z

ELT
B2

Stage 4 B2
Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley
Stage 4 B2

Mary Shelley
FRANKENSTEIN
FRANKENSTEIN
Victor Frankenstein is a young, ambitious scientist who
wants to make a better world, but doesn’t understand
the consequences of his work. Victor makes great

FRANKENSTEIN
progress in the study of medicine and biology and
creates a new kind of human being – one that is so
terrifying it’s known simply as ‘the monster’. In this
fantastic adventure story, Victor and the monster fight
a long courageous battle. This brilliant science-fiction
story asks questions about science that we’re still trying
to find the answers to today.

In this reader you will find:

Readers
- Information about Mary Shelley’s life
- Sections focusing on background and context
- Glossary of difficult words
- Comprehension activities
- B2 First style activities
- Exit test

Tags

Young Adult
Science Fiction Fantasy/Horror

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STAGE 1 600 headwords Elementary A1 Movers

STAGE 2 800 headwords Pre-Intermediate A2 Key
STAGE 3 1000 headwords Intermediate B1 Preliminary
STAGE 4 1800 headwords Upper Intermediate B2 First
STAGE 5 2500 headwords Advanced C1 Advanced
STAGE 6 Unabridged Texts Proficiency C2 Proficiency
Young Adult

Classic

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 Book brief
1 Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus is an
1818 novel written by English author Mary
Shelley, considered by many to be the first
example of a science fiction story.

2 The novel is set in the 18th century and the

action takes place in various places such as
Geneva, The Swiss Alps and near the North Pole.

3 It tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young

ambitious scientist who creates a creature in his
laboratory without realising how this monster
will change his life.

4 The story has both elements of the Gothic

novel and the Romantic movement and is told
through a series of letters that Captain Robert
Walton writes to his sister, which include both
Victor’s and the monster’s stories.

5 Main themes include loss, guilt and the

consequences of going against the laws of
nature.

www.eligradedreaders.com
 In this reader:

21st To encourage students to

Century connect the story to the
Skills world they live in.

First B2 level activities.

Culture Brief cultural

Notes information.

Glossary An explanation
of difficult words.

Picture A brief explanation

Caption of the picture.

Audio These icons indicate

the parts of the story
that are recorded:
start stop

The FSC certification For this series of

guarantees that the paper ELI graded readers,
used in these publications we have planted
comes from certified 5000 new trees.
forests, promoting
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management worldwide.
 Young Adult Eli Readers

The ELI Readers collection is a complete range of

books and plays for readers of all ages, ranging from
captivating contemporary stories to timeless classics.
There are four series, each catering for a different age
group: First ELI Readers, Young ELI Readers,
Teen ELI Readers and Young Adult ELI Readers.
The books are carefully edited and beautifully
illustrated to capture the essence of the stories and
plots. The readers are supplemented with ‘Focus on’
texts packed with background cultural information
about the writers and their lives and times.

Frankenstein Photo credits

Mary Shelley
Retold and Activities
Elizabeth Ferretti
Illustrations
Rodolfo Brocchini Studio Kojac
ELI Readers
Founder and Series Editors
Paola Accattoli, Grazia Ancillani,
Daniele Garbuglia (Art Director)
Graphic Design
Tiziana Barigelletti
Corbis, Getty Images, Shutterstock
© New edition: 2022
First edition: 2009
ELi, Gruppo editoriale ELi
P.O. Box 6
62019 Recanati (MC)
Italy
T +39 071750701
F +39 071977851
info@elionline.com
www.elionline.com
Typeset in 10,5 / 15 pt Monotype Fulmar
Printed in Italy by Tecnostampa – Pigini
Group Printing Division
Loreto – Trevi (Italia) – ERA 401.10

Production Manager ISBN 978-88-536-3247-0

Francesco Capitano www.eligradedreaders.com
Contents

6 Main Characters
8 Before you Read
10 Chapter One A Mysterious Visitor
20 Activities
24 Chapter Two Where Does Life Come From?
34 Activities
38 Chapter Three The Most Unhappy of All Men
48 Activities
52 Chapter Four I Was Cold, Alone and Afraid
62 Activities
66 Chapter Five Hatred Filled My Heart
76 Activities
80 Chapter Six The Storm at Sea
90 Activities
94 Chapter Seven The Wedding
104 Activities
108 Chapter Eight Journey to the North
118 Activities
122 Chapter Nine Journey’s End
132 Activities
134 Focus on... Mary Shelley
136 Focus on... A Shocking Tale
138 Focus on... Major Themes in
Frankenstein
139 Focus on... Biographical and Historical
Timeline
140 Focus on... Frankenstein in Popular
Culture
141 Focus on... The Relevance of
Frankenstein
142 Test yourself
143 Syllabus
 Main Characters

Created by Victor Victor’s father,

Frankenstein, he always tries
the monster is very to help his son.
tall and ugly
but also intelligent.

The protagonist An explorer

of the story, on an expedition
he discovers to the North Pole,
the secret he meets Victor
of life in the Arctic.
and creates
the monster.

Victor Adopted by the

Frankenstein’s Frankensteins
best friend. as a child,
she becomes
Victor’s wife.

6
 A kind, loving woman
Robert Walton’s sister. Victor’s younger brother.
who likes to help the poor.

Elizabeth’s
Victor’s friend.
youngest She helps her
brother. manage the
Frankenstein
house.

A poor, blind man who lives

The elderly man’s son. The elderly man’s daughter. in a cottage with his son and
daughter.

A magistrate who understands

Victor asks the judge to help The professor of chemistry
Victor because he can speak
him catch the monster. admired by Victor at university.
German.
7
 Before you Read

Vocabulary
1 Most of the story takes place in Switzerland and near the Arctic
circle. Complete the table with words you expect to read.

Switzerland Arctic
mountains ice
valleys freezing

2 Match the opposites.

1 ■ calm a despair
2 ■ love b depressed
3 ■ excited c selfish
4 ■ good d evil
5 ■ happy e cowardly
6 ■ hope f hatred
7 ■ joy g disappointed
8 ■ kind h wild
9 ■ heroic i sorrow

Speaking 21st Century Skills

3 Discuss the following questions with a partner.

1 What words would you use to describe your character?
2 Do you always show what you feel or do you try to hide your emotions?
Why?
3 What makes you happy and when do you feel sad?

8
Vocabulary
4 Find 25 words that describe negative emotions and discover the
hidden phrase that says what Victor Frankenstein wanted to become.

D E V A S T A T E D E V I L
F G R I E F M A D N E S S F
R U P S E T L O N E L Y T E
I R A G E A G I T A T E D A
G H E M I S E R Y G R E A R
H A L O N E T E R R O R T H
T E D E S P E R A T E S T O
E A F R A I D T R A G I C R
N S H O C K D O O M E D S R
E C I E N V I O L E N C E I
D T E R R I B L E T I S T F
O F A S U F F E R E D L L I
F U R I O U S T A N G E R E
B I T T E R N E S S I M E D

.................................................................................................................................

5 Write under each picture the correct name and decide which means of
transport you expect to find in the story that is set in the late 1700s.

coach • cable car • rowing boat • steam ship • lorry • sledge

1 ..................................  2 ..................................  3 ..................................

4 ..................................  5 ..................................  6 ..................................

9
 Chapter One

A Mysterious Visitor

2 Letter I
To Mrs Saville, England
St Petersburg, Dec. 11th, 17–

My dear Sister,
You’ll be pleased to learn that I arrived in St Petersburg safely
yesterday. You don’t need to worry anymore! I’m confident that
my expedition* to the North Pole will be a success in spite of the
dangers. I feel the north wind here and the smell of it increases my
excitement at my new adventure. I’m going to a place where the sun
doesn’t set, where I’ll discover a new and wonderful land, where I
can carry out experiments to find out how compasses* work.
It is a dangerous, unknown land, but I feel as happy and safe as a
little child setting off in a boat on a lake. One day, dear Margaret,
one day I’ll be famous.
I’m so grateful for your love and kindness.
Your affectionate* brother,
Robert Walton
***

expedition journey to make scientific compass instrument you use to find direction
discoveries affectionate loving

10
 Frankenstein

Letter II
To Mrs Saville, England
Archangel, 28th March, 17–

Everything is ready for my expedition to the north. I’ve hired* a

whaling boat*, have an excellent crew* and as soon as the weather
improves, we’ll set off on our historic voyage* of discovery. There’s
one thing missing, however, and it makes me suffer. I don’t have a
friend to share the difficulties and excitements of my journey with.
I’m hopeful of success, but ask you to remember me with affection if
you never hear from me again.
Your affectionate brother,
Robert Walton
***
Letter III
August 5th, 17–
Something so surprising and strange has happened to us since my
last letter to you.

The southern gales* made our journey to the north quicker than I
expected, but our ship has been almost completely stuck in the ice
for the past two days and the crew and I are beginning to become
very worried. There’s nothing we can do but wait.

Yesterday afternoon the mist lifted and we had a clear view of the
huge areas of ice around us. Suddenly there was a shout from one of
the crew. We ran to him and looked to where he was pointing. There,

hire pay to use something for a certain amount crew (here) people who work on a ship
of time voyage a long journey by sea
whaling boat small boat for catching whales gale very strong wind

11
 Mary Shelley
The crew see a gigantic figure
riding across the ice on a sledge.

only half a mile from us, a gigantic* figure wearing furs was riding
at full speed on a sledge* pulled by eight dogs. We watched him as he
disappeared towards the north.

Last night, the ice around the ship broke, and we were free to
continue our journey. Next morning when I woke up, I saw the
crew pulling something up onto the ship from the ice below. To my
surprise, I saw a man, thin and ill from the cold and lack of food.
He spoke English but had a European accent. What was even
stranger, in my view, was that he only allowed us to bring him
onto the ship when I told him we were searching for the North
Pole, because that was where he wanted to go too! When I looked
over the side of my ship, I saw his sledge was half broken and only
one of his dogs was left alive to pull it.

After that, he collapsed* and we carried him to my cabin. We looked

after him as well as we could, but he was very weak and I was
worried that he’d die. His eyes gave the impression of wildness*,
even madness*, but he’s so grateful for everything we do for him, he
gives us the sweetest smiles. It was many days before he was well
enough to speak to us. We had a lot of questions to ask him.

‘Why have you come so far north on that strange sledge, risking
your life in this way?’ I asked.
‘I’m following someone who’s running away from me,’ he replied.
‘Is this person also travelling on a sledge pulled by dogs?’ I asked,
and when he nodded I told him of the gigantic man we’d seen.
‘That’s him,’ the stranger said.

gigantic huge collapse fall down

sledge see page 13, the dogs are pulling a wildness (here) violent, extremely strong
sledge madness craziness

12
 Mary Shelley

The stranger became agitated*. He wanted to go immediately on

deck* and look for this giant man on his sledge, but he was still too ill
so I wouldn’t let him, though it took me all my strength to stop him.
I told a member of the crew to watch for the gigantic man instead.
***
August 13th, 17–
During the time I’ve spent with my strange guest, I’ve begun to like
him more and more. In fact he’s become my very good friend. He
speaks so well, is so educated, seems to know so much. Now that
his health has improved, he spends as much time as he can on deck
looking for the sledge and the gigantic traveller.

There’s one thing which really worries me – he seems more unhappy

than anyone I’ve ever seen. He spends his days lost in misery. I can’t
imagine what’s happened to make him so sad.

To make him feel a little better, I told him how happy I was to have
him as my new friend.

‘Yes,’ said the stranger, ‘a friend is indeed a great gift. I had a friend
once, the best friend a man could wish for. I envy* you, Captain
Walton, you have hope, your whole life in front of you, but I, I’ve lost
everything. All that I have left is despair.’ He became extraordinarily
agitated and his face was full of grief.

Yesterday, the stranger said to me, ‘You see how much I suffer, and of
course you’re curious about why. Before I met you, I’d decided that my
terrible story would die with me and remain a secret. I’ve changed

agitated extremely anxious, nervous envy want what someone else has
deck (here) ‘floor’ on a ship

14
 Frankenstein

my mind. You’ve told me of your expedition to the North Pole, your

great desire* for knowledge, but I hope with all my heart that in your
search for knowledge you don’t make the same mistakes as me. I don’t
want your story to end in tragedy and evil as mine has done. I hope
that my tale may serve as a warning to you.’

He’s promised to start telling me his story tomorrow. I feel sure it’ll
be terrible and tragic. I’ve decided to write it down for you in this
journal, dear Sister. I’m impatient for this story to begin.
***
Victor’s Story
I come from an important and well-known family in the city of
Geneva in Switzerland. I had a happy childhood, my mother and
father loved each other very much. After they were married, they
travelled in France, Germany and Italy, where I was born, in Naples.
My first memories are my mother and father’s love for me. I was an
only child* for many years. I was the centre of their world and they
taught me above all to be patient, kind and to have self-control*.
My mother was very happy but often said how much she wanted a
daughter.

My mother liked to help poor families and would visit them when
we travelled, to give them money. It was on one of these visits that
she found a child who had the most beautiful blond hair. Indeed, her
hair was of the brightest gold. She looked so adorable and sweet. My
mother asked the family about this child. When she discovered that
the child’s parents had died and that these poor people were only

desire strong wish/want self-control not showing your emotions,

only child no brothers or sisters reactions etc

15
 Mary Shelley

looking after her, my mother persuaded them to let us take her to our
home to live with us.
The next day, my mother said to me, ‘Victor, I have a surprise for
you. A pretty present.’ And so it was that Elizabeth Lavenza came
to live with us as part of the family and she became my adored
playmate*, sister and companion.

Elizabeth and I were almost the same age, but our characters were
very different. She was calm and poetic, while I wanted to find out
how things worked. From an early age I looked at the world with the
eyes of a scientist and more than anything I wanted to understand
the hidden laws of nature.

When I was seven, my mother gave birth to a son and some time
later to another boy. My family decided to live permanently* in
Geneva. I wasn’t happy about this as I didn’t have many friends there,
I preferred to be alone. I did have one good friend though, he was
heroic*, loved danger and was a wonderful storyteller and writer. His
name was Henry Clerval.

No one could have had a happier childhood. I was full of energy and
had a strong temper, but Elizabeth always found a way to calm me,
and in time I learnt to put all my energies into my scientific studies.
I didn’t go to school, but instead studied the books in my father’s
library. I was free to choose what I read; my father wasn’t scientific
and didn’t follow me in my studies. By chance, I started to read the
scientific texts of ancient Greece. At the time, no one explained to
me that the ideas in these books were completely wrong and that

playmate person you play with (as a child) heroic very brave
permanently forever

16
 Frankenstein

modern science had made many new discoveries. I was fascinated* During the
18th century,
by what I was learning and didn’t realise I was wasting my time. much progress
was made in
*** the practice
of medicine,
One night, when I was fifteen, something happened which made me mathematics
abandon the ancient Greeks. There was a terrible thunderstorm over and physics, as
well as a better
the mountains of my home. Lightning lit up the mountains, thunder understanding
of chemistry
echoed* around me. and the study
of electricity.
I was standing watching this incredible sight from the front door
of our house, when suddenly, I saw fire coming out of a beautiful old
oak tree which stood close to the front of our house. It’d been struck
by lightning. When we went to inspect* the tree next morning, there
was nothing left but a black stump*. It’d been completely destroyed.

Until then I hadn’t studied the laws of electricity, but a scientist

friend of my father was staying with us then and he told me
everything that science had discovered about electricity at that time.
I was fascinated and excited by what I heard. From that time on, I
threw all my old study books away and studied only subjects relating
to* mathematics. I thought that these were the only things worth The University
of Ingolstadt
studying. My life was changed by lightning striking a tree. Although in Germany
at the time it seemed such an unimportant event, it was to lead to the was founded
in 1472 and
complete destruction of everything I loved. closed in 1800.
Students
*** could study
humanities,
When I was seventeen, my father decided I should go to study at sciences,
theology, law
the University of Ingolstadt. However, before I could leave, the first and medicine.

fascinated strongly attracted and interested inspect have a close look at

echo (of a sound) be repeated after the stump base of a tree that has been cut down
original sound has stopped relating to connected to

17
 Mary Shelley

of the great tragedies of my life occurred. I should have seen it as

an omen*, should have realised that my life was doomed*. Elizabeth
became seriously ill with a terrible infection. We begged* my mother
not to visit her, however, when it seemed as if Elizabeth might die,
my mother insisted on looking after her. In fact Elizabeth did recover,
but it was my mother who then caught the disease* and died of it in
only a few days. We were all devastated* by her death.

It came to the time when I had to leave to go to Ingolstadt. My

friend, Henry Clerval, had asked his father if he could come and study
with me, but his father had said no and so I had to go on my own. I
wasn’t at all happy about leaving my father, Elizabeth and my two
brothers, my dear Clerval, so soon after the death of my mother. For
the first time in my life, I found myself alone.
***
Once I arrived at university, I started to organise my new life. I
found somewhere to live and I began to study with some of the most
intelligent men of the age. I studied all aspects of science. Chemistry,
in particular, I found of great interest. One of my favourite teachers
was Mr Waldman, a professor of chemistry at the university.

One day, I was sitting listening to one of Mr Waldman’s lectures*

when he said something which I can remember to this day. ‘Scientists
are able to perform* miracles,’ he said to us. ‘They’re uncovering
the deepest secrets of nature, they’re showing us how things work.
They’ve discovered how the blood circulates around the body, and
we now know so much about the air that we breathe. Through their

omen bad sign or prediction of what will devastated full of great sadness, grief and
happen in the future shock
doomed without hope lecture formal lesson at a university in front
beg (here) ask someone desperately of many students
disease illness perform carry out, do

18
 Frankenstein

hard work and the discoveries they’ve made, they’ve gained* new
and almost unlimited* powers. They can command the thunders of
heaven, make the earth shake. Nothing is beyond their capabilities*.’
Such was the effect of these words that I didn’t sleep at all that
night. The next day, I went to visit Mr Waldman and told him of my
strong desire to study chemistry. He talked to me about the wonders
of chemistry and gave me a list of books to study.

When I left him that day, I was filled with ambition, inspired* by
my wonderful teacher. I decided that in my life as a scientist, I’d do
so much more than those who’d gone before me. I’d find a new way
to explore the unknown powers of science, I’d show the world the
mysteries of creation. And so ended a day I’ll never forget. It was the
day that decided my destiny*.

gain get inspired interested and encouraged (here

unlimited inexhaustible to begin his studies)
capability the power or ability to do destiny the hidden power believed to
something control future events

19
 After-Reading Activities • Chapter One

Speaking 21st Century Skills

1 Discuss in pairs. Give reasons for your answers.

1 Are you enjoying the story of Frankenstein?
2 Do you like Victor?
3 Would you like to explore the Arctic?
4 What countries in the world would
you most like to visit?
5 Are there any countries you
wouldn’t like to visit?
6 Would you like to make a discovery
to help mankind?
7 In your opinion, what were the
three most important inventions
or discoveries of the twentieth
century?
8 Are there any inventions or
discoveries you’d like to un-invent
or un-discover?

Reading
2 Put the events in the order they happen in the story. (1-11).
A ■ Walton and his crew see a gigantic man on a sledge.
B ■ Victor sees lightning destroy a tree and becomes interested
in studying electricity.
C ■ Victor meets Professor Waldman and begins to study
chemistry.
D ■ Robert Walton arrives in St Petersburg.
E ■ The stranger tells Walton he’s following the gigantic man
on the sledge.
F ■ Victor talks about his friends Elizabeth Lavenza and Henry
Clerval.
G ■ Victor’s mother dies and he goes to university.
H ■ Victor decides to explore the unknown powers of science.
I ■ Robert Walton hires a crew and a whaling boat.
J ■ Victor starts telling Walton about his childhood.
K ■ The crew pull a stranger from the ice.

20
Grammar B2 First
3 Read the letter below and think of the word which best fits each gap.
Use only one word in each gap.
My dear Sister,
You’ll be pleased to learn (1) ........................... I arrived in St Petersburg safely
yesterday. You don’t need to worry (2) ...........................! I’m confident that
my expedition (3) ........................... the North Pole (4) ........................... be a
success in (5) ........................... of the dangers. I feel the north wind here and
the smell of it increases my excitement at my new adventure. I’m going to a
place (6) ........................... the sun doesn’t set, where I’ll discover a new and
wonderful land, where I can carry out experiments to find (7) ...........................
how compasses work.
It’s a dangerous, unknown land, but I feel (8) ........................... happy and safe
as a little child setting off in a boat on a lake. (9) ........................... day, dear
Margaret, one day I’ll be famous.
I’m so grateful (10) ........................... your love and kindness.
Your affectionate brother,
Robert Walton

Writing B2 First
4 Imagine that you’re Robert Walton. Using 140-190
words, write a letter to your sister Margaret
describing Victor Frankenstein.

21
Grammar
5 Complete the sentences using the correct form and tense of the
verbs in the box.

ask • ride • inspire • see • make • say • pull

be • stand • decide (x2)

1 Only half a mile from us a gigantic figure ........................... at full speed

on a sledge ........................... by eight dogs.
2 I ........................... to write it down for you in this journal, dear sister.
3 At the time, no one explained to me that the ideas in these books
........................... completely wrong and that modern science
........................... many new discoveries.
4 I ........................... watching this incredible sight from the front door
of our house, when suddenly, I ........................... fire coming out of a
beautiful old oak tree, which stood close to the front of our house.
5 My friend, Henry Clerval, ........................... his father if he could come
and study with me, but his father ........................... no.
6 Frankenstein ........................... by his teacher Mr Waldman.
7 It was the day that ........................... my destiny.

Grammar
6 Complete the sentences below using the conjunctions in the box.
so • although • when • but • as

1 We watched him ........................... he disappeared towards the north.

2 He spoke English ........................... had a European accent.
3 He only allowed us to bring him onto the ship ........................... I told him
we were searching for the North Pole.
4 He wanted to go immediately on deck to look for this giant man, but he
was still too ill ........................... I wouldn’t let him.
5 ........................... at the time it seemed such an unimportant event, it was
to lead to the complete destruction of everything I loved.

22
 Pre-Reading Activities • Chapter Two

Speaking 21st Century Skills

7 In your opinion, which of the following will Victor need to do in order

to create life? Discuss in pairs. Then read and check.
1 Study the birth of animals. ■
2 Study animal reproduction. ■
3 Study how animals die. ■
4 Study what happens to a body after death. ■
5 Study human anatomy. ■

Reading Comprehension
8 Do you think the following statements about the next chapter are
true (T) or false (F)? Discuss in pairs. Then read and check.
T F
1 Victor didn’t study very much when he was
at university. ■ ■
2 While he was at university, Victor often went
home to see his family. ■ ■
3 Victor made an important discovery about
how life was created. ■ ■
4 Victor decided to create a small animal. ■ ■
5 Victor was very happy with his creation. ■ ■
6 Victor worked so hard that he was exhausted. ■ ■
7 Elizabeth looked after Victor when he was ill. ■ ■
8 Someone stole Victor’s creature from the lab. ■ ■
9 Victor left his home to search for the creature. ■ ■

23
 Focus on...
Mary Shelley
Born Mary
Wollstonecraft
Godwin on 30th
August 1797, she was
an English novelist
who wrote the Gothic
novel ‘Frankenstein’
considered an early
example of science
fiction.

1790

Family
Her father, William Godwin was a British political philosopher, who
questioned whether government and marriage were necessary. The
Romantic poets, in particular Wordsworth and Coleridge, found his
radical ideas interesting. Mary’s mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was also an
important thinker. Her most famous work was A Vindication of the Rights
of Woman (1790), where she wrote about the need for a completely new
view of women in society. Mary didn’t know her mother as she died ten days
after Mary was born.

134
1814

Love
Mary’s father had many admirers,
including Percy Bysshe Shelley, one of
England’s most important Romantic
poets. Shelley was a regular visitor to
the Godwin house. In 1814, Mary and
Shelley ran away to Europe, she was
only 16 and Shelley was married with
two children. Mary’s father and English
society at the time were shocked. Mary
became pregnant, but the child was
born prematurely and died.

1816
Frankenstein
In 1816, Mary and Shelley went to spend the summer with
Shelley’s friend Lord Byron who’d rented a house on the
shores of Lake Geneva. It was here that Mary started to
write Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus, which was
first published in 1818. At the end of 1816, following the
suicide of Shelley’s wife, Harriet, the couple got married.
They travelled around Italy, had two more children, but
both died. Eventually, Mary gave birth to Percy Florence
who survived. Mary’s father was unsympathetic about his
daughter’s tragedies and financial difficulties.

1851
Later Years
In 1822, Mary’s husband drowned in a sailing accident in the Bay of
La Spezia, Italy. She and her son, Percy, returned to England in 1823,
where she devoted herself to him. Although she wrote other books,
Frankenstein was the only one that was commercially successful.
In her later years, she became close to her father again. Mary died
(probably of a brain tumour) on 1st February 1851, aged 53.

135
 A Shocking Tale
Focus on...
The Birth of Frankenstein
In 1816, Shelley and Mary spent
the summer with Lord Byron in
Switzerland. The men spent their
time talking, reading and discussing
the latest ideas and discoveries,
both philosophical and scientific.
Mary says she simply listened to the
conversations.
That summer was grey and wet.
Mary wrote later, ‘incessant rain often
confined us for days to the house.’
Lord Byron made a suggestion
to keep them all busy, ‘We will
each write a ghost story,’ he said.
Mary wanted her story to terrify
her readers. She spent a long time
Ruins of Castle Frankenstein, in Germany, which gave the title to Mary Shelley's novel.
136
thinking of a story ‘which would speak
to the mysterious fear of our nature...
one to make the reader afraid to
look round, to curdle the blood and
quicken the beatings of the heart.’
Then one night in a waking dream
she saw a frightening scene of a man
lying apparently dead. Another man
started ‘a powerful engine’ and the
dead man came to life.
The man who’d created this new life
was horrified by what he’d done and
ran away. Mary opened her eyes,
terrified by what she’d seen, but she
now knew what her ‘ghost story’
would be about.

Title page of the 1831 edition.
Frankenstein
and the Critics
When the novel was first
published, anonymously, in 1818,
many critics were shocked by
it. The most shocking element
of the novel was the idea of
a human being as a creator.
This was seen as ‘impious’ or
disrespectful of God.
Most of the critics thought the
book had been written by a man.
It was still unusual for women
to write at that time and the
story was both frightening and
unpleasant in its concentration
on death and dying – not
thought of as suitable for a
young lady. Many critics did
see the power of Mary Shelley’s
writing however. One magazine
wrote ‘[the book] possesses a
power of fascination... it has an
air of reality attached to it.’
In spite of the critics, the book
was immediately popular
with the public, it was quickly
turned into a play and was also
translated into French. In the
200 years since its publication,
Frankenstein has become part of
our cultural heritage.

Task
True or False?
T F
1 In 1826, Shelley and Mary spent the summer with Lord Byron
in Germany. ■ ■
2 Mary spent her time talking, reading and discussing. ■ ■
3 Mary wrote a story to terrify her readers. ■ ■
4 One night she saw a frightening scene of a man lying
apparently dead. ■ ■

137
 Focus on...

Major Themes in Frankenstein

Nature Aleksandr Puskin Alienation

at the Seashore,
Throughout the book, 1896
The book explores what
Victor and the monster can happen when people
both find psychological are deliberately excluded
peace in nature, The weather from society. It looks at
including the mountains and the elements the ‘other’ and questions
and lakes of Switzerland. Victor discovers how we define ourselves.
The book expresses the electricity during a
Romantic view of the thunderstorm; when Madness
sublime beauty of nature he reaches the place From the beginning of
and its spiritual power. where his brother was the book Victor shows
murdered, he says obsessive tendencies,
Death that the storm is like a can’t control his
Victor is fascinated by funeral for him. emotions and is twice
death and there are The ice and cold of the kept in prison as a result
a number of violent north eventually kill of what we’d now call a
deaths in the story. Victor. mental breakdown.

138
 Biographical
and Historical Timeline
Select cultural, scientific and biographical timeline from
Mary Shelley’s birth to the publication of Frankenstein.
1797 Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin
born.
1801 The United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland is
formed.
First steam-powered vehicle
demonstrated by Richard
Trevithick.
The first census is carried out.
The population of England
and Wales is 8.9 million.
1802 Marie Tussaud opens
her waxworks museum in
London.
1803 Start of the Napoleonic Wars.
1807 Pall Mall is first street with
gas street lamps.
The slave trade is abolished
in the British Empire.
1809 Charles Darwin born.
The ‘Hindoostanee Coffee
House’, London’s first Indian
restaurant is opened.
1811 Prince George becomes
Regent, because of his
father, George III’s, insanity.
This period is known as the
English Regency.
1813 Jane Austen’s Pride and
Prejudice is published.
First steam-powered warship
launched in New York.
139
1814 First plastic surgery carried
out in London.
Premier of Beethoven’s
Eighth Symphony.
1815 Battle of Waterloo, end of
the Napoleonic Wars.
1816 ‘Kubla Khan’ is published by
Coleridge.
‘The year without a summer’
– disruption to climate in
Europe and N. America
following a volcanic eruption.
Mary Shelley starts writing
Frankenstein.
1818 First blood transfusion using
human blood.
Emily Bronte, author of
Wuthering Heights, born.
John Keats writes ‘Ode on a
Grecian Urn’, ‘The Eve of St
Agnes’.
Frankenstein is published,
anonymously.
 Focus on...

Frankenstein
in Popular Culture
The actor Boris Karloff in The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), directed by James Whale.

Frankenstein is the story of ambitious version of the book starring Boris

scientist, Victor Frankenstein, but
most people believe that it’s the
monster who’s called Frankenstein.
The book is seen as the first modern
science fiction story, with its ‘mad
scientist’ and an alien monster.
Like much science fiction it uses
technology which hadn’t been
invented at the time of writing,
however, it also has many of the
traditional elements of gothic horror.
In 1931, Hollywood released a film
Karloff as the monster. His appearance
was so dramatic, with his square head
and bolt through his neck, that this is
what many people think the monster
looks like. This was the first time
Victor became ‘Dr’ Frankenstein.
Young Frankenstein is a comedy
version of the story. It stars Gene
Wilder as the mad scientist’s grandson
who wants to repeat the experiment,
unfortunately his assistant, Igor, gives
him the wrong brain...

Task
True or False?
T F
1 Frankenstein is the story of ambitious artist. ■ ■
2 It’s the monster who’s called Frankenstein. ■ ■
3 The book is the first modern science fiction story. ■ ■
4 In 1931, Hollywood released a film version of the book. ■ ■

140
 The Relevance
of Frankenstein

The Industrial Revolution

Frankenstein was written as the Industrial Revolution was taking off, in an
age when there were many new technological and scientific discoveries. It
is no coincidence that Mary Shelley’s book is still popular today, when so
much is changing in our world and so quickly.

DNA
Although DNA, the building block
for life, was not discovered until the
1960s, Frankenstein seems to look
forward to today’s genetic sciences.
Throughout the world, there’s strong
debate about whether it’s ok to make
genetically modified organisms, to
carry out research on human foetuses,
or on stem cells – cells which develop
very early in a human foetus – all
discussed as part of bioethics.
Critics
Critics say that scientists are
‘playing God’ and are shocked by
human beings creating new forms
of life.
However, this type of research is
providing cures for fatal diseases,
and a deeper understanding of how
life works.
Frankenstein is a story about what
could happen if we don’t think
about what we’re doing.

141
Test Yourself
1 Answer the questions about the book.
1 Where’s Robert Walton travelling to at the beginning of the book?
..........................................................................................................................
2 What’s Victor Frankenstein’s first language?
..........................................................................................................................
3 Who ‘finds’ Elizabeth?
..........................................................................................................................
4 What time of year is it when Frankenstein brings the monster to life?
..........................................................................................................................
5 What happens to Victor’s little brother?
..........................................................................................................................
6 Who’s hanged for the murder of Victor’s brother?
..........................................................................................................................
7 Where do Victor and Elizabeth go after their wedding?
..........................................................................................................................
8 Where’s Elizabeth killed?
..........................................................................................................................
9 During the story, Victor visits many countries. How many can you
remember?
..........................................................................................................................

2 Give the word in English for these definitions.

1 A person who’s seen something relating to a crime.
..........................................................................................................................
2 A thing you use for finding North, South, East and West.
..........................................................................................................................
3 Light, not strong, wind.
..........................................................................................................................
4 The water your body makes when you’re hot.
..........................................................................................................................
5 Flashes of light in a storm.
..........................................................................................................................
6 The opposite of a friend.
..........................................................................................................................

142
 Syllabus

Level B2
This reader contains the items listed below as well as those included in Level B1.

Verbs
Present perfect simple and continuous
Past simple and continuous
Future tenses including,
future perfect
Irregular verbs: would for willingness/refusal
Third conditional also with ‘if only’
If clauses (in zero conditional)
Used to and would
Phrasal verbs
Passive forms all tenses
Infinitive constructions

Sentence types
clauses of concession: even though, in spite of, despite
Complex sentences with more than one subordinate clause
Embedded relative clauses
Inversion after hardly, no sooner, not only
Modal verbs
Will
Might
May
Shall
Could
Should

143
 Young Adult Readers

STAGE 1 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet

Jonathan Swift, Gulliver’s Travels
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles
Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe
STAGE 2 Shakespeare, Hamlet Prince of Denmark
Charles Dickens, Great Expectations
William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Bram Stoker, Dracula
William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Robert Louis Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and
Mr Hyde
Jerome K. Jerome, Three Men in a Boat
John Buchan, Thirty-Nine Steps
STAGE 3 Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
William Shakespeare, Macbeth
Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility
Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence
Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
Wilkie Collins, The Woman in White
Anonymous, Beowulf
Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped
Elizabeth Ferretti, The Earthkeepers
Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d’Ubervilles
George Orwell, 1984
STAGE 4 James Joyce, Dubliners
Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
Henry James, The Turn of the Screw
Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights
Edgar Allan Poe, Stories of Mystery and Suspense
Charles and Mary Lamb, Tales from Shakespeare
Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
Hermann Melville, Moby Dick
Jane Austen, Emma
Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter
E.M.Forster, A Passage to India
STAGE 5 Virginia Woolf, Mrs Dalloway
Francis Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
STAGE 6 Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness
J. Borsbey & R. Swan, Editors, A Collection of First World
War Poetry
Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest