Anglais de spécialité  'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley.
                                

       
       

Before we start there are a few things to ask oneself about the story of Frankenstein, so, here are a few questions. You can use the web to help; there are many sites about this theme.

 

  1. Who exactly is Frankenstein? (Many people are mistaken as to his true identity.)
  2. Who wrote the story? Why is this surprising?
  3. What is our usual idea of a MONSTER?
  4. If you’ve seen a film version, how has this conditioned you to respond to the book?
  5. What’s your definition of a horror story?
What do we expect to read about in this book?


The preface:
This tells us about the background to the writing of the book and Mary's source of inspiration.
Why did she choose to write a gothic horror tale?
The letters:
Who is Walton?
Why did Mary need this character to enhance her story?
Find out what a 'frame story' is.
While you're reading the next few chapters count the different narrators. What effect does this multiple narrative produce?
How do the letters set the scene?
Which letter provides a beginning to the story? How?
How does Walton meet Victor Frankenstein?
What do they have in common?
What element gives us a feeling of FOREBODING?
What do we learn about the monster?
Chapters 1 to 5:
Make a reading chart with the following details as you read:

Chapter - page - place - time - plot - characters - relationships - themes - quotes - vocabulary - observations

Add any other details which may be useful.
You must now read the book methodically in order to situate the main events and study the CHARACTERIZATION of each protagonist.
Keep track of the CHRONOLOGY and different locations.
What sets the scene to each new event? How do the characters interact?
In the first chapters Victor begins his long narrative and talks about his childhood and family.
In what way does this happy childhood contrast with what happens later?
Note the feeling of FOREBODING or FORESHADOWING. His childhood provides a pattern or provides forsight of the future.
There is a BUILDING UP  to a CLIMAX, followed by an ANTICLIMAX.
Note the presence of GOTHIC HORROR in the creation of the monster and the paradox  of Victor's fearful abandon of the creature he'd so obsessively put together using macabre body parts
 


Chapter 6 to 12:
We follow the story of each main character , now separated :
- the convalescence of Victor, helped by his faithful friend Henry Clerval, and the support of his family from which he had cut himself off to carry out his experiments.
- the wanderings of the abandoned monster who finally catches up with his maker and in his turn tells his story. (Another narrator.)

In this part we begin to compare the creator with his monster and to become aware of the different themes which carry the story.
Make a note of the importance of :
NATURE - LIGHT - FIRE - DANGEROUS KNOWLEDGE - RESPONSIBILITY - ISOLATION -  FRIENDSHIP
and when they occur. It's also possible to trace them back to the letters.

Compare the monster and Victor. (Similarities and differences.)
Study the monster. Do you feel sorry for him? Why? In what way is he human?

 


     
The characters

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