Frankenstein study guide letters + Ch 1 - 2
In what month does the writer of the letter intend to set sail?
June
After age fourteen, what type of literature did the letter writer read?
"At that age I became acquainted with the celebrated poets of our own country"
What type of books did the writer of the letters read until the age of fourteen?
"Our Uncle Thomas' books of voyages"
(Letter 2) How old is the writer of the letters?
28
How old was Victor when he and his parents visited Italy?
5
1. How much of an age difference is there between Victor and his younger brother?
7 years
At age fifteen, what event did Victor and an expert in natural philosophy witness?
Am incredible lightning storm; the lightning destroys a tree
From What location is letter 2 sent?
Archangel
In what location is letter 3 written?
Archangel
What is the relationship between the writer of the letter and the receiver of the letter?
Brother/Sister
Who are his parents and how did they meet?
Caroline Beaufort and Alphonse Frankenstein. Alphonse was friends with Caroline's father who was a merchant. After the merchant's death, he was "a protecting spirit" for her and they later married.
Who were the three ancient scientists Victor read about?
Cornelius Agrippa, Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus.
What child did Victor's parents adopt? (first and last name)
Elizabeth Lavenza
Where does Victor's mother find his sister?
Elizabeth was an orphaned German girl who was left in the hands of an Italian peasant family.
How was Victor introduced to his new sister Elizabeth?
Elizabeth was introduced to Victor by his mother like a present.
What were Elizabeth's intellectual interests?
Elizabeth's intellectual hobbies were in languages and art.
Of what nationality is Frankenstein?
Frankenstein is Genevese, which means Swiss, or from Geneva
(Letter 4) What had surrounded the ship?
Ice
To whom is this first letter written?
Margaret Saville, Robert Walton's sister
In what city was Frankenstein born?
Naples
3. What subject did Victor study as a boy?
Natural philosophy (I believe it was the same as what he studied in college)... *But he was reading about alchemists I think.. He might have been studying alchemy*
What do the sailors see floating past the ship?
Sheets of Ice
In what city and country is the writer of the letter?
St. Petersburg, Russia
Under what sort of economic condition did the Frankenstein people live?
The family was rich, and traveled the world frequently.
Two hours after seeing this unusual sight, what happened to the ship?
The ice broke and the ship was freed.
At two o'clock, what did the sailors see crossing the ice?
They saw vast an irregular planes of ice which had no end. Then they saw a carriage fixed on a sledge and drawn by dogs.
What is the planned destination of this voyage?
Unknown areas of the Arctic Ocean. He wants to explore uncharted areas.
What was Victor's intellectual pursuit?
Unlike Elizabeth who admired and delighted in the appearance of things, Victor investigated the cause of things.
The following morning, what did the sailors pull from the ice?
Victor Frankenstein
Who is the speaker of the story?
Victor Frankenstein
Why is the stranger revealing the story of his life to the letter writer?
Victor believes that Walton is exposing himself to the same dangers which have forced Victor to become what he is.
How did the expert's explanation of galvanism and electricity affect Victor's attitude toward the ancient scientists?
Victor disregarded them and began to despise them. He thought they were phonies.
Why did Victor choose to read Medieval books on alchemy (preparations for the elixir of life) over modern Enlightenment books?
Victor thought that modern Enlightenment (natural sciences) was unsound.
What was the name of Victor's friend, and what was he forced to do?
Victor's friend was Henry Clerval. Henry's father forced him to give up studying alchemy to study business.