WRITING WORKSHOP
Exploring Promethean Traits
in Frankenstein
Common Core Standards
Extended Response
© 2012 Wendy O’Sullivan dba High Yield Lessons
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FRANKENSTEIN
A N ALY ZI NG P ROM E TH EAN T RA I T S I N ROBE RT WALTON
Before today, we have reviewed what makes
a person a promethean, read the Letters in
Frankenstein, and discussed Robert Walton
and his exhibition of promethean traits; you
should be prepared to write a literary analysis
response on this topic.
This workshop will guide you through the first
steps necessary in writing a response, and
then you will practice writing part of the
extended response on your own.
UNIVERSAL RULES OF
LITERARY ANALYSIS WRITING
As we begin writing, keep in mind
these mandatory writing rules for
literary analysis writing:
It must be written in
PRESENT TENSE!
It must be written in
THIRD PERSON!
DO NOT USE:
I, ME, WE, YOU, YOUR, ETC.
THE WRITING PROMPT
THE PROMPT
In a well-developed extended
response (3 – 4 paragraphs),
using specific textual evidence,
explain and analyze why
Robert Walton reveals his
promethean ambitions to
Victor Frankenstein.
WRITING THE
INTRODUCTION
WRITING THE INTRODUCTION
Examine the prompt:
Why does Robert Walton reveal his
promethean ambitions to Victor Frankenstein?
Note: This is an “extended response” assignment,
which means you will only be writing 3 – 4
paragraphs; you are not writing a lengthy essay.
So, the introduction information should be brief
and to the point. It should respond directly to the
prompt and move quickly to your claim.
WRITING THE INTRODUCTION
Why does Robert Walton reveal his
promethean ambitions to Victor Frankenstein?
 On a scratch piece of paper, BRAINSTORM!
 How can you introduce this topic? What is it asking you to talk
about? What details could you begin with in your response?
 The prompt asks you to talk about promethean ambitions,
so perhaps you could jot down notes about promethean traits.






Follows the “thief of fire”: Prometheus
Impatient with limitations
Universe is withholding
Elitist
Lonely, difficult journey
Suffers punishment for their actions
WRITING THE INTRODUCTION
Why does Robert Walton reveal his
promethean ambitions to Victor Frankenstein?
 Now that you have some notes on promethean
ambitions, BRAINSTORM how this topic applies to the
prompt. Then, turn the brainstorm into an introduction
of the topic.
 Example Introduction (please record on your handout):
 Just as Prometheus suffered isolation and punishment for
his actions, any follower of the “thief of fire” is also
destined for a life of solitary despair.
WRITING THE INTRODUCTION
 Introduction Continued:
 Now that you have introduced the topic, we need to begin to
connect it to the prompt and the claim statement.
 Just as Prometheus suffered isolation and punishment for his
actions, any follower of the “thief of fire” is also destined for a
life of solitary despair.
 BRAINSTORM: How can we connect this information and relate it to
Robert Walton?




Walton is on a “promethean quest”
He feels isolated and lonely
He is trapped physically (by the ice)
He is trapped mentally/spiritually (doesn’t have a friend)
 Turn that brainstorm into a transition sentence from the introduction
to the claim statement: (Record the following on your handout)
 After pursuing his own promethean quest for years, Robert
Walton struggles with the solitary confinement of his mind,
body, and soul. His promethean ambitions have isolated him .
WRITING THE
CLAIM STATEMENT
WRITING THE CLAIM
 Now that you have introduced the topic, you need to write
your claim statement. What will you prove is true?
 Why does Robert Walton reveal his promethean
ambitions to Victor Frankenstein?
 BRAINSTORM answers to the prompt.
 He wants a friend who will understand his quest.
 Many men on the ship with him but he feels alone.
 After he meets Frankenstein he begins to love him like
a brother.
 He thinks Frankenstein is an amazing man.
 He thinks that Frankenstein will understand him.
WRITING THE CLAIM
 Next, take the brainstorming and turn it into a claim
statement.
 If you had to completely and thoroughly answer the
prompt in only one sentence, what would your
“answer” be?
 Remember: Your claim statement must respond to
the prompt and be the anchor that controls the entire
argument.
 The following is a claim statement that I have created
as an example for you. (Please Remember: Writing is unique
to the writer. So, do not think of this as the “correct” or “right”
answer to the prompt. There can be many ways to respond to this
prompt. This is just one of those ways.)
 Please record the claim statement on your paper.
CLAIM STATEMENT
Why does Robert Walton reveal his promethean ambitions:
Answer: He is lonely and desperately desires a friend who will
understand and appreciate his ambitions.
Why does he choose Victor Frankenstein?
Answer: He is fascinated by Victor and believes that he is the one
best suited to understand him and be his friend.
CLAIM STATEMENT: (Record on your handout)
He is lonely and desperately desires a friend
who will understand and appreciate his
journey, and he believes he has found that
friend in Victor Frankenstein.
EXTENDED RESPONSE: PARAGRAPH 1
Just as Prometheus suffered isolation and
punishment for his actions, any follower of the
“thief of fire” is also destined for a life of solitary
despair. After pursuing his own promethean
quest for years, Robert Walton struggles with the
solitary confinement of his mind, body, and soul.
His promethean ambitions have isolated him.
He is lonely and desperately desires a friend who
will understand and appreciate his journey, and
he believes he has found that friend in Victor
Frankenstein.
SELECTING &
ABRIDGING
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
STEP ONE: FINDING EVIDENCE
 Textual evidence must be used to support your
claim, but you must be careful not to let the
evidence make the argument for you.
 The evidence helps you to prove that your claim is
true, and it gives credibility to your argument.
 You must carefully select evidence which will
support your response to the prompt.
 Review your text and notes to locate the best
passages.
Highlight, mark, or record the best passages.
 For this practice, we will use the passages already
selected. Use your handout as a guide.
STEP TWO: ABRIDGING EVIDENCE
 After you have located and selected your supporting
passages, you should abridge them.
 Try to avoid using long passages as much as possible.
 When you use lengthy passages, you are letting the
author make the argument for you.
 You want to use evidence to help support your writing
and your ideas, not to let it “speak for itself.”
 When you abridge the passages, you will narrow them
down to the most necessary, relevant, and accurate
parts to support your claim.
 The final selected and abridged evidence should be the
BEST evidence you can find to support your claim.
PASSAGE #1
 “But I have one want which I have never yet been
able to satisfy; and the absence of the object of
which I now feel as a most severe evil. I have no
friend, Margaret: when I am glowing with the
enthusiasm of success, there will be none to
participate my joy; if I am assailed by
disappointment, no one will endeavour to sustain me
in dejection. I shall commit my thoughts to paper, it
is true; but that is a poor medium for the
communication of feeling. I desire the company of a
man who could sympathise with me; whose eyes
would reply to mine” (19).
TASK #1
Using your handout, take a moment now to
look at the chosen passage again carefully.
What portions stand out to you as the most
important in supporting the claim?
Because you cannot include the entire quote in
your evidence, select only the best parts of it.
Please highlight or underline the portions of
the evidence that you believe can BEST be
used to support the claim statement.
PASSAGE #1
Samples of abridged evidence is given
on the following slide. Note, your
selections may be different from these.
That does not mean yours are wrong;
they are just different.
Note: The abridged evidence should go
to the “heart” of supporting the claim.
Do you believe it does? Why or why not?
PASSAGE #1
 “But I have one want which I have never yet been
able to satisfy; and the absence of the object of
which I now feel as a most severe evil. I have no
friend, Margaret: when I am glowing with the
enthusiasm of success, there will be none to
participate my joy; if I am assailed by
disappointment, no one will endeavour to sustain me
in dejection. I shall commit my thoughts to paper, it
is true; but that is a poor medium for the
communication of feeling. I desire the company of a
man who could sympathise with me; whose eyes
would reply to mine” (19).
PASSAGE #2
“My affection for my guest increases every
day. He excites at once my admiration and my
pity to an astonishing degree. How can I see
so noble a creature destroyed by misery,
without feeling the most poignant grief? He is
so gentle, yet so wise; his mind is so
cultivated, and when he speaks, although his
words are culled with the choicest art, yet they
flow with rapidity and unparalleled eloquence”
(28 – 29).
TASK #2
Using your handout, take a moment now to
look at the chosen passage again carefully.
What portions stand out to you as the most
important in supporting the claim?
Because you cannot include the entire quote in
your evidence, select only the best parts of it.
Please highlight or underline the portions of
the evidence that you believe can BEST be
used to support the claim statement.
PASSAGE #2
Samples of abridged evidence is given
on the following slide. Note, your
selections may be different from these.
That does not mean yours are wrong;
they are just different.
Note: The abridged evidence should go
to the “heart” of supporting the claim.
Do you believe it does? Why or why not?
PASSAGE #2
“My affection for my guest increases every
day. He excites at once my admiration and my
pity to an astonishing degree. How can I see
so noble a creature destroyed by misery,
without feeling the most poignant grief?
He is so gentle, yet so wise; his mind is so
cultivated, and when he speaks, although his
words are culled with the choicest art, yet they
flow with rapidity and unparalleled eloquence”
(28 – 29).
PASSAGE #3
“I was easily led by the sympathy which he
evinced, to use the language of my heart, to
give utterance to the burning ardour of my
soul; and to say, with all the fevour that
warmed me, how gladly I would sacrifice my
fortune, my existence, my every hope, to the
furtherance of my enterprise. One man’s life
or death were but a small price to pay for the
acquirement of the knowledge which I sought
for the dominion I should acquire and transmit
over the elemental foes of our race” (29).
TASK #3
Using your handout, take a moment now to
look at the chosen passage again carefully.
What portions stand out to you as the most
important in supporting the claim?
Because you cannot include the entire quote in
your evidence, select only the best parts of it.
Please highlight or underline the portions of
the evidence that you believe can BEST be
used to support the claim statement.
PASSAGE #3
Samples of abridged evidence is given
on the following slide. Note, your
selections may be different from these.
That does not mean yours are wrong;
they are just different.
Note: The abridged evidence should go
to the “heart” of supporting the claim.
Do you believe it does? Why or why not?
PASSAGE #3
“I was easily led by the sympathy which he
evinced, to use the language of my heart,
to give utterance to the burning ardour of my
soul; and to say, with all the fevour that
warmed me, how gladly I would sacrifice my
fortune, my existence, my every hope, to the
furtherance of my enterprise. One man’s life
or death were but a small price to pay for the
acquirement of the knowledge which I sought
for the dominion I should acquire and transmit
over the elemental foes of our race” (29).
PASSAGE #4
“Sometimes I have endeavored to discover
what quality it is which he possesses, that
elevates him so immeasurably above any
other person I ever knew. I believe it to be an
intuitive discernment; a quick but never-failing
power of judgment; a penetration into the
causes of things, unequalled for clearness and
precision; add to this a facility of expression,
and a voice whose varied intonations are soul subduing music” (30).
TASK #4
Using your handout, take a moment now to
look at the chosen passage again carefully.
What portions stand out to you as the most
important in supporting the claim?
Because you cannot include the entire quote in
your evidence, select only the best parts of it.
Please highlight or underline the portions of
the evidence that you believe can BEST be
used to support the claim statement.
PASSAGE #4
Samples of abridged evidence is given
on the following slide. Note, your
selections may be different from these.
That does not mean yours are wrong;
they are just different.
Note: The abridged evidence should go
to the “heart” of supporting the claim.
Do you believe it does? Why or why not?
PASSAGE #4
“Sometimes I have endeavored to discover
what quality it is which he possesses, that
elevates him so immeasurably above any
other person I ever knew. I believe it to be an
intuitive discernment; a quick but never-failing
power of judgment; a penetration into the
causes of things, unequalled for clearness and
precision; add to this a facility of expression,
and a voice whose varied intonations are soul subduing music” (30).
WRITING THE
SUPPORTING
PARAGRAPHS
PARAGRAPH #2: TOPIC SENTENCE
 CLAIM: He is lonely and desperately desires a friend who will
understand and appreciate his journey, and he believes he has
found that friend in Victor Frankenstein .
 Your topic sentence must respond to and support
your claim statement. It also must control your
paragraph.
 Because this claim has two parts, I will break up
each part into its own paragraph.
 Topic Sentence (please record on your handout):
 Although Robert Walton is completely committed to his ambitions, he
has come to feel that the quest alone is not enough, and he longs for a
friend and companion.
PARAGRAPH #2: PLOT CONTEXT
What is Plot Context?
 Plot context is used to locate the reader in the story
to the evidence that you will use to support your topic
sentence.
 Plot Context is NOT BOOK SUMMARY.
 Plot Context should be brief and relevant to the topic
sentence and the argument you are making.
 Plot Context should let your reader know what is
happening in the story, and it should lead into the
evidence you will be using.
PARAGRAPH #2: PLOT CONTEXT
First, look back at the evidence you have
abridged, and select the best evidence to
support the topic sentence.
Then, you need to give brief background
information to help “locate” the reader in the
story.
For this example, I will begin with evidence
from Passage #1.
As such, I need to “set up” the evidence with
the plot context.
PARAGRAPH #2: PLOT CONTEXT
 PLOT CONTEXT (FOR DIRECT QUOTE INTEGRATION):
In a letter written to his sister, Walton states,
 PLOT CONTEXT (FOR NATURAL QUOTE INTEGRATION):
Walton confesses in a letter written to his sister that
Note: Both of these styles of plot context helps to “set up”
the evidence. They simply let the reader know where we are in the
stor y and what is happening. It gives a foundation for the evidence.
INTEGRATING EVIDENCE
By integrating your evidence, you make
it a part of your writing.
You should never let a quote “stand
alone.” The evidence must support your
argument by becoming a part of it.
Integrating your evidence makes your
argument stronger.
HOW DO YOU INTEGRATE EVIDENCE?
There are two basic techniques
to use when integrating your
evidence. They are:
Direct Quote Integration
Natural Quote Integration
DIRECT QUOTE INTEGRATION
When integrating quotes, you have the
option of using either direct or natural
quote integration.
However you choose to integrate your
quotes, you must make sure that you do it
correctly.
Although there is nothing wrong with using
direct quote integration, when you are
writing a literary analysis, you should use
this type of quote integration sparingly.
DIRECT QUOTE INTEGRATION
INCORRECT QUOTE INTEGRATION:
 Please do not ever do the following:
 Walton writes a letter to his sister. “I have no friend.”
 The above is an example of a “dropped in” quote.
It is not integrated in any way. Do not do this!
CORRECT DIRECT QUOTE INTEGRATION:
 When you use direct quote integration, you will introduce
who is speaking and then state what he or she said.
In a letter written to his sister, Walton
states, “I have no friend” (Shelley 19).
NATURAL QUOTE INTEGRATION
 Because literary analysis is written in the third person
and in present tense, you may need to make changes
to the evidence so that it fits these criteria and works
grammatically with your writing.
 You will use [brackets] to indicate any changes you
make.
 Textual Evidence Example:
 “I desire the company of a man who could sympathize with me;
whose eyes would reply to mine.”
 Natural Quote Integration Example:
 Walden is a promethean who “desire[s] the company of a man
who [can] sympathize with [him]” (19).
NATURAL QUOTE INTEGRATION
 Natural quote integration is the best choice for a
literary analysis because it truly “integrates” the
evidence into your own writing.
 It becomes a part of your argument.
 When you do this correctly, if you did not have
quotation marks surrounding the evidence, you should
not be able to tell the difference between your own
words and those from the text.
 Please continue your paragraph by writing the integrated
evidence on your paper.
 Walton confesses in a letter written to his sister that
his “one want” is to “have [a] friend” who will
“sympathize” with him (19).
HOW & WHY? ANALYZING EVIDENCE
Analysis is the most important part of your
paragraph!
This is where you show your thinking.
This is where you analyze, discuss, and
explain HOW and WHY the chosen evidence
proves your topic sentence (or thesis
statement) is true!
Analysis should be the bulk of your paragraph.
HOW DO YOU WRITE ANALYSIS?
Look at your topic sentence.
Look at your evidence.
Now, ask yourself “how” and “why” questions.
How does “x” relate to “y”?
Why does “a” prove “b”?
Continue asking and answering “how” and
“why” questions to form the analysis.
FORMING THE ANALYSIS
CLAIM: Although Robert Walton is completely committed to his ambitions, he has
come to feel that the quest alone is not enough, and he longs for a friend and
companion.
 Why does Walton want a friend?
 Walton wants a friend because he is a solitary man on a
lonely journey.
 How does wanting a friend relate to being a
promethean?
 Only someone like himself can truly understand what he is
doing. He can not be friends with just “anybody.” He is an
elitist, and he needs a friend who will appreciate his quest
and praise him for it.
WRITING THE ANALYSIS
Now that we have asked and answered “how”
and “why” questions about the chosen
evidence, we need to take those answers and
turn them into a well written analysis.
DO NOT begin analysis with phrases like: “This
quote shows . . .” or something similar. I know
it is a quote, and I know it is showing
something. Stating the obvious is just “filler”
and is not needed!
Also, DO NOT simply repeat what the quote
says.
Please continue your paragraph by recording
the following analysis on your paper.
PARAGRAPH #2: ANALYSIS
As a Promethean, Walton believes that the
only friend who can ever fully understand his
heart is one who shares his passions and
thirst for knowledge of the secrets of the
universe. The journey he is on is a solitary
one, and he is desperate to be understood by
a friend who can see into his heart and share
the journey, the joys, and the sorrows with
him.
CONTINUING THE ANALYSIS
At a minimum, you must include at least one piece
of textual evidence with supporting analysis in your
body paragraph.
However, in order to provide an even more thorough
response, try to use at least one or two more quotes
to fully support your topic sentence.
Remember, for each additional piece of evidence
that you use, you must include an analysis explaining
how and why that evidence proves your argument is
true.
PARAGRAPH #2:
EVIDENCE & ANALYSIS CONTINUED
First, make sure you transition from the
analysis of the first evidence to the integration
of the next evidence.
Each sentence must clearly lead to the next.
Transition/Context/Evidence:
handout.
Please record on your
 As Walton continues his letter, he indicates that
although he is surrounded by shipmates, he does not
believe that he will ever find such a friend “among
merchants and seamen” (20).
FORMING THE ANALYSIS
 As Walton continues his letter, he indicates although
he is surrounded by shipmates, he does not believe
that he will ever find such a friend “among merchants
and seamen” (20).
 Why does Walton not believe the merchants and seamen
could be his friend?
 He is an elitist.
 He believes he is “above” the men.
PARAGRAPH #2: ANALYSIS
Record the analysis on your handout:
The sailors on board his ship simply do not meet
his intellectual or cultural standards. They are
not fellow prometheans, and he does not believe
any of them possess the appropriate mind or
ambitions to understand his quest.
COMPLETED PARAGRAPH #2
Although Robert Walton is completely committed to his
ambitions, he has come to feel that the quest alone is not enough,
and he longs for a friend and companion. Walton confesses in a
letter written to his sister that his “one want” is to “have [a] friend”
who will “sympathize” with him (19). As a Promethean, Walton
believes that the only friend who can ever fully understand his heart
is one who shares his passions and thirst for knowledge of the
secrets of the universe. The journey he is on is a solitary one, and
he is desperate to be understood by a friend who can see into his
heart and share the journey, the joys, and the sorrows with him . As
Walton continues his letter, he indicates that although he is
surrounded by shipmates, he does not believe that he will ever find
such a friend “among merchants and seamen” (20). The sailors on
board his ship simply do not meet his intellectual or cultural
standards. They are not fellow prometheans, and he does not
believe any of them possess the appropriate mind or ambitions to
understand his quest.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Complete the extended writing response.
 Write a second body paragraph.





Topic Sentence that supports the claim and controls the paragraph
Plot Context and Integrated Evidence
Analysis of how and why the evidence proves the argument is true
Plot Context and Integrated Evidence
Analysis of how and why the evidence proves the argument is true
 Write a conclusion paragraph.
 Re-word / re-visit the claim statement
 Provide a final “so what” or “why it all matters” thought or statement.
 2-3 Sentences.