Frankenstein

Modern Prometheus

By Mary Shelley

The Romantic Period

1798-1832

Romantic Period

You may be wondering:What does the word

“ ROMANTIC ” mean in the context of this period?

Romantic Period

The word “romantic’” comes from the term “ROMANCE,” and romance was one of the most popular genres of medieval literature.

Romantic Period

Medieval Connection: Romantic writers self-consciously used

the elements of romance in an attempt to go back beyond the refinements of neoclassical literature to older types of writing that they saw as more “genuine”

Romantic Period

The romance genre allowed writers to explore new, more PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MYSTERIOUS aspects of human experience.

Romantic Period

The writers of the Romantic period lived in England during a time of SOCIAL UPHEAVAL.

The INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION in England changed the way people lived, where people lived, and how business was done.

(England changed from an agricultural society to an industrial nation w/ almost everyone living in the city)

Romantic Period

Writers before this time period tended to rely on SCIENCE and REASON to base their writings on…(Remember, the Restoration was often called the “Age of Reason”)

Writers soon after this time period, such as the Victorian era, wrote to AFFECT CHANGE in society.

Romantic Period

In contrast, the Romantic writers focused on PERSONAL EXPERIENCE and IMAGINATION in their work. (This change in thinking was thought to be NEEDED b/c of all the political, economic, and social changes taking place…remember… INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION)

Thus, they were not as concerned with “REASON”… Imagination was superior!

Romantic Period Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein calls into

QUESTION THE AIMS and METHODS OF SCIENCE…we’ll explore this more while we study the novel…..Muah Ha HA HAAA

You experienced this questioning in the FOREWORD of the novel

Romantic Period

Romantic literature that included the elements of mystery, horror, and the

supernatural is known as GOTHIC

Frankenstein is a Gothic Novel

No trench coats in class please

LOL…

Gothic Literature

Gothic novels tended to featureTROUBLESOME TONESREMOTE SETTINGS MYSTERIOUS EVENTS

Gothic Literature

The characters’ INNER EMOTIONAL LIVES receive a lot of attention.

Gothic Literature

The struggle between

GOOD vs. EVIL is prominent

Romantic Poets/Poetry

The Romantic period could be argued to start with the selling of Lyrical Ballads, with a Few Other Poems

Romantic Poets/Poetry

Lyrical Ballads was written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth.

Included Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Wordsworth’s Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey.

Romantic Poets/Poetry The era has been most identified with

with six poets: William Blake William Wordsworth Samuel Taylor Coleridge Percy Bysshe Shelley John Keats George Gordon “Lord Byron”

Romantic Poets/PoetryAs a result…

Frustrated by England’s resistance to political and social change during this age of revolution around the globe, the ROMANTIC POETS became dedicated to bringing about change.

Romantic Poets/Poetry These poets believed in the force of

literature. They turned from the formal, public

verse of the 18th century Augustans to a more private, spontaneous, lyric poetry.

These lyrics expressed the belief that IMAGINATION, rather than reason, was the best response to the forces of change.

Romantic Poets/PoetryThe term “Romantic” has at

least THREE useful meanings relevant to the Romantic poets.

Romantic Poets/Poetry#1: A Child’s Sense of

Wonder: “Romantic” signifies a fascination with youth

and innocence…particularly the freshness and wonder of a child’s perception of the world.

This perception seemed to resemble the age’s sense of a “new dawn”…like what Wordsworth saw in his first experience in France as “human nature being born again.”

Romantic Poets/Poetry#2: Social Idealism:

The term “Romantic”refers to a view of cyclical development of human societies. This is the stage when people need to question tradition and authority in order to imagine better - that is, happier, fairer, and healthier - ways to live. Romantic in this sense is associated with idealism.

Romantic Poets/Poetry#3: Adaptation to Change:

The term “Romantic”suggests an ability to change- an acceptance of change rather than a rigid rejection of it. In the so-called Romantic period of the first half of the 19th century (up to the Civil War in America), Western societies met the conditions necessary for industrialization. This demanded that people acquire a stronger and stronger awareness of change, and that they try to find a way to adapt to it.

Romantic Poets/Poetry

Overall, the term “romantic” signifies a fascination with youth and innocence, a questioning of authority and tradition for idealistic purposes, and an adaptation to change.

Romantic Poets/Poetry

good poetry was “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.”

Such poetry would use simple, unadorned language to deal with commonplace subjects.

Romantic Poets/Poetry

It is a mistake to think of the Romantics as “nature poets.”

Rather, these poets were “mind poets” who sought a deeper understanding of the bond between human beings and the world of the senses.

Romantic Poets/Poetry

Their search led them to a third, more mysterious element present in both the mind and nature….this element is a creative power that makes things happen…this power is the IMAGINATION.

The Romantics thought this superior to human reasoning.

Romantic Poets/Poetry

Each of the Romantics had his or her own special view of the imagination.

However, all of them believed that the imagination could be stimulated by both nature and the mind itself.

These poets had a strong sense of nature’s mysterious forces, which both inspire the poet and hint at the causes of great changes taking place in the world.

Romantic Poets/Poetry

Romantic poems usually present imaginative experiences as very powerful or moving.

This suggests that the human imagination is also a kind of desire - a motive that drives the mind to discover things that it cannot learn by rational or logical thinking.

Romantic Poets/Poetry Thus, the Romantics saw the poet as someone

human beings and society cannot do without. Romantics saw a very special place for the poet

or the artist in society…they saw poets in a role similar to that of a priest, teacher, or master.

In the Romantic view, the poet functions as a sort of spiritual guide to the inner realms of intuition.

Romantic Poets/Poetry

Overall, in the Romantic period, poetry was no longer used to make complex arguments in a witty, polished style. Romantic poets used unadorned language to explore the significance of commonplace subjects, the beauty of nature, and the power of human imagination.

Essential Questions for this Unit

1) What consequences do we face if we do not take responsibility for our actions?

2) How does lack of compassion and understanding lead to prejudice and stereotyping?

3) How can failure be beneficial?

Mary Shelley

Born in 1797 to William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft

Her mother died shortly after Mary was born

Shelley learned about her mother only through writings her mother left behind, including A Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792) which advocated that women should have the same educational opportunities as rights in society as men.

Mary Shelley

Avid reader and scholar knew through her father some of the most important men of the time (William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge)

Married Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1816 and listened intently to his intellectual conversations with others

Mary Shelley

On a visit in Switzerland with PBS to Lord Byron, she was challenged to write a story. She had heard Byron and Shelley discussing “the nature of the principle of life and whether there was any chance of its ever being discovered.” From this conversation, she had the “waking dream” which eventually became the novel Frankenstein.

Historical Context Ambiguous Walton’s letters dated “17-” with no

reference to anything specific to pinpoint the date. It is set in the latter part of the 18th century, at the

end of the Enlightenment and the beginning of the Romantic period.

It critiques the excesses of the Enlightenment and introduces the beliefs of the Romantics.

Reflects a shift in social and political thought – from humans as creatures who use science and reason to shape and control their destiny to humans as creatures who rely on their emotions to determine what is right.

Ideas of the Enlightenment

Scientific observation of the outer world Logic and reason; science and technology Believed in following standards and

traditions Appreciated elegance and refinement Interested in maintaining the aristocracy Sought to follow and validate authority Favored a social hierarchy Nature should be controlled by humans

Characteristics of Romantic Period

Emphasis on imagination and emotion, individual passion and inspiration

Rejection of formal, upper class works and a preference for writing (poetry) that addresses personal experiences and emotions in simple, language

A turn to the past or an inner dream world that is thought to be more picturesque and magical than the current world (industrial age)

Characteristics of Romantic Period

Belief in individual liberty; rebellious attitude against tyranny

Fascination with nature; perception of nature as transformative

Characteristics of Romantic Period

Concerned with common people Favored democracy Desired radical change Nature should be untamed

Style: Gothic Novel

Frankenstein is generally categorized as a Gothic novel, a genre of fiction that uses gloomy settings and supernatural events to create and atmosphere of mystery and terror.

Eerie and supernatural events Melancholy atmosphere Reflects wild, unpredictable aspects of

nature Desolate and harsh landscapes

The Frame Story

The first part you read isThe Letters. This is actually the END of the story, but you read it FIRST.

The second part you read is:Victor Frankenstein’s story. It is the

BEGINNING of the story, but you read it SECOND.

The third part you read is:The monster’s tale. It is the middle of the story but you read it LAST.

Structure and Point of View

Epistolary – carried by letters

Frame Story

Major Characters

Victor Frankenstein – protagonist, fueled by possibilities of science

and a desire for acclaim; becomes obsessed with creating life

from spare body parts.

Major Characters

The Creature - never named; is Victor’s doppelganger (alter ego);

Creature rationally analyzes the society that rejects him;

sympathetic character, admires people and wants to be a part of human society;

only results in violence when he is repeatedly rejected

Major Characters

Henry Clerval – Victor’s childhood friend;

true romantic wants to leave mark on the

world, but never loses sight of “the moral relations of things.”

Major Characters

Elizabeth – adopted as an infant by Victor’s family; marries Victor

Major Characters

Robert Walton – Arctic explorer who’s obsessed with gaining knowledge and fame;

rescues Victor in the Arctic; tells the story

Major Characters

William and Ernest Victor’s younger brothers

Major Characters

Justine MoritzLive in servant

Themes

Consequences of irresponsibility in the pursuit of knowledge

Consequences of pride Consequences of society’s rejection

of someone who is unattractive Destructive power of revenge Parent-child conflicts Sympathy

Other Literary Elements

Irony – 2 major ironies Creature is more sympathetic, more

imaginative and more responsible to fellow creatures

Creature has many pleasing qualities but is an outcast because he’s not physically attractive

Symbols

White/light= knowledge Water = knowledge Ice = danger Lightning = nature’s power Nature = acceptance, nurturing,

calm Mountains= sublime in nature

Antithesis-Contrasts of ideas, characters, themes, settings or moods

Victor/creation Passion/reason Natural/unnatural Known/unknown Civilized/savage

Masculine/feminine Beautiful/ugly Good/bad Light/dark Heat/cold

Allusion

Paradise Lost by John Milton – story of man’s fall from innocence to painful knowledge; Victor can be compared to Adam, Satan, and Eve

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, like narrator, tells story as a warning and a confession