Frankenstein Chapters 1-10

How has Elizabeth's personality changed because of the recent tragedies? How does this affect Victor?

Elizabeth is not the same after the tragedies. She sees injustice in her world.

Describe Henry Clerval.

Henry is Victor's best friend who is very adventurous and creative. Víctor says Henry is very kind and generous and Elizabeth brings out the best in Henry.

What becomes Victor's ultimate scientific goal?

His ultimate goal is to get rid of sickness.

What does Victor's relationship with Elizabeth tell readers about Victor's values and personality?

It shows that Victor is a very caring and loving person.

Why is it ironic that Victor considers suicide?

It would be ironic because the monster Víctor has created already killed two people he was close to and now the monster could kill him too by possibly driving him insane and not able to handle the guilt.

Describe Justine Moritz.

Justine Mortiz is a girl who used to live with the Frankenstein family. She was the housekeeper for the Frakensteins and she is a very empathetic character.

Describe Justine's appearance and manner as the chapter begins.

Justine appeared calm while dressed in mourning and she was very engaged.

What was the real reason Justine was out all night?

Justine got stuck outside the city because the gate around town was locked.

Why does Justine plead guilty?

Justine pleads guilty because she says that she is entirely innocent but she feels that her protests shouldn't save her. Also it would be easier for her family to grieve.

How does Justine die?

Justine was hung.

Is the despair of the circumstances drawing Victor toward greater madness or sanity? Explain, using evidence from the text.

The despair of the circumstances draws Victor toward greater madness. "Exhaustion succeeded to the extreme fatigue both of body and of mind of which I endured." This quote shows that constantly feeling guilty and stressed about the monster is making him go mad.

What happens to Victor when he introduces Henry to his professors? Why?

This task is very painful for Victor because whenever he sees a chemical instrument, his symptoms worsen.

How does Victor describe his relationship with destiny?

Victor blames what has happened to him on destiny instead of taking responsibility for the choices he made.

Victor hesitates before using his newfound skill until he fashions what thing? Why?

Victor builds a frame for his new project and he decides that he will build a person.

Why does Victor make his work in gigantic proportions?

Victor finds it easiest to work with larger parts.

From whom does Victor receive a letter, and what does it reveal about the events at the Frankenstein home?

Victor receives a letter from Elizabeth and it reveals that Justine Mortiz has returned to their house.

How does Victor view Elizabeth?

Victor says everyone loves and adores Elizabeth and he is very protective of her.

Describe Victor's experience with the thunderstorm.

Victor witnesses a tree get struck by lighting and he is now interested in how electricity works and the power of it.

What happens to Victor's mother, and what does this remind you of earlier in the book?

Victor's mother passed away from Scarlet fever and it reminds us about what happened to Caroline when she was younger.

Why is Victor suffering from depression? How and where does he seek consolation?

Víctor is suffering depression because he feels guilty about Justine's death. Víctor seeks consolation by boating and hiking.

How did Victor transform through his studies?

When Victor returned home, he began to read more modern and new science books and became even more fascinated by science.

Victor states, "I, not in deed, but in effect, was the true murderer." Do you agree or disagree? Find evidence from the text to support your response.

Yes I agree because he was the one who created the monster. If he never created the monster, Justine would have never been wrongly convicted of killing William. For example, I had been the author of unalterable evil, and I lived in daily fear lest the monster whom I created should perpetrate some new wickedness." This quote shows how Víctor knows it is his fault because he created the monster and the monster wants revenge.

How did Elizabeth come to live with the Frankenstein's?

Elizabeth was adopted from people in a poor village.

What important news does Ernest reveal to Victor?

Ernest revealed that Justine is being accused of murdering William.

When he is seized by "supernatural enthusiasm," Victor begins to study what? Why?

He began to study the anatomy and decay of the body to help him discover the principle of life and how life works.

How does Victor describe the deaths of William and Justine?

He describes them as "the first dance of the monster" implying the monster will continue to kill others.

What day does Victor anticipate and how does he describe it? What does it say about him?

He is looking forward to the day his creation thanks him for creating him. This says that Victor is similar to Walton and they both want to be famous forever.

What realization does Victor have regarding the "depraved wretch" he had "turned loose into the world"?

He realized that he released this murderous creature into the wild.

What does Victor see near the gates of Geneva as he returns home?

He saw his monster that he created lurking.

When Victor is at Ingolstadt, what does he spend all his time doing?

He spends all his time studying and working.

How does Victor feel about returning home for a visit? Why? What has changed?

Victor is nervous to return home because he is afraid that the monster might hurt his family and he wants to protect them.

What evidence of Justine's guilt is given in court?

Justine was said to be out all night the same night of William's death and in the morning he was by a market woman not too far from where William was found.

Compare Justine's death to William's- whose is more tragic?

Justine's death was more tragic because Justine was guilty and Víctor watched Justine die when he knew the truth about who killed William.

Not knowing the true cause of Victor's depression, his father describes Victor's suffering as too excessive. He says "... excessive suffering prevents improvement or enjoyment, or even the discharge of daily usefulness, without which no man is fit for society." Do you agree that Victor is suffering too much? Why or why not?

No I don't think Víctor is suffering too much because he let Justine, who was innocent die right in front of him when he had the opportunity to prevent it.

What pattern is being repeated as Justine informally joins the family?

The Frankenstein's are very welcoming and bring people into their family.

What hopes does the family express regarding Justine?

The family hopes that Justine is innocent and the words that Víctor said to them gave Elizabeth reassurance.

How do the judges vote?

The judges all vote that she's guilty.

What does the writer of the letter urge Victor to do? Why?

The letter urges Víctor to return home.

What foreshadowing does Shelley use in the end of this chapter that suggests to readers that things are really not all right?

Things are too good to be true and Victor is enjoying every aspect of life.

Who is telling this part of the story? Who is it being told to?

Victor Frankenstein is telling the story and it is being told to Robert Walton.

When Victor is at the university, who does he become a "disciple" of? What does this man teach Victor?

Victor becomes a disciple of Waldman and pursues Chemistry because he was encouraged by his professor. Waldman shows Victor how to use lab equipment and he gives him science books.

How does Victor discover the secret of how to generate life? Does he share this with Walton? Why or why not?

Victor does not reveal this to Walton because he doesn't know Walton that well and if he revealed how to do this, his ideas may be stolen.

What was Victor's experience with the work of Agrippa? How did this change?

Victor gets very interested in science and he reads an out of date science book.

How has Victor's outlook on life in general shifted? What has become of his creation?

Victor has become more happy and joy has been brought back into his life. His creator has disappeared.

Where is Victor going in chapter 3?

Victor is going away to the University of Ingolstadt.

Explain the circumstances under which this tragic event took place?

Víctor believes William was murdered by his creation in the woods by getting strangled but soon Justine gets accused of murdering William.

What does Victor say that really proves how selfish he is?

Víctor calls himself a madman, this proves he's selfish because he doesn't want to be seen as a madman after letting Justine testify as guilty when she is very innocent.

What knowledge about the murderer does Victor consider revealing? What does he decide to do?

Víctor considered revealing that his monster killed William and is torn between revealing the monster and risking investigation on his past or letting the criminal justice system free.

What are the reasons Victor does not confess?

Víctor does not want to seem crazy by admitting he created a monster that killed William.

Victor is consumed with an interest in the structure of what? What does he long to determine?

Víctor is consumed with an interest in the structure of the human frame. He longs to determine the "principle of life".

What should Victor do at this point in the situation?

Víctor reassures Ernest that Justine is innocent and states that she will be found not guilty.

From whom does Victor receive a letter? What sad news does the letter contain?

Víctor receives a letter from his father saying that his brother William has been murdered.

What is the last line of chapter 3, and how is it suggestive of what is to come?

Víctor says how the moment he met Waldman, his future was shaped. He believes that it was because of destiny and not the choices he made.

When Victor approaches Mont Blanc, what does he say? Why?

Víctor says ¨Dear mountains! My own beautiful lake! How do you welcome your wanderer? Your summits are clear; the sky and lake are blue and placid. Is this to prognosticate peace, or to mock my happiness?

How long does Victor spend consumed in his new passion, and what becomes of his relationship with his friends and family back home?

Víctor spends 2 years consumed in his new passion and he becomes distant from his family and friends.

What is revealed about William? Contrast this to Victor's monster.

William is Victor's youngest brother and he is admired by the whole Frankstein family. Victor's monster is hated by most people which makes him seek revenge against Victor.