Frankenstein Book Question
Explain how Elizabeth comes into the Frankenstein home.
When Caroline meets a peasant family who has taken in Elizabeth from a Milanese noble man. The family can no longer afford to care for Elizabeth, so the Frankensteins adopt her.
How does Shelly utilize nature to foreshadow ominous happenings at the beginning of this chapter?
A storm blows in just before Elizabeth is murdered. (Storms = bad. Always.)
Examine how the creature sees himself as different from Adam in Paradise Lost.
Adam is created, cared for, and communicates with loving creator. The creature was abandoned by Victor, his creatur, and feels lonely and bitter.
Explain what the creature sees the next morning when he returns to the DeLaceys' and what he decides to do as a result.
After noticing the cottage is empty, he sees Felix discussing leaving with his landlord, although they paid 3 months rent and the garden is full of food. The creature burned the house and garden then ran away.
Explain why Alphonse Frankenstein thinks Victor is depressed.
Alphonse Frankenstein thinks that Victor does not want to marry Elizabeth, that he regards her as more of a sister, and that he is in love with someone else.
Summarize how Mary Shelley interjects her social interest of caring for the poor into Frankenstein.
Alphonse cares for Beaufort when he becomes poor. Caroline regularly visits and helps the poor. Elizabeth is adopted from a poor family who can no longer care for her.
How does the creature inadvertently kill Alphonse Frankenstein?
Alphonse dies soon after due to heartbreak and stress over Elizabeth's murder
What do Victor and Clerval begin studying together?
Asian languages or Persian, Arabic, and Sanskrit.
Relate how Justine comes to live with the Frankenstein family.
At age 12, Justine lives with the Frankensteins after her own mother mistreats her. When her mother later becomes sick, Justine leaves the Frankensteins to care for her mother, but returns after her mother passes away.
How does the incident with the DeLacey family change the creature?
Before, he thought the DeLaceys and humans were good and caring. After, he is bitter and wants revenge especially on Victor.
Summarize what Victor does at night after the rest of his family has gone to bed.
He takes the boat onto the lake and ponders suicide.
Explain how Victor thinks that his creation will regard him.
He thinks his creation will be grateful to and appreciative of him, like both a father, and great creator.
Explain why the creature wants to learn to speak.
He thinks that if he can speak to humans, they will overlook his frightening appearance.
Explain why Henry Clerval's father disapproves of education.
He wants Henry to follow in his footsteps in the world of commerce and trade.
What is the creature's chief complaint?
He was once good, but has been turned evil because he is miserably lonely.
Explain the favor that Henry asks of Victor when he arrives in Ingolstadt.
Henry asks Victor to write a letter to his father and Elizabeth to let them know he is well.
Evaluate the creature's decision to isolate himself from humans.
His decision to isolate himself from humans is understandable given the human reactions he has experienced.
Examine how the creature believes companionship will help his temperament.
His vices result from being lonely, the goodness will shine through if he has a companion
What specific aspects of biology does Victor study?
Human anatomy; how life is created, death, and decay.
Evaluate Victor's assertion, "In other studies you go as far as others have gone before you, and there is nothing more to know; but in a scientific pursuit there is continual food for discovery and wonder."
In science, an ending point does not exist, because there is always more to learn and explore.
Generalize how Victor learns about alchemy and natural science. How does this fit with the characteristics of Romanticism?
It reflects a Romantic focus on self-education and parallels Robert Walton educating himself about sailing the world.
Mary Shelley may have written Ch. 8 as a commentary on what was, in her opinion, a flawed legal system. Provide examples of how Justine may have received an unfair trial.
Justine is never provided a lawyer; convicted on circumstantial evidence; doesn't receive a trial by jury; bullied into confession; and immediately executed, and not allowed time for an appeal. (Contrast this to how Victor is treated when they think he may have killed Clerval.)
Explain how knowledge heightens the creature's frustration with his situation.
Knowledge shows the creature how much of an outcast he is from society, and how difficult it will be to become an accepted member of society.
Why are Felix and Safie's letters important to Walton?
Letters prove that Victor's story is true
Examine how the author utilizes the lightning motif as Victor returns home.
Lightning "plays on the summit of Mont. Blanc" and flashes about the Alps of Savoy illuminating the lake at its base. A flash of lightning also illuminates the creature in the distance.
Describe how Victor and the creature's roles have reversed.
Previously the creature followed Victor as he traveled. Now, Victor pursues the creature.
Show the irony in Victor's desire to "extinguish the life which I [he] had so thoughtlessly bestowed."
When Victor created the being, he sought to create life and dispel death. Now he only thinks of destroying the creature.
Discuss how the Turkc uses Safie to ensure Felix's assistance.
The Turk says that he will give Safie's hand in marriage to Felix if he will help him escape.
After much thought, how does the creature believe that he should have done things differently in regards to the DeLaceys? What does the creature decides to do as a result?
The creature admits that should have introduced himself slowly to the family, winning the trust and companionship of the father first before revealing himself to the rest of the family.
Describe how Safie's presence facilitates the creature's ability to speak and read.
By observing the family, the creature learns to speak as the family teaches Safie to speak and read.
Explain how Shelley portrays the women, Caroline, and Elizabeth, in Chapter 1.
Caroline and Elizabeth are both portrayed as virtuous women who are recued, cared for, and protected by men. Elizabeth is also presented to Victor as a gift.
Tell what Caroline Frankenstein hopes for Elizabeth and Victor's future.
Caroline hopes that Victor and Elizabeth marry each other.
While Clerval and Victor are in London, how does Clerval occupy his time.
Clerval is occupied with working on making connections towards the progression of colonization and trade with India
While Felix is in Italy courting Safie, what happens to his father and Agatha? Why? What happens to the DeLacey family as a result of Felix's actions?
DeLacey and Agatha are arrested and put in jail for Felix's aid in the escape. Felix learns of this and returns home to Paris. The entire family is put on trial, found guilty, and forced in exile in Germany, stripped of everything they once had.
Explain how Elizabeth defends Justine.
Elizabeth says Justine acted as a mother to William and would not have hurt him. Elizabeth also says that Justine wouldn't have needed to steal locket.
Describe the demand the creature makes for Victor.
For Victor to make him a female companion just like him.
How does Victor feel about Elizabeth?
He adores her and feels that she is "mine to protect, love, and cherish" and she is "my more than sister, since till death she was to be mine only."
Which authors and topics does Victor become obsessed with reading?
He becomes obsessed with reading the works of early alchemists (Cornelius Agrippa, Paracelsus, and Albertus Magnus). An interest in alchemy then proceeds to an interest in anatomy.
Analyze how Victor violates his own advice: "A human being in perfection ought always to preserve a calm and peaceful mind, and never to allow passion or a transitory desire to disturb his tranquility."
He becomes obsessed with science and his creation. It dominates his life at the expense of his health, family, and mental health.
Explain why Victor feels that he is the "true murderer" of William and Justine.
He created the being that murdered William.
Describe how Victor's dream after he creates the Creature takes on the mood of a horror story. (And it's foreshadowing, too!)
He dreams that he sees and kisses Elizabeth. Elizabeh then changes to his dead mother who starts to decay in his arms.
How does Victor talk himself out of pursuing the beast?
He hesitates at first because the monster escaped. He thinks people will think he's crazy and doesn't think he is strong enough to go after him.
How does Victor react when his creations comes to life?
He is disgusted and runs from the room.
Calculate how long the creature observes the DeLacey family.
He observes the DeLacey family for "several revolutions of the moon" or several months.
Show how the creature demonstrates his fear of encountering humans.
He only leaves his hovel at night and stays away from villages and other areas inhabited by humans.
Explain how Mr. Kirwin helps Victor.
He sends a nurse to care for Victor and writes to Victor's father. He defends Victor in court when he realizes he is innocent.
Summarize why the townspeople think Victor is the murderer.
He showed up in town around the time of the murder in a boat similar to the one spotted near the crime scene
Why does Victor claim he is suffering worse than the accused?
He states that he is worse off because he is plagued by guilt and remorse because he created the monster. (Boo hoo.)
Explain how the creature assists the DeLacey family.
He stops eating their food and beings cutting wood and placing it at their door each night.
Summarize the circumstances that caused the DeLacey's ruin.
Safie's father was a Turkish merchant, who suddenly became an enemy to the government of France. He was arrested and put into prison, tried, and condemned to death for false reasons. Upon hearing this, Felix became enraged and vowed to help the Turk escape. In return, the Turk offered wealth, but didn't comply and then left the family with nothing after everything was taken from them for helping the Turk.
Summarize Elizabeth's response to Caroline's death.
She becomes the family's maternal figure. Rather than grieving, she devotes herself to caring for the family.
Why does Elizabeth blame himself?
She gave William a locket with his mother's picture to wear around his neck--she thinks it was what he murderer wanted.
Discuss how the evidence against Justine builds.
She provides contradictory answers to questions, cannot account for her whereabouts, and does not know how the locket got in her pocket.
Explain why Elizabeth thinks Victor is depressed and troubled.
She thinks Victor may have fallen in love with someone else and does not want to marry Elizabeth
Why does Elizabeth refuse to believe that Justine is guilty?
She trust Justine and considers her part of the family that she knows really well. She firmly believes she knows Justine is incapable of committing such a crime, especially against William.
Explain why Justine confesses to William's murder.
She was hoping to be absolved and to be saved; she was forced into it out of fear of hell and eternal damnation.
Summarize Elizabeth's first letter to Victor.
She writes that she is regretful that she was not there to take care of Victor when he was so sick; that his father is doing well; Ernest is now 16 and wants to enter the military; the story of how Justine joined the family; of little William and his new girlfriend of 5 years old; some gossip of the town.
Compare Shelley's description of the setting to Victor's mood when he goes out into nature to be alone.
Shelley describes the setting as "desolate" similar to Victor's desire for solitude, and "melancholy," akin tothe depression that Victor experiences. The storm growing in the valley foreshadows Victor's meeting with the creature.
Explain why Victor does not announce the real murderer, nor confess to the crime himself.
Since he was not in town at the time of the murder, Victor believes that he will be viewed as a madman if he tells who he believes murdered William. (And no one will believe he created life.)
Relate how Walton has spent most of his time since Victor boarded the ship.
Spent most of the time listening to Victor's story instead of tending to his ship and crew
Discuss how the creature convinces Victor to make him a mate.
Tells him that if he does the creature will move away and never hurt anyone again
What does Victor ask of Henry? What does Victor wish to do on his own?
That he stay with his friends in Scotland while Victor tours on his own. Victor wants to find a remote place to build the female creature alone.
Describe the DeLacey's family background.
The DeLaceys were a well to do, highly respected family in Paris. Felix served his country, and Agatha moved throughout high society. And then they lost it all.
Formulate how Victor's selection of the Orkney Islands mirrors his feelings about the task he plans to complete there.
The Orkney Islands are barren and remote. Just as the locale contains little life, Victor feels that he must complete his task alone. The task also makes Victor feel emotionally barren.
Summarize the creature's encounter with the drowning girl. How does the incident further fuel the creature's hatred for mankind and need for revenge?
The creature came across a girl playing by a stream, she falls in and he saves her, the guy with her shoots the creature thinking he was hurting her. Every time he is about to make friends, mankind shows hatred.
Summarize the creature's fist experiences when he leaves Ingolstadt.
The creature does not understand anything about his surroundings or his body. As he wanders into the forest, he gradually learns to utilize his senses, eat berries, and drink water.
Explain how the creature learns about fire.
The creature finds a small, abandoned fire and gets burned when he puts his hand on it. Through observation, he learns to maintain the fire by adding wood to it. He then uses the fire for heat and to cook food.
Generalize what the creature leans about humans from his first encounters with them.
The creature learns that he is not wanted or liked by humans. He realizes that humans are only tolerant of people similar to themselves. He also experiences the cruelty of man.
How does the knowledge he learns from the books he reads make the creature ponder his place in the universe?
The creature realizes that he does not possess any qualities (wealth, beauty, intelligence) which are valued by man. He realizes he has no one-- no family or companionship.
Explain how the creature blames humanity for his behavior.
The creature says that he was originally benevolent and kind, but that human's disgust and rejection caused him to become full of hatred and evil.
Generalize how the creature offers an ultimatum to Victor.
The creature tells Victor that he will leave everyone at peace if Victor complies with his conditions, but will continue to murder if Victor doesn't do as asked.
How does the Creature think the DeLacey family will respond to his offer of friendship when they finally meet him?
The creature thinks the DeLacey family will be kind and compassionate, overlooking his hideous deformities.
Contrast the creature's assessment of the DeLacey's lifestyle with its reality.
The creature thinks the DeLaceys live luxuriously since they have shelter, fire, food, clothing, and each other. In reality, the DeLacey's work hard for everything they have, are deep in poverty, and struggle just to eat.
Evaluate how the creature's reflections demonstrate his innate humanity.
The creature's desire to interact with others and have a family show that he has the capability to be human instead of cruel. He doesn't want to harm others, but to be included as a member of a family.
Describe the family that the creature observes.
The family consists of an ederly blind man, his son, and daughter. The son and daughter constantly worked, while the father plays music. Each of the family members seem sad, but they are benevolent and warm to each other.
What is the evidence that is used to charge Justine with the crime.
The locket containing the picture of Caroline Frankenstein is found in Justine's pocket.
Explain why the magistrate does not think that he can offer much help to Victor.
The magistrate thinks the monster is too strong and too quick to be caught by humans and that he may already be far away from the area (And he likely thinks that Victor is not entirely sane.)
Describe how the monster is with Victor on his wedding night.
The monster murders Victor's bride on her wedding night. (And somehow, even though he thinks about what the Creature has said all the time, it never dawned on Victor that this might happen.)
Explain what occurs when the creature meets the DeLacey family.
The older man listens to the creature and is kind to him. When Felix returns home to find the Creature, he beats him with a stick until he leaves the cottage.
Compare the creature's feelings to those of Captain Robert Walton at the beginning of the novel.
They both want a friend; they are lonely.
To what is Shelly alluding in Victor's assertion: "But I am a blasted tree; the bolt has entered my soul; and I felt then that I should survive to exhibit what I shall soon cease to be- a miserable spectacle of wrecked humanity, pitable to others, and intolerable to myself?" What does Victor mean?
This is a reference to Victor seeing the lightning bolt hit the tree so long ago. He means that he is not the man he used to be- peaceful, content, and happy. He is now miserable, "Wrecked," and hateful to himself
Assess how Clerval affects Victor and his mood.
Through his companionship and attentiveness, Clerval lifts Victor's mood and gets him back to feeling like a normal person and his old self.
Generalize how the setting and scenery of his journey affect Victor's mind and spirits.
Unable to relax and think of anything but his task at hand, Victor was miserable up until the riverboat trip. Finally, Victor succumbs to the beauty of the trip and relaxes and enjoys the tranquility of the river cruise. (And, of course, every time Victor relaxes and enjoys nature, bad things happen. )
Assess how Victor feels about Clerval's friendship and companionship.
Victor appreciates Clerval's devoted friendship and imagination which always "soothes" his "heart"
Show how Victor responds to Clerval's death upon seeing his body and how he behaves while in jail.
Victor becomes extremely agitated. While in jail, he becomes very sick and delirious (again.)
Explain why Victor cannot bear to hear Henry speak of Chamounix.
Victor cannot stand anything associated with the creature, and Chamounix is where he listened to the creature's story.
Summarize Frankenstein's speech to the crew.
Victor chastises the men for wishing to abandon their mission and urges then to be brave and that it will benefit mankind if they continue
Explain how Victor tries to protect himself from the monster.
Victor constantly carries pistols and a dagger
Formulate how Elizabeth and Alphonse's deaths change Victor's focus in life.
Victor decides to tell the law about what he did, and then pursue the monster wherever he may go, and kill him when he finds him
Contrast (Compare) Victor's academic interests with those of his friend, Henry Clerval.
Victor desires to learn about science- the secrets of heaven and earth, and the "inner spirit of nature" and the "physical secrets of the world," while Henry Clerval prefers the "moral relations" of things, including history, literature, and languages.
What are Victor's concerns about creating another monster?
Victor does not know how the female monster will feel and act. She may refuse to stay with the male creature; she may be more violent than the male creature; the creatures may have kids together and begin and entire race of monsters
Judge Victor's emotional state as he begins to create a female moster.
Victor does not really want to create a female monster. At times he cannot bear to enter the lab, but at other times he works for extended periods of time. He is disgusted by the work he is doing, but continues out of fear of the moster.
Describe Victor's childhood.
Victor enjoys an idyllic childhood and is doted on by his parents as they travel throughout Europe.
Explain why Victor sometimes fears for Henry's life while on their journey.
Victor fears the monster will murder Henry as punishment for Victor's delay in the creation of the female monster.
Summarize why Victor feels that he cannot marry Elizabeth at this time.
Victor feels that he must complete the task of building a female creature before he can marry Elizabeth.
Examine how Victor interacts differently with M. Krempe and M. Waldman.
Victor finds M. Krempe to be conceited and condescending. Victor likes M. Waldman better, and respects him. He likes his lecture which prompted Victor to keep searching for answers to keep moving forward.
Describe what Victor does when he becomes tired while sailing.
Victor lies down in the bottom of the boat and goes to sleep
Analyze how Victor feels after he reads Elizabeth's letter.
Victor realizes that his lack of communication with his family has caused them pain and anxiety, he immediatley exhausts himself writing a letter to them.
What does Victor do with the remains of the female creature?
Victor takes the remains out to sea and throws them overboard with stones to weigh them down.
Demonstrate how Victor manipulates his father so he has the time and liberty to create a female creature.
Victor tells his father he wants to travel to England before he marries. Victor does not tell his father that the journey will give him time and resources to build the creature.
Explain Victor's social tendencies and how he interacts with friends.
Victor tends to avoid crowds and instead, forms close friendship with only a few people (Henry Clerval).
Analyze why Victor feels that his family will be safer if he leaves Switzerland.
Victor thinks the monster will follow him to England and not harm the Frankenstein family in Switzerland.
Assess how Victor's comment that the creature "may be hunted like the chamois, and destroyed as a beast of prey" relates to his perception of his creation.
Victor views the creature as an animal, not human in any way
Explain how Victor Frankenstein's parents met.
Victor's father, Alphonse Frankenstein helped a friend, Beaufort, who fell on hard times. After Beaufort died, Alphonse cared for and eventually married Beaufort's daughter, Caroline.
Explain how the creature plans to stay abreast of Victor's progress in creating him a companion.
Watch him and reappear when the creature is done.
Determine the irony in the creature looking upton the DeLaceys as "superiour beings."
When Victor made the creature, he felt that he was forming a race of superior beings. Now the supposedly "superior" creature thinks that a family who most humans would look down on is truly superior.
Describe Victor's experience with lightning. How was it a turning point in his life?
When he was 15 he saw a lightning bolt destroy a tree and wondered about the power of lightning and electricity.
Explain why Victor destroys the creature he is forming.
When the male creature appears at Victor's window and Victor realizes his "malice and treachery" he destroys the female monster
Infer Victor's meaning when he says of his desire to learn about science: "I find it arise, like a mountain river, from ignoble and almost forgotten sources; but, swelling as it proceeded, it became the torrent which, in its course, has swept away all my hopes and joys."
While his interest in science begins as an innocent search for knowledge, it grows to overwhelm and eventually destroy him and everything he loves.
Examine the accuracy of Justine's assertion, "I believe that I have no enemy on earth, and none surely would have been so wicked as to destroy me wantonly."
While no one hates Justine, the Creature has learned enough about being sneaky and hates the Frankenstein family enough to frame Justine as the murderer.
How does William die?
William was either strangled or his neck was broken-- a fingerprint was found on his neck.
