Frankenstein Frankenstein SynopsisSynopsisBy: Mary ShelleyBy: Mary Shelley

Frame StoryFrame Story

The novel contains a number of The novel contains a number of "framing devices," which are stories "framing devices," which are stories that surround other stories, setting that surround other stories, setting them up in one way or another. Robert them up in one way or another. Robert Walton's letters to his sister frame the Walton's letters to his sister frame the story that Victor Frankenstein tells to story that Victor Frankenstein tells to Walton, and Frankenstein's story Walton, and Frankenstein's story surrounds the story that the monster surrounds the story that the monster tells, which in turn frames the story of tells, which in turn frames the story of the De Lacey family.the De Lacey family.

Letter 1Letter 1

Letter from Robert Walton the explorer to Letter from Robert Walton the explorer to his sister Margaret Savillehis sister Margaret Saville

Details that he is a captain on the ship Details that he is a captain on the ship and headed to the North Pole to discover and headed to the North Pole to discover a passage to the Pacific, revealing the a passage to the Pacific, revealing the earths magnetism and discovering new earths magnetism and discovering new thingsthings

Letter 2Letter 2

Robert Walton writes another letter to his Robert Walton writes another letter to his sister and discusses the fact that he has sister and discusses the fact that he has no friends, feels lonely and justifies his no friends, feels lonely and justifies his lonely passagelonely passage

Letter 3Letter 3

Robert Walton writes another letter to his Robert Walton writes another letter to his sister and lets her know that the ship has sister and lets her know that the ship has sailed and he is excited and confident in sailed and he is excited and confident in his adventurehis adventure

Letter 4Letter 4

RW writes letter that details his ship getting RW writes letter that details his ship getting stuck in the ice. While stuck, he encounters a stuck in the ice. While stuck, he encounters a man that is very sick. They offer assistance to man that is very sick. They offer assistance to the man; however, the man is reluctant to get the man; however, the man is reluctant to get on the boat. Finally, he agrees but is too sick to on the boat. Finally, he agrees but is too sick to talk for two days- everyone on the boat is talk for two days- everyone on the boat is curious. curious.

The last part of the letter states that the The last part of the letter states that the stranger will now tell his story. RW’s story ends stranger will now tell his story. RW’s story ends

Chapter 1Chapter 1

The stranger is Victor Frankenstein. VF is The stranger is Victor Frankenstein. VF is now telling his story. He came from a now telling his story. He came from a good family and his family adopted a girl good family and his family adopted a girl (who was his cousin) Elizabeth Lavenza (who was his cousin) Elizabeth Lavenza who his mother wants him to marrywho his mother wants him to marry

Chapter 2Chapter 2

Elizabeth and Victor are best friendsElizabeth and Victor are best friends Discusses Henry Clerval- his best friendDiscusses Henry Clerval- his best friend He discusses the fact that he became He discusses the fact that he became

enchanted with the mysterious natural enchanted with the mysterious natural world and scienceworld and science

Lightning strikes and he has electricity Lightning strikes and he has electricity explained to himexplained to him

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Plans to leave his family at 17 for schooling at Plans to leave his family at 17 for schooling at Ingolstadt UniversityIngolstadt University

Right before he leaves his mother catches Right before he leaves his mother catches scarlet fever from Elizabeth and on her scarlet fever from Elizabeth and on her deathbed she says she wants Victor and deathbed she says she wants Victor and Elizabeth to marryElizabeth to marry

Leaves for college and meets M Krempe who Leaves for college and meets M Krempe who says all the things he studied have been says all the things he studied have been wastefulwasteful

Attends Professor Waldman’s Chemistry class Attends Professor Waldman’s Chemistry class and his love of science returns and his love of science returns

Chapter 4Chapter 4

Continues studying and realizes he is Continues studying and realizes he is very interested in the creation of lifevery interested in the creation of life

Begins trying to create life in his Begins trying to create life in his apartment and becomes so obsessed he apartment and becomes so obsessed he ignores anything and everything- even ignores anything and everything- even his own healthhis own health

Chapter 5Chapter 5

Months later, on a stormy night he completes Months later, on a stormy night he completes his creation and brings it to life and he is his creation and brings it to life and he is terrified!terrified!

Walks into town and sees his friend Henry Walks into town and sees his friend Henry Clerval who ends of taking care of Victor for a Clerval who ends of taking care of Victor for a few months while he is sickfew months while he is sick

Once he is feeling better, Henry gives Victor a Once he is feeling better, Henry gives Victor a letter from Elizabeth that came while he was letter from Elizabeth that came while he was sicksick

Chapter 6Chapter 6

Letter from Elizabeth expresses her concern Letter from Elizabeth expresses her concern over his lingering illness and she encourages over his lingering illness and she encourages him to write her soonhim to write her soon

Victor introduces Henry to his professors but Victor introduces Henry to his professors but the thought of science and his creation makes the thought of science and his creation makes him ill and he decides to go back home to him ill and he decides to go back home to GenevaGeneva

Henry and Victor go on a long walk through the Henry and Victor go on a long walk through the countrycountry

Chapter 7Chapter 7

Still at school, Victor gets a letter from his Still at school, Victor gets a letter from his father that says Victors younger brother, father that says Victors younger brother, William, has been murderedWilliam, has been murdered

Returns home to Geneva, but he cant get in as Returns home to Geneva, but he cant get in as the gates are locked. He visits the spot his the gates are locked. He visits the spot his brother was murdered and sees his creation brother was murdered and sees his creation and believes his creation is responsibleand believes his creation is responsible

Justine-his adopted sister, is accused of the Justine-his adopted sister, is accused of the murder and Victor is afraid to express what he murder and Victor is afraid to express what he believes happenedbelieves happened

Chapter 8Chapter 8

Justine knows she is innocent but Justine knows she is innocent but confesses to the murderer because she confesses to the murderer because she believes it is the only way she will be believes it is the only way she will be sparedspared

She is executed and Victor feels She is executed and Victor feels immense grief and guilt for the deaths of immense grief and guilt for the deaths of two members of his familytwo members of his family

Chapter 9Chapter 9

Victor goes on a trip with his family to Victor goes on a trip with his family to The ALPS and wanders off. As he The ALPS and wanders off. As he wanders, he encounters his “creature” wanders, he encounters his “creature” who wants to tell Victor his story. Victor who wants to tell Victor his story. Victor follows him and the story begins.follows him and the story begins.

Chapter 10Chapter 10

As he wanders to the top of a mountain, As he wanders to the top of a mountain, he encounters his “creature” who wants he encounters his “creature” who wants to tell Victor his story. Victor follows him to tell Victor his story. Victor follows him and the story begins.and the story begins.

Chapter 11Chapter 11

Creature tells Frankenstein about his Creature tells Frankenstein about his confusion of the world around him and confusion of the world around him and how he had to learn everything first hand how he had to learn everything first hand (speech, emotions, survival)(speech, emotions, survival)

Discusses how it felt to be shunned by Discusses how it felt to be shunned by humans and how he had to take refuge in humans and how he had to take refuge in a hovel where he observes a familya hovel where he observes a family

Chapter 12Chapter 12

Observes family from his hovel for a long Observes family from his hovel for a long period of time and realizes that the family period of time and realizes that the family is not always happy because they are is not always happy because they are poor and have hardships, so he collects poor and have hardships, so he collects firewood for themfirewood for them

Sees himself for the first time and is Sees himself for the first time and is horrified horrified

Chapter 13Chapter 13

Realizes that Felix is unhappy. One day Realizes that Felix is unhappy. One day a lady, Safie appears. She does not a lady, Safie appears. She does not know the language. Creature continues know the language. Creature continues to observe and learns as she doesto observe and learns as she does

Chapter 14Chapter 14

Through eavesdropping he learns the history of Through eavesdropping he learns the history of the cottagersthe cottagers

Delacey is old man – all of them together make Delacey is old man – all of them together make up the Delacey familyup the Delacey family

Agatha and Felix are Delacey’s children. Safie Agatha and Felix are Delacey’s children. Safie and Felix are in loveand Felix are in love

Safie’s story is that her father became Safie’s story is that her father became obnoxious to the government, Felix helped her obnoxious to the government, Felix helped her father escape and then the Delacey’s were father escape and then the Delacey’s were thrown out of town and that is why they are in a thrown out of town and that is why they are in a cottage in the middle of the woods. cottage in the middle of the woods.

Chapter 15Chapter 15

Creature finds books in the woods, reads Creature finds books in the woods, reads Paradise Lost and draws a comparison to Paradise Lost and draws a comparison to himselfhimself

Also finds Frankenstein’s journal which detailed Also finds Frankenstein’s journal which detailed his work on the creation=creaturehis work on the creation=creature

Wants friends, good heart. Waits until Wants friends, good heart. Waits until everyone but old man Delacey are gone from everyone but old man Delacey are gone from the cottage. Approaches wanting friendship the cottage. Approaches wanting friendship and is denied that when the others show up and is denied that when the others show up unexpectedlyunexpectedly

Chapter 16Chapter 16

Leaves for Geneva to find Victor. Swears off Leaves for Geneva to find Victor. Swears off humans. Sees a little girl who falls into the humans. Sees a little girl who falls into the river, saves her and is “rewarded” with a river, saves her and is “rewarded” with a gunshot. He will never be accepted based on gunshot. He will never be accepted based on his looks onlyhis looks only

Runs into William, wants him to be his Runs into William, wants him to be his companion. Ends up killing him and planting companion. Ends up killing him and planting the evidence on Justinethe evidence on Justine

Meets with Victor and tells him what he wants- Meets with Victor and tells him what he wants- a companiona companion

Chapter 17Chapter 17

Creature wants a female companion. He guilt Creature wants a female companion. He guilt trips Victor into creating one for him and says trips Victor into creating one for him and says that there is no need to worry, he (the creature) that there is no need to worry, he (the creature) will be in touch with Victorwill be in touch with Victor

Creature swears that he will take his female Creature swears that he will take his female companion to a remote area and they will not companion to a remote area and they will not bother anyonebother anyone

Victor feels somewhat responsible and agrees Victor feels somewhat responsible and agrees to the requestto the request

Chapter 18Chapter 18

Victor tries to put off the making of the creature Victor tries to put off the making of the creature for a while as he will need to go to England for for a while as he will need to go to England for partsparts

His father begins to worry about him and fears His father begins to worry about him and fears Victor may not want to marry Elizabeth. This is Victor may not want to marry Elizabeth. This is far from the truth and Victor asks to take a trip far from the truth and Victor asks to take a trip to England before the marriage. His father to England before the marriage. His father agrees and his friend Henry Clerval goes with agrees and his friend Henry Clerval goes with himhim

Chapter 19Chapter 19

Victor can not get any work done with Victor can not get any work done with Henry along on the trip, so he Henry along on the trip, so he encourages Henry to stay with a friendencourages Henry to stay with a friend

Henry agrees to do that and Victor sets Henry agrees to do that and Victor sets up a makeshift lab to begin his quest, up a makeshift lab to begin his quest, even though the thought of creating even though the thought of creating another creature horrifies himanother creature horrifies him

Chapter 20Chapter 20

While working on the second creation he begins thinking of the While working on the second creation he begins thinking of the moral implications of creating a new creature. He is disgusted with moral implications of creating a new creature. He is disgusted with himself and looks up to see creature peering in the window.himself and looks up to see creature peering in the window.

Realizing the horribleness of it all, he smashes the female creation Realizing the horribleness of it all, he smashes the female creation to bits in front of creatureto bits in front of creature

Creature is very upset and vows revenge- on Victors wedding Creature is very upset and vows revenge- on Victors wedding nightnight

As he is packing up his lab, he gets a letter from Henry who wants As he is packing up his lab, he gets a letter from Henry who wants to continue their trip. He takes the creation and rows out to sea to continue their trip. He takes the creation and rows out to sea and sinks it and considers dying alone at sea when a storm and sinks it and considers dying alone at sea when a storm comes; however, he ends up washing up on the shore of a town comes; however, he ends up washing up on the shore of a town where he is greeted angrily and accused of a young mans murderwhere he is greeted angrily and accused of a young mans murder

Chapter 21Chapter 21

The townspeople bring him to the town judge The townspeople bring him to the town judge who then wants to see Victors reaction to the who then wants to see Victors reaction to the murdered mans body. murdered mans body.

Victor sees the body and it is Henry Clerval Victor sees the body and it is Henry Clerval with the monsters hand prints on his neckwith the monsters hand prints on his neck

Victor becomes very ill and is imprisonedVictor becomes very ill and is imprisoned A visitor arrives at the prison and it is Victors A visitor arrives at the prison and it is Victors

fatherfather At the trial, Victor is cleared of murder due to At the trial, Victor is cleared of murder due to

circumstantial evidence and returns back home circumstantial evidence and returns back home to his fatherto his father

Chapter 22Chapter 22

Victor receives a letter from Elizabeth-she is Victor receives a letter from Elizabeth-she is worried that he may not want to marry her. He worried that he may not want to marry her. He does want to!does want to!

He wants to tell Elizabeth about creature but He wants to tell Elizabeth about creature but only once they are married. He remembers the only once they are married. He remembers the monsters words about his wedding nightmonsters words about his wedding night

Victor and Elizabeth marry and depart for the Victor and Elizabeth marry and depart for the family cottage for their “honeymoon”family cottage for their “honeymoon”

Chapter 23Chapter 23

On the first night of their honeymoon, Creature On the first night of their honeymoon, Creature makes true on his promise and kills Elizabethmakes true on his promise and kills Elizabeth

Victor returns home to tell his father who is so Victor returns home to tell his father who is so grief stricken he dies just a few days latergrief stricken he dies just a few days later

Victor finally tells a judge in Geneva about the Victor finally tells a judge in Geneva about the monster; however, the judge does not believe monster; however, the judge does not believe himhim

Victor resolves to kill the creature himselfVictor resolves to kill the creature himself

Chapter 24Chapter 24

His whole family is destroyed, so Victor departs His whole family is destroyed, so Victor departs for the North Pole to find creaturefor the North Pole to find creature

It is there that he tells Robert Walton his story It is there that he tells Robert Walton his story and asks Robert to continue looking for and asks Robert to continue looking for creature even after his deathcreature even after his death

Victor dies and the crew on RW ship hears a Victor dies and the crew on RW ship hears a noise in Victors room- it is creature mourning noise in Victors room- it is creature mourning VictorVictor

Creature says he never meant to be evil and Creature says he never meant to be evil and wishes to die himself- he walks off into the wishes to die himself- he walks off into the darknessdarkness