Frankenstein - O'Malley
Infer what the creature learns of the human spirir from Volney's Ruins of Empires.
* learns humans can be kind and evil * learns about history * also learns that humans value wealth and power.
Examine how the author utilizes the lightning motif as Victor returns home.
A flash of lightning spurs Victor to become curious about the power of electricity. A flash also illuminates the creature in the distance when Victor returns home, introducing the creature back into his life and setting him down a road of despair.
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.
How does the creature inadvertently kill Alphonse Frankenstein?
Alphonse dies soon after due to heartbreak and stress over Elizabeth's murder
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
Explain how Victor thinks that his creation will regard him.
He thinks his creation will be overly 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 foot steps in the world of commerce and trade.
Explain the favor that Henry asks of Victor.
Henry asks Victor to write a letter to his father and Elizabeth.
What specific aspects of biology does Victor study?
Human anatomy; how life is created, death, and decay.
What natural event threatens Victor's safety
Ice breaks apart stranding Victor and his sled dogs on a floating piece of ice
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, however, because there is always more to learn and explore.
What is ironic about Victor's statement to the town magistrate:"...how ignorant are thou in thy price of wisdom?"
It was Victor's pride of wisdom that got him into this situation in the first place so long ago
Mary Shelley wrote 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.
Explain how knowledge heightens the creature's frustration with his situation.
Knowlege shows the creature how much of an outcast he is form 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
Discuss how the Turk 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.
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.
Where does Victor travel and why does he go there?
leaves Geneva, heads to Mediterranean Sea, boards a ship bound for the Black Sea; journeys north through Russia and to the Arctic circle, searches for the creature, out for his revenge
Discuss how the monster feels now that Victor is dead.
mourns Victor, regrets hurting him, monster says it hurt him to murder Victor's friends and 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 French.
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.
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.
Summarize what Victor does at night after Justine's trial once the rest of his family has gone to bed.
He takes the boat onto the lake and ponders suicide.
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 alcherny 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 what Victor mistakenly believes when he tells Ernest, "The murdered discovered! Good God! How can that be? Who could attempt to pursue him? It is impossible; one might as well try to overtake the winds, or confine a mountain stream with straw."
He believes that his family knows the monster killed William, and that they have captured the monster.
Describe how Victor's dream takes on the mood of a horror story.
He dreams that he sees and kisses Elizabeth. Elizabeh then changes to his dead mother who starts to decay in his arms.
Discuss the meaning of Victor telling his father, "A thousand times would I have shed my own blood, drop by drop, to have saved their lives; but I could not, my father, indeed I could not sacrifice the whole human race"(184)
He feels responsible for the murders and would sacrifice his life to stop them. He would not, however, create another monster which could harm more humans in order to give in the male creature's demands
Explain how Victor responds to William's and Justine's death.
He gets really depressed and extremely remorseful; unable to sleep nad wants to be alone.
Describe why the creature chooses to kill William.
He hopes the little boy will be his friend, the boy wants to get away, revealing who he is, a Frankenstein. The creature kills him as a way to get back at Victor.
How does Victor react when his creations comes to life?
He is disgusted and runs screaming from the room.
Explain how Victor reacts to Henry Clerval's arrival in Ingolstadt.
He is thrilled to see Henry Clerval. It's almost manic. He jumps on furniture and runs around in excitement.
Why does Victor claim he is suffering worse than the accused, Justine?
He states that he is worse off because he is plagued by guilt and remorse because he created the monster.
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. It was said that he was an enemy because of his religion and nothing else. Upon hearing this, Felix became enraged and vowed to help the Turk escape. In return, the Turk offered wealth, but Felix saw Safie and though that she would be a good reward.
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.
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.
Examine how Safie sought to reject the cultural expectations places on her.
She wants to marry a Christian, as she was taught Christanity by her mother, and live independently and make her own decisions. She does not want to live in a harem without any rights.
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.
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.
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 woman creature alone.
Describe the DeLacey's family background.
The DeLaceys are a well to do, highly respected family in Paris. Felix served his country, and Agatha moved throughout high society.
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 first 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.
Discuss how the creature learns from the family.
The creature learns about family relationships, kindness, speech, music, and reading by observing the family.
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.
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.
Generalize how the creature thinks the DeLacey family will respond to his advances.
The creature thinks the DeLacey family will be kind and compassionate, overlooking his hideous deformities.
What does the creature promise to do after he leaves Walton's ship?
The creature's revenge plot is fulfilled and so he is going to go farther north to die alone.
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.
Specify 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
Describe how the monster is with Victor on his wedding night.
The monster murders Victor's bride on her wedding night. After Victor recovers from discovering her, the monster, with a jeering grin on his face, points at her body then escapes through the window
Explain what occurs when the creature meets the DeLacey family.
The older man listens to the creature and is kind to him. When Felix, Safie, and Agatha return home to find the creature, Felix chases the creature out of the cottage.
Formulate how Victor's selection of the Orkney Islands mirrors his feelings about the task he plans to complete there.
They 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.
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.
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 and longs to die
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 leave society and pursue the monster wherever he may go, and kill him when he finds him
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 an entire race of monsters
Describe Victor's childhood.
Victor enjoys an idyllic childhood and is doted on by his parents as they travel throughout Europe.
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.
Deduce what Victor means when he states,"Chance-or rather the evil influence, the Angel of Destruction, which asserted omnipotent sway over me from the moment I turned my reluctant steps from my father's door..."
Victor is destined for evil- his destiny was to have the Angel of Destruction decide his future.
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).
Describe how Victor views the process of creating a female creature.
Victor views the process "like the torture of single drops of water continually falling on the head"
Explain how the creature plans to stay abreast of Victor's progress.
Watch him and reappear when the female 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 ligthtning 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
How does William die?
William was either strangled or his neck was broken- a fingerprint was found on his neck.
Generalize the creature's state of mind and how he views humans while on his journey to the arctic.
creature is obsessed with tormenting Victor and views humans as enemies. He does not hesitate to frighten or steal from people while on his journey
Infer the creature's meaning when he tells Victor, "My reign is not yet over...you live, and my power is complete"(202)
creature knows he is in control of the hourney and the "game" since Victor has to endure so much hardship to find the creature. While Victor pursues him, the creature is in charge and holds power over Victor
Summarize why the townspeople think Victor is the murderer.
he showed up in town around the time the murder in a boat similar to the one spotted near the crime scene
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.
Discuss Victor's emotional response to his acquittal.
he wishes to be taken back to his innocent childhood years, Victor is depressed and suicidal because he hold's himself responsible for the murder
Summarize the situation aboard Walton's ship with his crew.
stuck between ice floes, crew wants to turn around and head south, Walton fears mutiny aboard his ship
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.
Who does Walton find with Victor?
the monster with Victor's dead body
