects of alienation and loneliness 2) The concept of nature vs nurture 3) Personal responsibility 4) The quest for knowledge and the limits of that quest 5) The nature of humanity and whether there is a dual nature to humans (good + evil) and the anxiety that comes with having a dual nature

What characteristics does the Romantic hero possess?

A romantic hero is rejected by the world and is doomed by the pressures of society. They have a noble heart/soul and value beauty and art.

Parliament Building, architect Augustus Pugin When the Parliament was rebuilt, Pugin's goal was to make the building look old. Why?

By making the building look old, he said it was noble because it harks back to his country's pre-industrial past before it grew obsessed with money and technology.

Paradise Lost

He learned about God and God's creatures. He realized through this that he relates more to Satan, rather than Adam. It is explained that Satan used to be an angel, but because of his envious nature, he attempts to overthrow God and his power over everyone. This causes God to exile Satan (the fallen angel), and two other angels down into what is now referred to as Hell. The monster relates to this heavily, he thinks of himself as the Satan of this story because he finds himself feeling jealous when he observes humans and the way they live their life with ease, rather than the fear he lives with.

Sorrows of Werter

He learned of despondency and gloom, along with death and suicide, and sympathy towards the characters in the novel. It left him with many unanswered questions like: "what did this mean?, who was I?, what was I?, whence did I come?, what was my destination?".

How does the creature learn language? Why might he have trouble learning words such as "good, dearest, unhappy"?

He learns the language through watching the lessons that the De Lacey family gives to Safie. He also tries to listen into their conversations to pick up the meanings of certain words and phrases. He has trouble learning the words "good, dearest, unhappy" because he could not apply them to his own experiences or understand them in a real life application. The monster also expresses his trouble with knowing and feeling emotions, this makes it more difficult for the monster to depict certain, emotional, words such as the ones listed.

Madrid, Spain, 1798 The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters by Francisco Goya

It captures the limits of reason and the power of an irrational mind. It emphasizes that to be romantic is to have madness toward science, reason, and logic. The painting criticizes the society that Goya lived in and focuses on the human psyche. By illustrating sleep, Goya represents a tap into the subconscious/the human psyche and argues that imagination should never be held back by rationality.

The Marais, Paris 1762 Emile, or On Education by Jean-Jacques Rousseau What is the book critical of? What does it praise? Why?

It is critical of adults, their oppressive world, and their lack of spontaneity. It praises children and their creativity, innocence, and freedom.

How does the concept of revenge play a part in this novel?

Once the monster has left the De Lacey house in flames, he continues his travels towards Geneva to find his creator and comes in contact with William Frankenstein, Victor's younger brother. He immediately jumps at the opportunity of introducing himself to a child, mainly because children were often looked at as very innocent and unprejudiced. William still fears the monster and attempts to escape his grasp as the creature is trying to calm him down. However, when William mentions the name "Frankenstein" the creature recognizes that name as the name of his creator and proceeds to suffocate the boy and kill him. This was his first act of revenge on his creator. The concept of revenge plays a part in the novel as Dr. Frankenstein creates a monster, abandons it, and through abandonment, anger is created which is what the monster often feels. Without knowing human emotions, the monster learns hatred towards his creator and seeks to wreak havoc wherever he tries to mess with Dr. Frankenstein. Dr. Frankenstein wants nothing to do with this monster as it constantly gives him fear, but the Monster continues to live, constantly tormenting Victor. The monster is further encouraged to seek revenge on Frankenstein when he considers how it is Victor's fault that his appearance is so hideous, making it hard for him to live in a world of humans. The creature is the only one of his kind that exists in the world, so he is unable to find a companion and have relationships with others. He realizes that the hardships of his life are all due to Frankenstein's creation and subsequent abandonment of him, and the anger he feels leads him to commit to getting revenge on Frankenstein.

Leipzig, Germany 1774 The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe What is this book all about -- basic story, themes, etc.? Why do you think it was so popular?

The book tells the story of a passionate, doomed love affair between two a Werther, a young poet, and a beautiful girl named Charlotte. Charlotte is married, so their love is impossible from the start, but Wether continues to go after her. Eventually, Werther kills himself and the author directs all our sympathy to him. It became popular because it defined love and the fact that it is right and noble to follow your heart. It also criticized the adult world and rationality while emphasizing the power of feelings.

What happens when the creature begins to think about himself (pp. 108-109)? How does he compare with the humans described in the book? What questions does he ask himself? How does his knowledge make him feel? What does he learn about human relationships, and how does this make him feel?

The creature begins to wonder where his friends, family, and relationships are. He compares his own, lonely, life to the life of the cottagers who had each other as companions. He learns about the roles of a father versus the roles of a mother in a family. This results in questions about his own father, who is meant to "watch his infant days" and his own mother, who is supposed to "bless him with smiles and caresses". He has never experienced family and has never seen someone who resembles him. This observation grows into a deep frustration the more he watches the cottagers as they support each other and protect each other (acting as a family). He is frustrated that he is shut out from having any interaction with the cottagers, and he feels as though he isn't worthy of the gentle words that they speak, their mild exhortations, and their lively conservation. He begins to questions who he is and struggles with the fact that his earliest remembrance is of himself being the same height and proportion. He feels that as he gains more knowledge his sorrow also increases. As he learns more about the unique nature and qualities of man, he becomes more upset about how different he is compared to humans. He begins to wish that he had never learned anything about man and that he remained in the woods where the only feelings he could experience were hunger, thirst, and heat. If he never acquired the knowledge, he wouldn't have to be as distressed over his oddities.

What is the Creature's impression of the De Lacey family? What do they teach him? How does he in particular relate to Safie (a.k.a. "The lovely Arabian")? What plan does he form regarding the De Laceys and what happens? What is the reaction? Thematic connection?

The creature thinks of the De Lacey family very highly. He describes them as beautiful creatures. He is intrigued by their language, their relationships and their routines throughout the day. However, the monster is confused as to how such amazing creatures could look so sad when they seem to have everything he longs for but can't have. The monster relates to Safie because they are both unfamiliar with the setting they have been placed in, and they both struggle to learn the language and history of those around them. As the monster spends his days in hiding and observing the family, he learns the French language, mainly by eavesdropping on language lessons that were taught to the Arabian, Safie. He learns of the family's unfortunate history and how they ended up in poverty, exiled from their native country. He also became more knowledgeable on the history of the Grecians, the Romans, the coming of empires, and Christianity. He learned of the system of society and the division of wealth, as well as the difference in sexes and the basics of a typical family lifestyle. The monster plans to enter the cottage while Felix, Agatha, and Safie were out so that he could converse with the old man since he is blind and won't be terrified by the monster's appearance. He hopes he can develop a strong connection with the man so when the others returned home, the man would argue on his behalf to accept the creature. When he attempts to put the plan in action, he is successful with developing a relationship with the man, but when the others return home, they are disgusted by the monster and Felix goes on to beat him with a stick. On the following day, the family is gone from the cottage. The thematic connections that are present in this portion of the story include the monster's pursuit of knowledge as he is trying to broader his insight into the human world. He strives to learn more and more every day, and this eventually brings him no success regarding the development of any form of relationship with others. Another theme present is the inability of characters to recognize the humanity of the creature. The monster is compassionate and has a big heart, yet the cottagers are unable to realize this because they are too appalled by his appearance.

Wordsworth's poetry celebrated what that he believed was under threat?

The natural world

one of the novel's tragedies is the inability of characters to recognize the humanity of the creature. what qualities make us human? which of these qualities does the creature possess? is the creature human? what qualities does he not have?

The qualities that make us human include the ability to empathize with others, to have higher order thought processes, and to feel complex emotions. The creature is able to empathize with the cottagers when he is observing their difficult situation, he is able to learn language and higher processes, and he feels strong emotions, such as excitement, anger, and sorrow. In our opinion, the monster is not human because he is physically dissimilar to humans in his anatomy; however, we do consider him to be a person due to his complex abilities that mimic our own. Although he possesses many human qualities, he lacks qualities such as the ability to interact socially with others and develop relationship.

Lives

This novel taught him high thoughts, and to admire and appreciate heroes of past ages; this showed the creature love and happy thoughts above the "wretched" and "hideous" feelings he often felt when looking at his own reflection. He also learned about the first founders of the ancient republics.

Romanticism began in.....

Western Europe in the mid-18th Century (1750) and spread around the world. It changed how many people looked at children, sex, money, work, and love.

foil character

another character who contrasts with the focal character in a way that draws the reader's attention to the focal character's development; different characters with different fancies (ex. why can't victor be a little more like henry?)

the romantics were, for the most part.....

disheartened liberals

the quest for knowledge and the limits of that quest

in chapters 1-5: one professor is very discouraging, the other is charismatic and believes in studying all the sciences, very encouraging and inspiring -frank's quest for knowledge leads to his destruction; he went past the limits he should have, leads to alienation and loneliness (he fails to reach out to his family back home)

Wordsworth's poetry provided a cautionary tale of all things ____________ and ____________.

mechanical, industrial

symbol of the monster

monster= frankenstein's evil twin/doppelganger

epistolary novel

novel that is a letter and has many letters within it

activeness of frankenstein

the most active that frankenstein is is when he creates the monster, everything else he just says and thinks about but never does....he wavers often in terms of what he should do (ex: determined to kill the monster, then listens to his story)

tabula rasa

the theory that the mind is born a clean slate and the experiences with the external world write themselves onto that slate, thereby forming the attitudes and behaviors of the individual