Allusions in Frankenstein
Throughout our discussions of Frankenstein, we will note the many allusions to famous pieces of literature and stories. Listed below are the stories
Shelley referenced, background (a smidge) information on each, and some page numbers on which you can find the allusions –to get you started.
Your group will be tracking your allusion as we read. Please visit the suggested sites (or find your own) so you will be the expert.. You will be asked
to discuss how your allusion connects with the novel. Keep track!
1. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Coleridge The poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, chronicles the story of a mariner who has
returned from a long sea voyage. During his voyage, the mariner shot and killed an albatross (large seabird) that was glorified by the ship’s crew;
they thought the albatross brought them good luck. After the mariner kills the albatross, the ship sails into uncharted waters. The crew forces the
mariner to wear the albatross around his neck to “bear the burden” for killing the bird. The crew then encounters a ghostly ship where “Death” and
“Life-in-death” are playing dice for the men’s lives. Death wins the crewmembers’ lives, while Life-in-death wins the mariner’s life. The mariner is
forced to witness his crew members die one by one. He is also cursed to roam the Earth and tell his story as compensation for killing the albatross;
he must teach a lesson to those he meets.
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Page 7: “I am going to unexplored regions, to ‘the land of mist and snow,’ but I shall kill no albatross; therefore do not be alarmed for my
safety or if I should come back to you as worn and woeful as the ‘Ancient Mariner.’”

Page 50: “Like one who, on a lonely road…Doth close behind him tread.”
2. Divine Comedy (Inferno) by Dante Alighieri
Dante’s Inferno relates the story of Dante’s journey through the nine circles of Hell. Throughout
his journey, he is guided by the Roman poet, Virgil. They encounter sinners suffering terrible punishments and “reaping what they sow.” For
instance, those who participated in wars and bloodshed are doomed to spend eternity drowning in a boiling hot river of blood.

Page 50: “…it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived.”
3. Prometheus (Greek mythology) Prometheus was a Titan who created men from clay. He also stole fire from the sun to give to man. His actions
angered Zeus, the king of the gods, who in turn condemned Prometheus for his actions. He was bound to a rock for eternity while an eagle
constantly pecked at his liver.

Page 45: “Who shall conceive the horrors of my secret toil as I dabbed among the unhallowed damps of the grave or tortured the living
animal to animate the lifeless clay?”

Consider that the subtitle of the book is “The Modern Prometheus.”
4. Paradise Lost by John Milton Paradise Lost is an epic poem that relates the story of the fall of man; it is based heavily on the book of Genesis
from the Bible. In the poem, God creates the Earth, along with Adam, the first man. Adam longs for a companion, so God creates Eve. Adam and
Eve reside in paradise, a.k.a. the Garden of Eden, where they may eat of any plant in the garden, except the Tree of Knowledge. Satan, a fallen
angel and the king of hell, learns of the new race of man and becomes jealous; he could have loved this new race, but instead, he is condemned to
forever be the “embodiment of hell.” Thus, he takes revenge on the new race by causing their fall. Satan tempts Eve to eat from the Tree of
Knowledge, and Adam eats from the tree shortly after. Adam and Eve have now gained knowledge of the evils of the world and have also caused
the fall of man. They are then forced to leave the garden forever.

Page 96: “Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no
misdeed.”

Page 130: “But Paradise Lost excited different and far deeper emotions. Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being
in existence; but his state was far different from mine in every other respect. Many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my
condition….”
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Page 132: “But it was all a dream; no Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone.”

Consider the fact that both Walton and Victor pursue knowledge.
Suggested Sites

Paradise Lost by John Milton
o http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Lost
o http://www.paradiselost.org/5-sum-simp.html
o http://www.shmoop.com/paradise-lost/summary.html

Prometheus (Greek mythology)
o http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus
o http://www.theoi.com/Titan/TitanPrometheus.html
o http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/giftfire/prometheus.html

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Coleridge
o http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rime_of_the_ancient_mariner
o http://www.shmoop.com/rime-of-ancient-mariner/summary.html
o http://www.studyguide.org/rime_of_the_ancient_mariner.htm

Divine Comedy (Inferno) by Dante Alighieri
o
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferno_(Dante)
o http://www.shmoop.com/inferno/summary.html