Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: Study Guide

Who is Henry Clerval? How does he compare/contrast to Victor?

Henry Clerval is Victor's childhood best friend. Victor did not talk to many people, so Henry is his best friend. The two friends both wanted to learn and make a name for themselves. Henry did so through books of romance and chivalry, and continued making plays and games from them. Victor had a desire to learn but his interest was in secrets of the Earth.

Who is Elizabeth Lavenza?

Elizabeth Lavenza was the more-than-sister of Victor Frankenstein. Her mother died giving birth and because no one knew what had happened to the father, Elizabeth became an orphan and beggar. A foster family took her in, but they fell to poverty, so when Caroline Frankenstein asked to take her care, the family agreed.

Victor often falls ill after traumatic events. Is this a means of escape, and, if so, is it effective? Is there another explanation for his recurring illness?

Falling ill is Victor's means of escape because it makes him forget what he has done. It also causes him relief because then he has people around him that tend to him, and that makes him feel better. This is not an effective means of escape because, although he forgets for some time, the problem will still be there when he is well again.

What is foreshadowing?

Foreshadowing is an indication of an event that is to happen in the future. An example is Victor's question to Robert Walton when he asks him if he shares the same madness Victor did. If foreshadows that Victor's madness led him to meet Walton's crew and the upcoming telling of Victor's story.

How does Victor's mother die in the book? In the movie?

In the movie, Victor's mother dies giving birth to his youngest brother William. In the book, Elizabeth gets scarlet fever, and Caroline is too worried about not caring for her, herself. She catches the fever from Elizabeth and dies.

What is Ingolstadt?

Ingolstadt is a town in Germany. Victor goes to the university in Ingolstadt to study science. It is where he creates the monster, and Henry comes to visit Victor and study language at the university.

Who is Justine Moritz? What fate does she meet and why?

Justine is a servant in the Frankenstein house who is brought there when Caroline requests for Mrs. Moritz to allow Justine to come live at the Frankenstein household. Justine is executed because she is accused and claims that she killed William, when she is innocent. Victor and Elizabeth know that Justine did not murder William, but she is found with the missing picture that William carried in the locket. This makes the people believe that she is, in fact, the murderer.

Who are Waldman and Krempe? How do they differ?

Krempe and Waldman are both professors of science at the university in Ingolstadt. Waldman is more open and friendly during his classes, and he encourages and agrees with Victor's fascination to Agrippa and Magnus. Krempe is more on the grumpy side and does not agree with Victor's fascination with the two authors because their ideas are outdated.

What does light, and particularly fire, possibly symbolize throughout the novel?

Light and fire symbolize knowledge. In one of Walton's letters, he says, "What may not be expected in the country of eternal light." It refers to new ideas and discoveries that have yet to be found by humanity. When Victor is study the process of animation, he explains it as a sudden light breaking the darkness. The whole process starts when Victor is fascinated by lightning striking an oak tree and setting it aflame.

Discuss two major differences in both characterization and plot between the novel and Branagh's film version.

One difference between the characters in the book and film is Victor's brother Ernest. In the book Ernest is the middle brother who goes off to join the Swiss army. He is mention a few times, but in the movie, there is no Ernest. Another difference in character is Henry Clerval. In the book, Henry is Victor's childhood best friend who eventually goes to Ingolstadt to study at the University. In the movie, Henry and Victor meet at the university and Henry is study science like Victor. A difference in the plot is Elizabeth's death. In the movie, the creature rips her heart out and Victor uses her and Justine's body to bring her back to life. The creature tries to steal Elizabeth, but she kills herself. In the book, the creature strangles Elizabeth after Victor aborts the process for creating him a female.

What are some reasons Victor gives for aborting his female creation?

One reason Victor aborts the female's creation is because he is afraid that the two will reproduce and the kids will be like the parents. Another reason is that Victor is scared that the female will be more evil that the male. The third reason is that the female might be disgusted with the male or vice versa and they might not like each other, leaving two of the creatures as Victor's problem.

Who is Robert Walton? Why does the book begin with his letters?

Robert Walton is the captain for the voyage to the north pole. The book starts with his letters to his sister, Margaret, because he is reassuring his sister that he is alive and still plans to continue his voyage. His letters are the introduction to the conflict of the story, so that there is a better understanding behind the reason of the voyage and the introduction of the characters involved in the conflict.

Explain how Victor and his creation become more alike as the novel progresses.

The creation is rejected from the beginning of his life, and when he is able to process how he feels about it, it causes him to feel miserable. Victor's friends and family are dying around him, which is the cause of his misery because he knows it's his doing for creating his creature. They both want revenge too. Victor for the deaths and the creature for being rejected and abandoned.

What conditions does Victor's creature promise to live by if Victor creates him a mate?

The creature does not want to live among humans as it is due to their rejection of him. He promises Victor that he will leave deep in the jungles in South America where no humans will find him. He will make peace with the humans if he has someone to share his life with.

What ominous threat does the monster make to Victor if he doesn't manufacture a mate for the monster?

The creature wants Victor to make him a female like himself, and in return he promises to leave him alone. Before Victor makes the female, the creature promises to torment Victor forever. He leaves him with the threat of being with Victor on his wedding night. Because Victor does not make the female, the Monster fulfills his promise.

List all the narrators of the novel in order of appearance.

The narrators are Robert Walton, Victor Frankenstein, and the creature. Robert Walton is the first narrator, starting with his letters and introducing Victor. Then, Victor is the narrator and he tell the story of his creation, and then the creature narrates about after he escapes from Victor's apartment.

Explain the significance of the quote: "What may not be expected in a country of eternal light."

The quote holds significance because Walton is traveling to a land that has yet to be discovered. Anything that is known about the pole is what past explorers have been able to discover. In this quote, eternal light signifies knowledge, and because the pole is different from most lands that have already been discovered, what Walton is determined to discover, is something he believes to be unexpected; an idea/discovery that most people have not yet wrapped their brains around.

Know/Explain the connection to Prometheus.

The story of Prometheus tells of how Prometheus brought fire to the humans. However, the humans were not ready for the creation of fire, therefore, Prometheus was chained to a rock and a bird would peck at his liver. This relates to Frankenstein because Victor's discovery and the subsequent experiment that follows is another example of how humanity was not yet ready for what he had done. His punishment occurs in the form of the murders of his loved in by the hands of his creature.

What event finally compels Victor to devote his life chasing down and destroying his creation?

Victor devotes his life to chasing down and destroying his creation because of all the deaths he has caused of those that he loves. He starts this mission specifically after Elizabeth's death, also by the creature's hand. He makes it his life mission even if it means that he will die trying to kill the monster, which eventually does happens when he dies from exhaustion.

Explain how Victor's relationship with nature changes over the course of the novel.

Victor loved nature as a child. Whenever something bad happens to Victor, he falls ill, as he did when he made his creation. After finally being able to leave his bed, he would take walks outside with Henry and the nature around him would lift his spirits and heal him.

Describe Victor's childhood in general terms.

Victor was an idol to both of his parents, therefore they showed him patience, kindness, and love. Their care of Victor led him to a comfortable childhood. The beginning of his life was spent wandering the country with his parents, hence the meeting between him and Elizabeth.

Is Victor's creation a tragic victim or an arch-villain? Why?

Victor's creation is a tragic victim. He was not asked to be created and is very open and friendly with Victor at the time of his creation. Victor's rejection and the events that follow cause the creature to learn on his own and despise Victor for what he has done. He is actually a very intelligent person and only does what he does to get Victor to understand the creature as a person. He just sees no other way to show him.

How does Victor's creation learn how to read, speak, and reason?

Victor's creation learns to read, speak, and reason due to observing a family living in a cottage. He spends two years there watching the people do chores and daily work. He realizes that they speak to communicate and hopes to learn which he does eventually when one of them starts to read and speak french.

Why does Walton decide to abandon his expedition to the North Pole and return to England?

Walton abandons his expedition because Victor's story puts fear in him. Victor had no one to guide him of the dangers that could occur by creating his creature, but Victor and Walton share the same ambition to discover more. After listening to Victor's story, Walton realizes that there could be dangerous obstacles and discoveries of he continues on his expedition.

Who is the stranger found by Walton and his crew in the Arctic desert?

Walton and his crew find Victor Frankenstein in the Arctic desert when the ice around them finally begins to break. Frankenstein is following the path of a man that the crew had spotted earlier while they were stuck. In his letters to his sister, Walton describes Frankenstein as a celestial spirit because he is able to see the beauty of the world despite his misery. Walton looks at Victor in respect although he does not yet understand or know the reason behind Victor's misery or his knowledge.

To Where is Walton attempting to voyage?

Walton is attempting to voyage to the north pole. No explorer has crossed the seas to the north pole, and he is determined to be the first. In this way, he wants to be given credit and fame for discovering new beginnings.

With whom do you agree and why? (Opinion Question) - Walton sees Frankenstein as a noble, tragic figure. - The monster/creature sees Frankenstein as careless and arrogant for not owning his mistakes & consequences. - Frankenstein feels sorry for himself.

Walton sees Frankenstein as a noble, tragic figure. I agree with Walton, because Victor did not intentionally mean to cause a disaster when he created his creature. He wanted to test his theory and make a discovery, and in his excitement he did not think his choices through. However, because of this event, Victor is able to warn Walton of what happens when the urge to discover and make a name becomes too much. To me this restores Victor's nobility and makes him a tragic figure because he and everyone he loves dies from his mistakes.

What does Victor do immediately after giving life to his creature?

When Victor gives life to his creature, he shudders in disgust. He is disgusted because the creature is ugly and Victor does not expect that. He picked the parts for the creature so he would be beautiful, but his explanation shows that after the animation, the creature looks worse.

Who is Felix? What does he do when he sees the creature speaking to his father?

When the creature escapes from Victor, he finds himself at a cottage. The inhabitants used to be wealthy, but a plan to help Felix's lover's father causes them to hide there. Felix lives in the cottage, with his sister, love, and father. The creature observes them and learns from them. When Felix sees the creature talking to his father, he starts to attack him.

Who is William Frankenstein? Describe the circumstances surrounding his death in both the movie and the book.

William Frankenstein is Victor's youngest brother. In the book, he is killed because Elizabeth has a locket with Victor's face that William runs into the woods with. The creature sees it and kills William. In the book William is playing with Ernest and has a locket of his mother. He is found strangled and the picture in the locket is missing.