1. Frankenstein English 12 Acc. Dilback

2. Dark Romanticism: AKA Gothic Gothic Elements Imagination leading to the unknown (dark regions of the mind where the fantastic, demonic, and insane reside) Individual = potential evil (Poe) The Darkness of the Supernatural Focus on nature (stems from romanticism) Haunted or creepy settings Gloomy and dreary mood Elem. of Gothic Novel Setting in a Castle Atmosphere=mystery and suspense Ancient prophecy Omens, portents, visions Supernatural/Inexplicable events High, even overwrought emotion Women in distress Women threatened by a powerful, impulsive, tyrannical male Metonymy of gloom and horror Vocab. of gothic (mystery, fear, terror, sorrow, surprise, haste, anger, largeness) Nature

3. Background Written at the age of 18 Mary Shelley and her husband, famous poet, Percy Shelley spent summer 1826 in Geneva, Switzerland Friends/neighbors with Lord Byron, visiting during fierce storm Passed time by telling ghost stories, Mary Shelley initially unable to think of anything Mary Shelley has a dream which inspires her tale In dream, she sees a “student of [the] unhallowed arts” kneeling beside a hideous corpse and, with help of a powerful machine, bringing the horrible creature to life Begins writing feverishly to tell her ghost story Published one year later

4. Background Cont. Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus Linked to the Greek myth of the char., Prometheus, who was punished by Zeus for stealing fire from Mt. Olympus and giving it to humankind. As punishment, Zeus chained him to a rock and each night renewed the liver that a vulture ate during the day Used her story to reexamine the idea of Prometheus as a heroic rebel by considering the dangers of unchecked ambition Victor Frankenstein’s fate was to be offered as a warning to those who glorified science and its demystifying, rational powers. Source: A Guide to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

5. Opening Letters Begins as a “frame story” (a tale within a tale)/Egg Illustration English Explorer and seafarer, Robert Walton, sets out on a voyage to the North Pole He has a burning passion to do something no man has ever done before—travel to the North Pole. He writes a series of letters to his sister, Margaret Saville, telling her of his preparations for the departure and his mental well-being, and lack thereof due to loneliness. Longs to find a friend with whom to share his dreams (not like that he could find in his shipmates). 3 rd letter tells that his ship has set sail, and he is confident that his dream will be achieved. We will now begin reading with the 4 th Letter.