Paper 2 Graphic Organizer
Question: Referring to two works you have studied, compare and contrast the ways in
which they show the main characters overcoming limitation.
Deconstruct the question
Key focus of the essay – “overcoming limitation”
Who? – the main character or characters
“The ways in which they show” – this refers, implicitly, to the author’s choices
Obvious, but good to remember – how are they similar and how are they different
(compare and contrast both content and choices)
Create a Graphic Organizer
Literary Work #1: Frankenstein
What limitations are
overcome?
Challenging traditional
conventions through
narrative structure and
character perspectives
Transcending scientific and
ethical boundaries
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Example(s)?
Example:
The story is presented
through multiple layers of
storytelling, including Captain
Walton's letters, Victor's
narrative, and the Creature's
perspective.
Captain Walton's interactions
with Victor and the Creature
provide different viewpoints
on the themes of ambition,
responsibility, and the pursuit
of knowledge.
Example:
Victor Frankenstein defies
traditional scientific and
ethical boundaries by delving
into the realm of creating life.
His ambition leads him to
pursue knowledge and
scientific discovery beyond
the limits of conventional
wisdom.
How does the author show this?
What choices demonstrate the
limitation being overcome?
Mary Shelley challenges
conventional narrative structures
by employing a frame narrative
technique.
Through diverse character
perspectives, readers gain insights
into the moral and philosophical
dimensions of the story.
Mary Shelley depicts Victor
Frankenstein as a character who
pushes the boundaries of
scientific exploration and ethical
responsibility. Victor's relentless
pursuit of knowledge and his
ambition to create life
demonstrate his willingness to
challenge established norms and
conventions.
Overcoming social rejection
and isolation
Confronting the
consequences of hubris and
ambition
Example:
The Creature in
"Frankenstein" faces profound
social rejection and isolation
due to his grotesque
appearance, which limits his
ability to form meaningful
connections and relationships
with others. The Creature
demonstrates resilience and a
desire for companionship
through his interactions with
the De Lacey family. He learns
to read and speak by
observing them, showcasing
his intelligence and capacity
for emotional connection.
Example:
Victor's confrontation with
the Creature in the Arctic
highlights his journey of
realisation and moral
reckoning. Despite his initial
reluctance to take
responsibility for his creation,
Victor ultimately confronts
the consequences of his
actions and seeks redemption.
Shelley demonstrates the
Creature's pursuit of knowledge,
language acquisition, and
attempts to integrate into human
society. Shelley's choice to give
the Creature a voice and
perspective allows readers to
empathise with his plight and
understand the complexities of
his character.
Shelley's portrayal of Victor's
inner turmoil and moral struggle
highlights the complexities of
human nature and the
consequences of ambition.
Through the consequences of his
actions, internal struggle, and
quest for redemption, Shelley
showcases Victor's transformation
into someone who confronts the
consequences and seeks
redemption.
Literary Work #2: The Penelopiad
What limitations are
overcome?
Overcoming patriarchal
constraints
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Example(s)?
Example:
Despite societal expectations
of female passivity, Penelope
demonstrates resourcefulness
and cunning in navigating the
challenges she faces.
How does the author show this?
What choices demonstrate the
limitation being overcome?
Through Penelope's narrative voice
and inner thoughts, Atwood
reveals her strength and
complexity as a character.
Atwood's choice to give Penelope
a voice and perspective allows
Penelope's ability to outwit
the suitors and maintain
control over her own destiny
showcases her agency and
challenges traditional gender
roles.
The maids asserting their
narrative agency
Redefining marital dynamics
Subverting traditional
narratives
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Example:
Through their collective
narrative, the maids challenge
the patriarchal power
structures that silenced them
and assert their own voices in
the retelling of the myth. By
recounting their own version
of events and offering insights
into their experiences, the
maids reclaim agency and
humanity.
Example:
Penelope's skepticism toward
Odysseus's authority and her
refusal to blindly accept his
return challenge traditional
notions of marital obedience
and submission. She asserts
her independence and
questions the power dynamics
within their relationship.
Example:
Atwood's subversion of
traditional myths and retelling
of "The Odyssey" from
Penelope's perspective
challenges the male-centric
narratives that have
dominated Western
literature.
readers to empathise with her
situation and understand the
oppressive nature of ancient Greek
society. Through Penelope's story,
Atwood critiques patriarchal
structures and prompts readers to
question the power dynamics
inherent in gender relations.
Atwood's choice to foreground the
maids' narrative agency serves as a
powerful commentary on the
exploitation and oppression faced
by marginalized groups throughout
history. By amplifying their voices,
Atwood empowers the maids to
reclaim their agency and assert
their humanity.
Atwood portrays Penelope as a
character who is not defined solely
by her relationship with Odysseus
but who asserts her own identity
and agency. Penelope's refusal to
conform to traditional gender roles
disrupts conventional narratives of
marital obedience and submission.
Atwood's exploration of
Penelope's relationship with
Odysseus prompts readers to
reconsider traditional notions of
power dynamics within marriage.
By foregrounding Penelope's voice
and experiences, Atwood offers an
alternative interpretation of the
myth that empowers marginalized
characters and disrupts
conventional storytelling
conventions. Atwood prompts
readers to question the reliability
of traditional narratives and
consider whose voices have been
excluded from history. Atwood's
choice to retell "The Odyssey"
from Penelope's perspective
serves as a powerful critique of
patriarchal storytelling
conventions and offers a feminist
reinterpretation of classical
literature.
Compare and contrast the content (“overcoming limitations” AND the author’s choices)
Similarities – in content
What’s similar in terms of the limitations (the content)?
Both novels explore the theme of narrative agency and the empowerment of marginalized voices.
In "Frankenstein," the Creature's perspective challenges the dominant narrative constructed by
Victor Frankenstein, while in "The Penelopiad," the maids reclaim their story and assert their voices
in the retelling of the myth. Both narratives foreground the experiences of marginalized characters
and offer alternative perspectives on familiar tales.
Victor Frankenstein in "Frankenstein" and Odysseus in "The Penelopiad" confront ethical dilemmas
and the consequences of their actions. Victor's reckless pursuit of scientific knowledge and
Odysseus's deceitful tactics raise questions about moral responsibility and the limits of human
ambition. Both characters grapple with the repercussions of their choices, highlighting the
complexities of moral decision-making.
Both novels examine power dynamics and the struggle for control within patriarchal societies. In
"Frankenstein," Victor Frankenstein's creation of the Creature represents an exertion of power over
life and death, while the Creature's desire for agency and recognition challenges Victor's authority.
Similarly, in "The Penelopiad," Penelope confronts power dynamics within her marriage to
Odysseus and struggles against societal expectations of female submission. The maids, marginalized
and voiceless, highlight the abuse of power by those in authority. Both narratives interrogate the
nature of power and its impact on individuals and society.
Similarities – in choices
What’s similar in terms of the author’s choices?
Both authors employ unconventional narrative perspectives to tell their stories. In "Frankenstein,"
Shelley utilises a frame narrative, where multiple narrators recount the events from their own
perspectives, adding layers of complexity to the story. Similarly, Atwood adopts a non-linear
narrative structure in "The Penelopiad," weaving together Penelope's first-person narrative with
interludes from the maids, providing diverse viewpoints on the events.
Shelley and Atwood both engage with classical mythology and reimagine familiar tales from
alternative perspectives. "Frankenstein" offers a reinterpretation of the Prometheus myth, where
© Tim Pruzinsky, InThinking 2023
www.thinkib.net/englishlanglit
www.englishalanglit-inthinking.co.uk
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Victor Frankenstein assumes the role of the ambitious creator defying the natural order. Likewise,
"The Penelopiad" revisits Homer's "The Odyssey" from the viewpoint of Penelope and the maids,
challenging traditional narratives and highlighting the experiences of marginalized characters.
Both novels explore themes of identity, agency, and the consequences of human ambition. Shelley
delves into questions of scientific ethics, the pursuit of knowledge, and the nature of humanity in
"Frankenstein." Atwood examines themes of gender dynamics, power structures, and the
reclamation of narrative agency in "The Penelopiad." Despite their differing contexts and settings,
both authors grapple with fundamental questions about the human condition and society.
Differences – in content
What’s different in terms of the limitation (the content)?
In "Frankenstein," the limitations faced by characters often revolve around the pursuit of
knowledge, the consequences of scientific ambition, and the ethical dilemmas associated with
creation and existence.
In contrast, "The Penelopiad" explores limitations related to societal expectations, gender roles,
and the abuse of power within patriarchal structures.
In "Frankenstein," explores the consequences of Victor's actions and the Creature's quest for
acceptance and belonging.
"The Penelopiad" amplifies marginalized voices and explores the experiences of women who have
been silenced or overlooked in the original myth.
"Frankenstein" is set against the backdrop of early 19th-century Europe, reflecting the cultural and
scientific developments of the Romantic era. The novel engages with the impact of
industrialisation on society.
"The Penelopiad" draws inspiration from ancient Greek mythology and is situated within the
context of classical literature and culture. The novel reimagines familiar myths from a
contemporary feminist perspective, offering insights into the lives of women in ancient Greece and
challenging traditional interpretations of classical literature.
Differences – in choices
What’s different in terms of the author’s choices?
Mary Shelley employs a frame narrative structure in "Frankenstein," where the story is presented
through multiple layers of storytelling, including Captain Walton's letters and Victor Frankenstein's
narrative. Margaret Atwood adopts a more straightforward narrative style in "The Penelopiad,"
with Penelope serving as the primary narrator. Atwood's narrative style is more fragmented and
nonlinear compared to Shelley's structured approach.
In "Frankenstein," Mary Shelley delves deeply into the psychology and motivations of characters
like Victor Frankenstein and the Creature. In "The Penelopiad," Margaret Atwood focuses on
character-driven storytelling, offering nuanced portrayals of characters like Penelope and the
maids.
"Frankenstein" explores themes of scientific ethics, the nature of humanity, and the pursuit of
knowledge, reflecting the cultural and intellectual concerns of the Romantic era. The novel raises
questions about the moral responsibilities of creators and the consequences of playing god. "The
Penelopiad" examines themes of gender dynamics, agency, and narrative representation, offering
© Tim Pruzinsky, InThinking 2023
www.thinkib.net/englishlanglit
www.englishalanglit-inthinking.co.uk
inthinking.co.u
a feminist reinterpretation of classical mythology. Atwood's novel critiques patriarchal norms and
challenges traditional portrayals of women in ancient literature, highlighting the resilience and
complexity of female characters.
© Tim Pruzinsky, InThinking 2023
www.thinkib.net/englishlanglit
www.englishalanglit-inthinking.co.uk
inthinking.co.u