Frankenstein ch. 11-20 critical analysis – Flashcards
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what technique does Shelley employ to provide the reader with the creature's story?
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frame story // dialogue
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trace the levels of narration Shelley has established to tell this story.
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Creature to Frankenstein to Walton to Margret (Walton's sister)
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how does the creature describe his first days of life?
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rough, miserable, full of new experiences, lonely, cold, confusing, scary
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how does the creature respond to fire?
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fascinated by the light and warmth but gets upset and sad when it burns him // curiosity (wants to learn & fit in)
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how are the creature's early days different from Victor's early days?
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Victor: filled with love and appreciation Creature: hatred and misery
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what effect does the creature's speech have on the reader? why did Shelley write it for that purpose?
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science -> smart: Creature reflects who he was created from // show how different he is from society
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why is the creature confused to see his cottagers crying?
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he thought they were happy because they had everything
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why does the creature work so hard to learn their language? what does that reveal about his character?
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wants to know their language because he wants to become friends with them // thinks that they'll look past his appearance
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what does the creature say he discovers about himself? what feelings does this discovery cause?
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discovers how ugly & deformed he truly looks // gets him upset and sad // this motivates the creature to try harder
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why is the creature's appearance relevant? what "science" is Shelley discrediting?
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people judge others based on looks // she's discrediting physiology
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what evidence does Shelley provide of the creature's innate goodness?
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the Creature gathered wood for the cottagers so they didn't have to work as hard
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what is typically Romantic in the final paragraph of chapter 12?
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Creature's spirits are uplifted in beautiful spring // nature cheers him up
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how are the creature's first words similar to the typical first words of human babies?
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babies learn words by listening & watching // Creature was learning by watching cottagers
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based on what you've read so far, do you anticipate the cottagers will accept the creature? why or why not?
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no because they'll get scared of him because of us horrifying appearance
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why does Shelley end Chapter 12 on an apparently optimistic note?
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writes this as some relief for the readers but means something bad will happen next
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explain the 2nd sentence of this chapter: "I shall relate events that impressed me with feelings which... have made me what I am".
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"everything that is about to happen in the story has made me who I am at this very moment" // learns how to feel
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what practical purpose does the beautiful stranger serve?
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helps creature learn the new language
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why does the creature call the cottagers his "protectors"?
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helping the Creature learn more about life // learning how to fit in
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what paradox does the creature see in humankind through his study of human history?
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powerful people can become vicious
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in what way does his study of human society make him what eventually becomes?
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reading the war books // war -> evil
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what is the primary disadvantage of the creature's "education"?
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has no one to share his lessons with // wants to learn more just like Frankenstein did (& Walton)
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in view of the trial of Safie's father in chapter 14, and Justine's trial earlier, what is Shelley's opinion of the courts in that era?
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thinks the courts were corrupt and unfair
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how is Safie a feminist character?
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felt that women should be allowed to do what they want // went against her father's will & married a Christian (Felix) // travels alone to find Felix
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what plot exposition is revealed in chapter 14?
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more of Safie's backstory // family was exiled
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what is the character of Safie's father? how is he a foil to Safie, and to Victor's own father?
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Safie & Victor's father: stickler for the rules and love tradition // both didn't agree with their children's life decisions
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what is revealed about the creature's character very early in chapter 15?
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becoming more revengeful and evil-minded
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how does the creature feel about the "Sorrows of Werter"? in what way is he different from the characters in the book?
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saddened him // characters have someone to lean on while the Creature has no one to share anything with // remind him of cottagers (noble characters)
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what is the creature's reaction to "Paradise Lost"? according to the creature, how is he both similar to and dissimilar from Adam?
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upset and disappointed him (ab Frankenstein) // Adam had Eve ~ Creature has no one // longs for connection & compassion
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why couldn't the creature fully sympathize with the character's in Milton's book?
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not truly human // has no backstory
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what does the creature find in his pocket? how does it make him feel?
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finds Victor's journals from when he started creating the Creature // makes the creature angry
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what happens when the creature introduces himself to the cottagers?
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approaches blind man but Felix & women come in // women run away while Felix starts beating the creature
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why doesn't the creature kill itself after this incident?
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plans to visit the blind man one more time // has hope that humanity will accept him
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what evidence is there that the creature is still essentially good despite this momentous disappointment?
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could've killed Felix while he was beating him but didn't // could've burned the cottage to the ground WITH the cottagers inside but didn't
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what does the creature decide to do? what is his new plan?
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plans to visit blind man one more time
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what happens that makes the creature finally despair?
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the cottagers fled because they were scared of him
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why does the creature decide to go to Geneva? how have these horrible circumstances changed him?
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wants to find Victor // feels rejected & isolated
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why does the creature ask for a mate?
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doesn't want to be lonely anymore // can't find companionship (just like Walton & Frankenstein @ the beginning)
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what, according to the creature, is the cause of his wickedness? what will be the remedy?
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loneliness & abandonment from Victor // a companion
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what does Victor suggest is a creator's obligation to his creation?
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attempt to make him happy
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follow victor's and the creature's lines of reasoning in their debate over the creation of the companion. whose reasoning is most sound?
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Victor's reasoning is the most sound // looking out for humanity (& himself)~doesn't want to create another creature because he doesn't want even more death on his guilty conscience
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why does victor refuse to make a female monster? do you feel he is justified in his refusal?
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afraid they'll become more evil together // justified in his refusal because he doesn't want any more horror and death in his life
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what is the "sympathy" that the creature longs for?
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someone to understand how he feels
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what is different about his solitude at the beginning of chapter 18?
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finding more peace in his solitude // not completely involved // not into it like 1st creation
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what does victor's father think is the cause of victor's present anxiety?
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father thinks he's in love with someone else
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what are some of the reasons victor feels he must go to England to complete his task?
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wants to keep the evil as far away from his family as possible
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describe victor's feelings as he journeys through England
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stressed out & overwhelmed
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what does victor say about his childhood in chapter 19?
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he was able to find peace and calmness in nature
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what is victor's big fear in delaying his trip?
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afraid the creature will get upset and go on a killing rampage // knows he needs to finish monster
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why would the Romantic Mary Shelley call the English Civil War "the most animating epoch of English history"?
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Romantics during this time were into the power of emotion in the human experience
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what style of literature describes the place where victor begins to work in Scotland? why?
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Gothicism // isolating himself again & everything is dark and gloomy
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how is his creation of this monster different from the first?
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1st: all new and exciting events // wanted to do it 2nd: extremely anxious and dreading the second creation
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4 reasons why victor changes his mind about making the second creature
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hate each other reproduce scared and/or unsatisfied with the unknown she'll be even more evil than him
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what opinion does victor have of his creation?
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thinks his creation is a wicked demon
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what';s your reaction to the creature's speech? do you agree with him at all? do you think victor has treated him fairly?
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feel bad for the creature but doesn't deserve a mate because of all the evil he's caused // hasn't treated him entirely fair
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what does the creature threaten when victor destroys the mate?
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that he'll be @ victor's wedding
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what is the "calmness" victor finds after the monster storms away?
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grief and sadness that takes over //taking time to accept death
