English Commentary Game~Frankenstein

How does the inclusion of Captain Walton affect the overall meaning of the book?

. He provides a seemingly objective tone and mood to the story.

What does the word "acme" mean in the following context: "Mine has been a tale of horrors; I have reached their acme, and what I must now relate can but be tedious to you"?

Acme is like the limit or the highest level. In this context it means he has reach the highest level of horror.

How are Victor and Elizabeth different? What kind of person is Victor?

Elizabeth and Victor are very different people because they are the opposite from each other. For example Elizabeth is a passive person who doesn't know how to make her own decisions, she is a weak, beautiful person. Victor is a quiet person that likes to keep things to himself, he is much independent than Elizabeth.

In what way does Elizabeth restore the Romantic Victor?

Elizabeth restores the romantic Victor by marrying him and taking their honeymoon on the isle of como, Elizabeth is a character that represents everything that is beautiful and clear to victor.

Why does Frankenstein decide to tell Walton his story?

Frankenstein decides to tell Walton his story, since he discovers they both have interest in the topic of science Also, he believes that he will be able to achieve was he is destined to do. (Cliff Notes, Letter 4 Analysis)

Explain how Victor is similar to a romantic hero.

He is an individual of high birth with stronger-than-normal passions b) He has a deep appreciation of the rugged beauty of nature and finds both relief and inspiration in the mountains and lakes Switzerland. He feels deeply. When he is happy, he is intensely, extra-humanly happy. When he grieves, his is an intense, extra-human grief.

How does the creature react to his murdering Elizabeth?

He is delighted at having finally exacted his revenge

In Chapter XX, Victor says his calmness is brought by despair. At the beginning of Chapter XXIV, he says his calculating revenge brings him calm. What does this change say about his character after the deaths of his wife and father?

He realizes that it is kind of a "circle". The change demonstrates Victor's breaking point. He goes from sadness to anger and that on repeat depending on the events.

Why does Victor think he survived all that he had been through? How is the fact that he lives ironic?

He thinks his survival is a penance for his horrid creation. He concludes that he was, after all, "doomed to live." Death would be too easy for Victor. He is doomed to suffer in life.

How does Shelley build suspense in these chapters?

In chapter 5 Shelly begins building suspense for Elizabeth's death, when a letter from Elizabeth to Victor makes Victor remember the creature's threat (I will be with you on your wedding night). At this point Victor assumes the creature meant to kill him, but he decides to marry Elizabeth anyway (a rather ridiculous move, considering the creature has only ever killed Victor's friends and family). As they are preparing for the wedding, Victor says how if he could have stopped Elizabeth's death, by leaving his family and country, he would have. Then later, in the afternoon, of their wedding day, Victor mentions that it was the last time he was ever happy.

What is ironic about the desires of Victor and the creature?

It is ironic that Victor has long death, and he finds his ability to survive an epidemic tragedy. He concludes that he has "doomed to life."

On his deathbed, Victor admits that he had an obligation to make sure his creature had a happy life. What is ironic about the excuse he offers for not doing so?

It is very ironic because the creature does not enjoy life, he actually hates it, and it is al because Victor completely rejected the his creation. He also expressed that it wasn't one of his concerns at the time he thought of creating the monster.

Walton says he is a "Romantic." What is a Romantic person like?

May "Romantic" writers used to have little formal education, besides travelling to amplify their mind and soul to contrarest the lack of education. Walton says that he´s "Romantic" because he´s travelling for his own educational purposes, learning. Also, because he feels sad for his ignorance and useless, saying "My education was neglected, yet I was passionately fond of reading" in his letter.

Why does Victor feel he can't be with people? What opinion does Victor express about his creation?

The company of people is abhorrent to him. Though he is full of a great and indiscriminate love for humanity, feeling them to be "creatures of an angelic nature and celestial mechanism," he does not feel himself worthy of sharing in their intercourse. He has created a being who delights in bloodshed, and thus deserves only abhorrence and hatred.

What does the creature want Victor to do now? How does that show a difference in the creature's character from the point when he wanted a companion?

The creature wants Victor to live alone just like he has been doing. He kills Elizabeth as his final act of revenge; the creature wants Victor to experience a similar pain of loneliness and isolation as was bequeathed to him

Victor, in his anger, says to the magistrate, "How ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom." What is the irony in this?

The irony is that victor in his own pride or wisdom created the monster in first place. He felt he was wise enough to play with life

Who has been murdered, and why is Victor accused of the murder?

The monster murders Clerval and leaves the corpse on an Irish beach, coincidentally near where Frankenstein´s boat is. Arriving in Ireland, Frankenstein is imprisoned for the murder of Clerval, and becomes seriously sick in prison

What does the word "torpor" mean in the following context?: "But my general state of being was a torpor, in which a prison was as welcome a residence as the divinest scene in nature"?

The word torpor in that quote refers to mental inactivity, unable to think. Can also mean lack of interest or concern. Showing little or no interest in anything.

What is different about Victor's reaction to Elizabeth's (and his father's) death from the rest?

This time, he wants revenge. He hasn't had those feelings before because he sought the monster only to meet his destiny, but now after the murders of these two characters, a huge hunger for revenge turned on inside him.

Consider Victor's statement: "When I reflected on the work I had completed, no less a one than the creation of a sensitive and rational animal, I could not rank myself with the herd or common projectors...All my speculations and hopes are as nothing; and, like the archangel who aspired to omnipotence, I am chained to eternal hell" How does this establish Victor as a tragic hero?

Victor began his research into the mystery of life with good intentions, and envisioned himself something like a God. Now, however, he realizes that he is much more like the Satan of Paradise Lost—having challenged the omnipotence of God and finding himself cast into Hell

How does Victor depart from the typical tragic hero?

Victor departs from the typical tragic hero because he is of a noble birth and aspirations, he feels very intense while suffering form his downfall. He is a character that makes errors, by action and judgement.

Explain how Victor is similar to a tragic hero.

Victor is similar to a tragic hero because of many reasons. He has noble aspirations, he feels intensely, he has passionate aspirations, he suffers a lot during his downfall, he has like a blind character that makes him make mistakes, he dies as a result of his actions.

Victor makes several references to his destiny in this chapter. What does he believes his destiny to be?

Victor is starting to believe that one day the creature may come and get revenge on, by killing him.

How does the end of the novel justify the concentric levels of narration introduced at the beginning?

Victor is the first person character narrator, but he can't narrate his own death. So, the author, Shelley, finds a way to narrate this scene by "reading" Walton's letters, including his death, including Captain Walton and his letters to his sister.

When does it finally occur to Victor that he has foolishly misinterpreted the creature's threat?

Victor misinterpreted the creature's threat when he heard Elizabeth scream and discovers she is dead. Up until that moment, he believed himself to be the object of his threat

What is familiar about the method of the murder discovered in this chapter?

Victor realizes the "black finger marks" around Henry's neck and makes the connection with William. He knows that the monster is also responsible for Henry's murder. He begins to be filled with guilt because he created the monster whose "black" fingers strangled the life out of his two loved ones.

What do you think will happen on Victor and Elizabeth's wedding night?

Victor thought the creature would kill him but the creature actually wants to kill Elizabeth.

What evidence is there to suggest what the creature really means by his threat to be with Frankenstein on his wedding night?

Victor took away everything that the creature had wanted which was love, so the creature kept his promise and was with him and took away the only thing that victor loved.

How do Walton's letters illustrate the tension between eighteenth-century rationalism and nineteenth-century Romanticism?

Wlaton he's an adventurer and a romantic. He symbolizes scientific advancement and exploration (19th Century),but he is also the epitome of a romantic adventurer (18th Century).

Why does Victor decide to marry Elizabeth immediately?

so he can get married before the Creature can get to her. Recall the creature vows to be at his "wedding night." Victor is hoping to thwart fate.