FRANKENSTEIN
Mary Shelley
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Book Prompt p. 750
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Share your list of supernatural/paranormal
Discuss the “appeal”
EXTEND THE DISCUSSIONWhat cultural factors explain the appeal of
the supernatural? Does it appeal in the same
way to all cultures, such as British and
American cultures? Explain.
QUICK WRITE
• “I beheld the wretch-the miserable monster
whom I had created.” -Victor Frankenstein
• Today, Shelley’s words have been turned
into the common saying “I’ve created a
monster!” What is the significance of this
saying?
ELEMENTS TO CONSIDER
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Elements of Romantic Literature (Time period)
Elements of Gothic Literature (genre)
Elements of Science Fiction (genre)
Elements of Frankenstein (unique to the piece)
ELEMENTS OF ROMANTIC
LITERATURE
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Passion for human emotion
Believe all humans - innately good
Advocate free thought
Oppose political authority and social
convention
ELEMENTS OF ROMANTIC
LITERATURE (cont.)
• Strong sense of individuality
• Belief in the supernatural
• Use of the morbid and grotesque
ELEMENTS OF GOTHIC
LITERATURE
• Use of intense emotion
• Use weather to depict a character’s mood
• Giving nature the power to destroy
innovation
ELEMENTS OF GOTHIC
LITERATURE (cont.)
• Written in an age where people thought of
new beginnings and higher possibilities
• Idealization of nature
• Evokes terror
• Satanic hero
Additional Information/Activity
• If time allows review the additional
descriptions of the Gothic Tradition and
terminology.
• Discuss which apply to Frankenstein
ELEMENTS OF
SCIENCE FICTION
• Explores the marvels of discovery and
achievement that may result from science
and technology
• Usually speculative in nature
• Assumes change as a given
ELEMENTS OF
SCIENCE FICTION (cont)
• Projects a story-line into the future or into
an alternative reality or history
• Explores a problem in technology, culture,
or philosophy beyond its current state
• Presents an atmosphere of scientific
credibility regardless of the reality
ELEMENTS OF
FRANKENSTEIN
• Use of letter writing to develop characters
(epistolary novel)
• Frame story (three stories deep)
• Elements of mystery, horror, supernatural
• Complex human dilemmas
ELEMENTS OF
FRANKENSTEIN (cont.)
• Compelling disconcerting characters
• Greed and gain as motivators in scientific
advancement
• Point of view
• Tone
LITERARY DEVICES
LITERARY DEVICES
• Story within a story plotline
• Flashbacks
• Syntax-the way in which words are put together
to form phrases, clauses or sentences; harmonious
arrangement of parts or elements.
LITERARY DEVICES
• Diction-choice of words especially with regard
to correctness, clearness, or effectiveness.
• Imagery-figurative language used to create
mental images
PASSAGE
APPLICATION & ANALYSIS
• Use your knowledge and comprehension of
the notes on the elements of Romanticism,
Gothic genre, Frankenstein, and literary
devices to identify samples in selected
passages.
• Analyze the importance of the elements to
the plot, theme, or modern interpretation.
EVALUATION
• Based upon your analysis, evaluate the
effectiveness of the devices used.
• Identify your criteria
• Determine if you are using synthesis in your
criteria.
QUOTATION DISCUSSION
QUOTATION EXERCISE
• You and your group members will be given a
quote that relates in some way to Frankenstein.
You are to discuss
– the meaning of the quote
– your reaction to it/agree/disagree
– any impact it should have on modern civilization
– any other pertinent ideas that arise.
• Assign your group roles:
• Leader
Recorder
Presenter
Timekeeper
LARGE GROUP DISCUSSION
• Groups will share.
• As you listen and tonight as you think about
it, summarize all the ideas that you heard
that have merit and that you would be
interested in pursuing.
• (prep work for upcoming essay!)
QUOTE #1-Shaw
• “The man who writes about himself and his
own time is the only man who writes about
all people and all time.”
• -George Bernard Shaw, British playwright
QUOTE #2-Snow
• “Technology is a queer thing. It brings you
great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in
the back with the other.”
• -C.P. Snow-British writer, scientist and
government administrator
QUOTE #3-Dick
• “Reality is that which, when you stop
believing in it, does not go away.
• -Philip K. Dick, author of Do Androids
Dream of Electric Sheep?
QUOTE #4-McKibben
• “Keep us human. If we’re truly smart, we’ll
refuse to foolishly tamper with our DNA.”
• -Bill McKibben, “Dangers of Genetic
Engineering”
QUOTE #5-Stackman
• “Science cannot stop while ethics catches
up.”
• -Elvin Stackman, President of American
Association for the Advancement of
Science
QUOTE #6-Milton
• “Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay to
mould me man? Did I solicit thee from
darkness to promote me?”
• -John Milton, Paradise Lost (and inside
cover of Frankenstein)
QUOTE #7-Chardin
• “Our duty, as men and women, is to
proceed as if limits to our ability did not
exist. We are collaborators in creation.”
• -Teilhard de Chardin, French philosopher
and Jesuit Priest trained as a geologist and
archeologist.
QUOTE #8-Shelley
• “I busied myself to think of a story-a story to rival
those which had excited us to this task. One which
would speak to the mysterious fears of our nature
and awaken thrilling horror-one to make the
reader dread to look around, to curdle the blood
and quicken the beatings of the heart.”
• -Mary Shelley, Frankenstein (Introduction to the
1831 edition)
QUOTE #9-Victor
• “How dangerous is the acquirement of
knowledge.”
• -Victor Frankenstein, Frankenstein.
Smallville: QUICK WRITES
• React and respond to the conversation in the
clip. What struck you? With what do you
agree or disagree? What connections can
you make? What questions occur to you?
• “Cyborg” season 5, episode 15, scene 3
• “Bizarro” season 7, episode 1, scene5
“Different” (26:10 in)
ETHICS EXTENSION
ACTIVITY
Optional
YOU BE THE JUDGE
• Designate your team roles
• Use the handout(s) to guide your discussion
• Agree on a patient
• Write a rationale why that patient was selected. By what criteria and
priorities does that patient get the lungs?
WRITING INSTRUCTION
T to T to T
TOPIC to THEME to THESIS
TOPIC=SUBJECT
• Subject of a writing, speech, discussion,
etc.
GENERIC SAMPLE
SUBJECTS/TOPICS
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Love
Greed
Revenge
Poverty
Ethics
Death
Obsession
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Sexism
Racism
Diversity
Education
Government
Religion
Society
SOME BIG IDEAS/TOPICS in
Frankenstein
• Mystery, horrorHuman fears
• Supernatural
• Role of technology
• Genetic engineering
• Cloning
• Unintended
consequences
• Appreciating human
life
• Regret
• Caution
• Ethics of science
THEME
• Topic or Subject that is repeated (motif) or
presented in a number of ways in a work of
art, literature, etc. to unify it.
• Theme=comment/lesson being made about
the topic; using the topic to make said point.
THEME TO THESIS
• Identifying the theme and all the ways it is
presented in the work should allow you to
determine a thesis statement for your
essay/argument/analysis of a piece of
literature.
• Be clear on YOUR purpose (i.e. what kind
of essay are you writing?)
THEMES in Frankenstein
• Obsession can supercede logic.
• Society values superficiality.
• Knowledge is not guaranteed to be
beneficial.
• Self-discovery can be painful.
THESIS
• A statement or idea defended in argument
• A clearly stated thesis statement should
allow you/reader to see all the ways in
which the theme is explored in the piece.
• A single sentence or two that clearly
articulates the point/argument being made
about the topic/theme
EXAMPLE
• TOPIC/SUBJECT
Good vs. Evil
• THEME
– Evil often negates
good.
• THESIS (interpretation essay)
• Author X argues that
• X piece of literature
illustrates
– that good is not
inherently guaranteed
to defeat evil.
– that evil exists to
validate good.
EXAMPLE
• TOPIC/SUBJECT
– Power
• THEME
– Power is a motivating
force.
• THESIS
• Author X argues that
• X piece of literature
illustrates
– that the desire for
power is the ultimate
human weakness.
– that ultimate power
corrupts ultimately.
ACTIVITY
Optional prewriting steps for essay or
illustrated through practicing the
steps in the literary analysis handout.
ACTIVITY
1. Generate five topics/subjects
(think one word or short phrase)
2. Select two of the topics from your list.
3. Write at least two thematic statements that the
author seems to be presenting for each topic.
3. Write at least two thesis statements for each of
the two topics selected. These should be written in
a complete sentence(s). (YOUR thesis for your paper.
Keep in mind the purpose and support statements from a
rhetorical prècis.)
SUGGESTED TOPICS
• OBSESSION
• SOCIETY IS
SUPERFICIAL
• KNOWLEDGE CAN
BE DANGEROUS
• REVENGE
• SELF-DISCOVERY
• PREJUDICE
• DISCRIMINATION
• MAN AS A
MONSTER
• GOOD VS. EVIL
• PLAYING GOD
THEMES ACTIVITY
• What themes do you believe are presented
in the novel?
• Identify the theme(s) and an explanation of
how the novel develops that/those theme(s)
using specific examples from the book.
• Select from the topics identified.
• DISCUSSION
IDEAS TO EXPLORE
• Technology has the potential to enhance
and extend human life.
• Man’s fascination with creation is reflected
in fact and fiction.
• Scientific exploration has the potential to
improve human life.
• Altering human traits has unexplored
consequences.
WRITING WORKSHOP
• See separate power point title Writing
Workshop.
EXTENSION ACTIVITY
View Brave New World and use
discussion guide assignment
Or use the slides following the
quickwrites
QUICK WRITE
There is a debate over the following:
Does art imitate life, or does life imitate art?
• What are your thoughts? Explain.
BRAVE NEW WORLD
QUICK WRITE
What does the phrase “brave new world” mean to
you? Explain.
FOCUS QUESTIONS: TODAY
1. What issues are involved in creating, lengthening
and bettering life?
2. What is technology’s role in society?
3. When do technological solutions become new
problems?
4. Is there a point (percentage of replacement parts)
when a human being is no longer considered
human? (consider the “Cyborg” clip)
5. How have humans been redefined by
technological advances?
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
TOMORROW
QUICK WRITES:
1. What role will I play in future technology? Will I
question it, consume it, or help to create it?
2. What price am I willing to pay for immortality?
3. What are the tradeoffs for technological advances?
4. What moral limitations do we put on the use of
technology?
• DISCUSS