Frankenstein
Frankenstein: or the Modern
Prometheus



What human qualities does
Prometheus posses?
What is Prometheus’s “crime”?
What is the punishment for his
“crime”?
What is the central idea conveyed
in the myth of Prometheus?

Who is Frankenstein?

Does he posses any of the qualities
that Prometheus possesses?

Based on the knowledge you have
of the story so far, can we apply
the central idea conveyed in the
Prometheus myth to the story of
Frankenstein?
“Trifle Chart”
Theme/Main Idea/Central Idea
How do the plot and narrative develop the central idea?
(Analysis)
Narrative
How is the story told?
(2nd Reading)
Characterization
Conflict
Point of View
Setting
Story
What happens (PLOT)?
(1st Reading)
MESSAGE
Imagery
Figurative
Language
Mood
Diction
Dialogue
MAIN IDEA
LESSON/MORAL
http://www.slideshare.net/kehoskin/frankensteinnarration
Narrative Structure
Epistolary Form


An epistolary novel is a novel written as a series of documents. The usual form
is letters, although diary entries, newspaper clippings and other documents are
sometimes used.

Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897)

The Diary of Anne Frank (1947)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (1999) by Stephen Chbosky

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2007) by Jeff Kinney
The novel Frankenstein is written in epistolary form, documenting a
correspondence between Captain Robert Walton and his sister, Margaret Walton
Saville. Walton is a failed writer who sets out to explore the North Pole and
expand his scientific knowledge in hopes of achieving fame. During the voyage
the crew spots a dog sled mastered by a gigantic figure. A few hours later, the
crew rescues a nearly frozen and emaciated man named Victor Frankenstein.
Frankenstein has been in pursuit of the gigantic man observed by Walton's
crew. Frankenstein starts to recover from his exertion; he sees in Walton the
same over-ambitiousness and recounts a story of his life's miseries to Walton as
a warning.
Writer’s Notebook – Use the Epistolary Style

An epistolary novel is a novel written as a series of documents. The usual form is
letters, although diary entries, newspaper clippings and other documents are
sometimes used. The novel Frankenstein is written in epistolary form; Captain Robert
Walton documents his expedition through the Arctic and his encounter with
Frankenstein (and the Creature) through correspondence (letters) with his sister,
Margaret Walton Saville.

Use the epistolary style to record your expedition – your experience reading
Frankenstein. Your entries can include reactions to the text (events, characters,
style), questions you have, insights or new ideas you discovered, etc. Your series of
documents can take on a variety of forms:

A series of letters/emails to a friend

A series of “Tweets” or Blog posts

A series of diary/journal entries

A series of Facebook posts
Themes
Themes


With great power comes great
responsibility.
When society rejects individuals or
individuals’ ideas, the consequences
can be tragic.

Revenge destroys both the victim and
the avenger.

Lack of sympathy, compassion, and
understanding can destroy
individuals.
Narrative Techniques/Writing Strategies

Conflict

Characterization

Setting

Point of View

Mood

Imagery

Figurative Language

Irony

Diction

Forgiveness is the greatest liberator.

Sentence Structures
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What individuals choose to do will
have an effect on others.

Allusion

Antithesis
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Symbolism
Symbols

The color white symbolizes knowledge

Water symbolizes knowledge, communication, tranquility, and immortal life.
Water becomes a symbol for danger when it becomes ice.

In Frankenstein, light symbolizes knowledge, discovery, and enlightenment.

The dangerous and more powerful cousin of light is fire; it creates light in the
darkness of the night, but it also causes harm and destruction.

Lightning is a symbol for nature’s great elusive power. Electricity replaces
Promethean fire as a gift with both beneficial and destructive consequences.

Nature symbolizes tranquility and inspiration.
Antithesis

Antithesis usually means a contrast of ideas expressed within a sentence or
statement. It can also indicate a contrast of characters, ideas, themes,
settings, or moods in a longer piece of writing.

Passion/reason
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Natural/unnatural
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Known/unknown
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Civilized/savage
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Beautiful/ugly
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Good/bad
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Light/dark
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Heat/cold