General:

1. Frankenstein
2. Mary Shelley
3.  January 1, 1818
4. Tragedy, Horror

Structure:

1. The story is a first person narrative, for the most part.

2. The first person gives an air of credibility to the events of the novel.
3. Plot structure:
a. We are introduced to Robert and Frankenstein through Robert’s letters, this is
also where we glimpse the monster for the first time.
b. The inciting event is the start of Robert’s journey to the north pole. Within
Frankenstein’s story, the inciting incident is his trip to Ingolstadt, and within the
monster’s story, his own awakening is what starts off the events of the story.
c. Robert finds Frankenstein, Frankenstein discovers the secret to life, and the
monster discovers his looks, finds a shelter, falls in love with a family and learns
to speak and read.
d. Frankenstein tells his story to Robert, Frankenstein makes the monster, and the
monster reveals himself to the family.
e. They decide to turn the ship around, Frankenstein dies and Robert sees the
monster. Frankenstein lives in fear of the monster, the monster kills his brother,
then tells him to make a mate for his creation, Frankenstein begins to listen, but
destroys his work, the monster kills his best friend and wife and causes the death
of Frankenstein’s father, Frankenstein pursues him to the ends of the earth. The
monster is rejected by his ‘family’ and leaves to seek his creator.
f. Robert leaves his mission and returns home, Frankenstein dies aboard Robert’s
ship, and the monster tries to force his creator into making him a mate.

Characters:

(Robert’s story)

1. Protagonist
a. Robert Walton – “Robert” comes from a German name meaning “bright fame” –
Robert is looking for fame, in a way, by being the first to the North Pole.
b. He cares for his sister (family) very much, but he leaves her to go follow his
dream – parallel to Frankenstein.
 c. His change is when Frankenstein finishes his story and he realizes the stupidity
behind blindly following your passion.
2. Antagonist
a. Ice burgs/crew members – in “ryme of the ancient mariner”, the ship gets stuck
in ice and the crew members first turn against him, then die.
b. Trap the boat/urge him to turn back with the mission still uncompleted. –
Frankenstein didn’t know when to quit, the crew does.
3. Moral Center of Work
a. Frankenstein’s story
b. Tells how a man like himself follows his passion in a similar way, that leads to his
ultimate demise.
c. Knowledge leads to destruction

(Frankenstein’s story)

1. Protagonist
a. Victor Frankenstein - Victor Hugo wrote Les Misérables (French = Miserable
Ones)
b. Passionate, puts his dream/knowledge above all else – leads to his ultimate
demise/life of misery
c. Once the monster opens his eyes, Frankenstein realizes how absorbed he was
with his passionate science, and turns away from it, but it is too late, the
monster he’s created causes him a life of misery.
2. Antagonist
a. Both Frankenstein himself and the monster he creates – the monster has no
name- no past, no friends, no love, no happiness
b. Frankenstein contributes to his own misery by his rejection of the monster. The
monster, with a kind spirit, wants only acceptance, and, when his creator refuses
to create the one creature who will accept him, he causes a life of misery for
Frankenstein.
3. Moral Center of Work
a. Frankenstein’s life itself, the monster, and the family he left behind
b. All of Frankenstein’s Moral Center’s are inescapable
c. His life is miserable because of his choices, if he were to reflect upon his life, he
could have spared himself the misery. The monster urges Frankenstein to create
a creature that could love him, had Frankenstein listened, his misery would have
been spared. Frankenstein’s family and Henry urge him to turn away from his
work and to return home, had he listened, he would never have created the
monster and his misery.
 (Monster’s story)

1. Protagonist
a. No name – monster has no name, no past, no friends, no love
b. The monster is kind hearted, but feels the need to destroy Frankenstein’s
happiness if his creator won’t give him even a chance at happiness
c. When his “protectors” leave, the monster realizes that the only one capable of
giving him happiness is his creator/when the creator refuses, he makes him as
miserable as himself.
2. Antagonist
a. Humans and Frankenstein – the monster is not a human
b. The humans reject him and Frankenstein refuses to give him a chance at
happiness
3. Moral Center of Work
a.  Paradise Lost
b. Story of the fall of man
c. The monster sees this as a history and finds many similarities between his own
situation and man’s

Setting:

1. Frankenstein’s home town is in Switzerland – middle ground, peace; his schooling is in

Germany – infamous for violence
2. The 1800’s – no one has been to the north pole, no one has explored much of the world,
there is still much to discover
3. Several years

Conflicts:

1. Frankenstein vs. Monster

a. External
b. Man vs. Knowledge
c. With great power comes great responsibility
Symbols and Motifs:

Literal Symbol Figurative Meaning Theme

Passive Women Accents the monster’s and
Victor’s obsessive and
destructive behavior
Abortion Giving up on things
created/sought after in a fit of
passion
Light/Fire Knowledge/power – fire is
also dangerous
Knowledge comes with a price
Things are not as they appear,
before having a different
perspective, ideas sound
grand, only after does one
feel regret
Dangerous knowledge

Significance of title:
The modern Prometheus – Prometheus is the Greek “creator of man” and also the one who
bestows fire and knowledge upon man, for this he is severely punished… after his creation of
the monster, Frankenstein is severely punished

Thematic Statements:
Knowledge is dangerous.
To apply your whole self to a cause, and throw everything you love away in the name of it, is to
plot your own destruction.

Context:

5 Key Quotes:
“Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay
To mould me Man, did I solicit thee
From darkness to promote me?”

“What may not be expected in a country of eternal light?”

“I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and
trampled on.”

“Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live?”

“You purpose to kill me. How dare you sport thus with life?”