Frankenstei
n,
or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley (1818)
Written when Mary Shelley was 18, the novel is the product of
a dare. After traveling throughout Europe, she found herself at the
castle of her future husband Percy Bysshe Shelley, where gathered
late one night, several friends challenged each other to write a great
horror story. Shelley dreamed of an eccentric scientist who created a
grotesque creature, and the dream evolved into the novel.
Considered a Gothic Horror novel (a new genre at the time) with features of Romance and
Science Fiction, the story touches on real medical experiments, scientific discovery, and inventions of
the time, but also includes family relationships, a love story, and the painful themes of loss, destruction,
grief, and abandonment.
The story is broken into several parts:
 Captain Walton’s Frame Story: Captain Robert Walton writes letters to his sister at the beginning
and end, framing the story of Victor Frankenstein. As a failed writer, Walton has set out to explore
the North Pole and recognizes parallels in his pursuits and those of Victor Frankenstein.
 Victor Frankenstein’s narrative: Victor tells his own story from a childhood in a wealthy Geneva,
(Switzerland) family to his academic career at the University of Ingolstadt in Germany. Compelled
by pride, fear, grief, and ego, Victor creates a monster he hopes to be perfect, but is ultimately
hideous. Repulsed by the Monster, Victor casts him out into the world, throwing away his creation.
 The unnamed Monster tells his own story as well. Teaching himself to be literate and
compassionate, the monster reveals himself to be more humane than Victor but he’s hunted and
haunted by his past.
CHARACTERS
Victor Frankenstein
The Monster
Robert Walton
Elizabeth Lavenza
Henry Clerval
Justine Moritz
William Frankenstein
Caroline Beaufort
Professor Waldman
Professor Krempe
The novel & film contain many big ideas or themes… take notes on what
you notice in the film as you watch so you have specific examples for your
assignment.
Dangerous Knowledge: can you ever know too much? are there some things you should avoid?
The Tragic Hero: good guy with every advantage screws up his life and we watch him fail and destroy
everything around him (schadenfreude!)
What is monstrous? What is wrong, ugly, hideous?
What is good? What is honest, kind, humane?
Sickness and health
Fear as motivation (good and bad)
Exploration / Being the First
Pride, Ego, Ambition
Others?