EIII Frankenstein Syllabus
April 2012
Day One
CW: Test on 17th / 18th Century Poetry unit
HW: Read in Frankenstein: Author’s Introduction v-x, Letters 1-4 (p. 1-14)
Day Two
CW: Finish Test; Frame story, Walton's adventures, introduce theme passages
SPRING BREAK WOOHOOOOO
HW: Read Chapters I-X (p. 14-70); Find five theme passages
Day Three
CW: Frankenstein’s character; The making of a scientist, Comparisons: Walton
and Victor
HW: Vocab Units 15&16
Day Four
CW: Review Vocab; Romantic/Gothic Qualities
HW: Chapters XI – XIV (p. 70 – 90), two theme passages
Day Five
CW: The Monster’s Story, Part I
HW: Read chapters XV-XVII (90-108) , two theme passages
Day Six
CW: The Monster’s demands
HW: Read chapters XVIII-XX (108-127), two theme passages
Day Seven
CW: Vocab quiz; Frankenstein's decision
HW: Read chapters XXI-XXIV (127-155), two theme passages
Day Eight
CW: The wedding; Discuss themes
HW: Read final letters (155-166), two theme passage
Day Nine
CW: Themes; Practice passage analysis
HW: Test preparation
Day Ten
CW: Frankenstein essay test
Frankenstein Themes Worksheet
As you read Mary Shelley’s novel, take note of the following themes and topics. Use marginal notes to keep
track of the topics as you read. Identify by the end of the story at least one quotation for each subpoint.
To receive full credit you must:
 Identify the page number and chapter for each passage, write out completely the selected quote.
 Do not use “This quote shows….”, “This passage reflects…” or any other type of language.
 Must be in the order presented below.
 Provide a minimum two sentence identification (analysis) of how the passage displays the theme.
This should not be a simple paraphrasing or synopsis of the quote.
You will submit your work at the end of the unit. You will have a total of fifteen quotations, one for each
passage and two bonus quotations.
A. Victor Frankenstein:
1. Victor Frankenstein’s achievements; successes
2. Victor Frankenstein’s moral / ethical failures
B. The creature:
1. The creature’s humanity: his education, his desires, his
intelligence and emotions – How does the creature learn?
2. The causes of the creature’s violence
3. Society’s perceptions of and reactions to the creature
C. The quest for knowledge:
1. The dangers and responsibilities involved with creation and
discovery (and the Prometheus myth)
2. The dangers and limits of scientific knowledge
3. The dangers of overstepping mortal and/or moral boundaries,
of “playing God”
D. Relationships:
1. Parent-child relationships and responsibilities
2. The need for human relationships, for friends, family, spouse
3. Qualities of humans: the divisions between reason and emotion,
between intelligence and feeling – What makes a living creature human?
E. Literary qualities:
1. Gothic qualities in the novel
2. Romantic qualities in the novel