frankenstein text summation

8/3/2019 Frankenstein Text Summation

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Rashid Goshtasbi

Ms. Kingsbury

AP Literature

2 November 2011

Frankenstein Text Summation

Section 1: Mary Shelley was born August 30 th, 1797. On the night of her birth, there was

thunder and lightning. At the age of 17, she fell in love with Percy Shelley. Sadly, Percy was

married still to another women. Eventually, Percys first wife passed away. When they got home

from vacation, Mary was pregnant and she became an outcast due to her pregnancy with Percy.

She eventually gave birth to William Shelley and left England for Genovese with Percy. That

summer in Genovese, she spent a lot of time writing her bookFrankenstein. She got the idea of

Frankenstein from a dream and based some information of it like the nameFrankenstein from

the owner of a castle her husband and she stayed in during a 3-month vacation. The story of

Frankenstein that she writes takes 9 months to unfold. Its placed in 1797 and published March

1818. She wrote the book when she was 19. Yet, she struggled her entire life to feed her children,

even though some passed away, and keep herself and her family sheltered. She passed away

February 1st, 1851. (History -- In Search of History : Frankenstein)

Section 2: Mary Shelley had a lot of influences that helped her create her book

Frankenstein. When she was born, there was a lot of lightning and thunder. Plus, electricity was

created just around the time she was born. When she was on her 3-month vacation with her

husband, she stayed at a castle that was owned by a man named Frankenstein who she names her

main character in the book. Plus, she had a dream where the whole story of the book was given


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to her. One of her strongest influences was her husband Percy who kept influencing her to write.

(History -- In Search of History : Frankenstein)

Section 3: Frankensteins theme is Gothicism. It contains fear, horror, and terror. The use

of Frankensteins creature is part of the reason that makes the story a gothic theme. During the

story, we have a lot of death present in Frankensteins story due to Frankenstein. This brings

horror to Frankenstein, terror to the people who see Frankensteins creature, and it causes fear all

around the book. There is also use of Science Fiction because the use of electricity to bring a

person to life if nearly impossible. The second fact that the creature was put together with

multiple body parts is impossible as well. The scientific part of the story is highly unlikely to

ever happen and it hasnt. Hence it can be also tagged as a Science Fiction and Gothic novel.

(History -- In Search of History : Frankenstein)

Section 4: The significance of the bookFrankenstein is in two parts. The tittle of

Frankenstein, and the subtitle of The Modern Prometheus. The significance of the titles

Frankenstein is thatFrankenstein is the name of the actual creator of the monster that many

people associate Frankenstein with. Frankenstein is the creator of the scary monster. Its

significant again because it gives us the insider that connects with the subtitle. The subtitle is

comparing Frankenstein to Prometheus. Prometheus is essentially a god who gave fire to

mankind and was a partner with his brother who created mankind. Inserting the subtitle of the

modern Prometheus is an allusion calling Frankenstein the modern Prometheus, the modern god

who gives life to mankind.

Section 5: The settings in the book are contained in different places and time. We first

start out near the North Pole in the northern ice where one of the narrators is introduced to us. He

is following his dream of investigating the North Pole. We also have the next part of the story in


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Genovese where the main character is born is staged there. The story continues to Ingolstadt

were Frankenstein continues his studies and creates his creature. The settings are significant

because they correlate to Mary Shelleys places shes been to and influenced her writing of

Frankenstein. The time period of the book takes place during the early 1800s. (History -- In

Search of History : Frankenstein)

Section 6: The significance of the opening scene forFrankenstein is that it sets the rest of

the storyline. Walton introduces the story with his adventure to the North Pole with letters he

writes to his sister. The story is based on a person he rescues and tells it through letters to his

sister. Hence the person her rescues is Victor Frankenstein who at the beginning is trying to

follow the monster. This other significance f this story is that it shows the reader that this novel

is a story within a story within a story, 3 dimensions. This includes the letters of Walton, Victors

story, and the Monsters story. This organizational pattern is used within the book but is clearly

noted in the beginning part of the book. The next significance of the opening scene is that it

explains the two men Walton sees in the ice chasing after each other.

Section 7: The ending ofFrankenstein contains multiple significances between Victor

and the Monster. For Victor, the ending scene tells the reader that Victor has finally realized that

he is the actual monster when he says, but it is true, I am the wretch. This shows the reader that

the monster he created was because he, Victor, was a monster himself. Then Victor dies. What

was significant next is that the Monster came aboard the ship to see Victor dead and the monster

reveals that he is his father and creator and will accept what happens. Then he finalizes his

conversation with Walton by saying he will burn himself. This is significant as it connects to the

title of the book mentioning Prometheus who gave men fire and life. This particular scene

portrays an allusion too to the title of the book.


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Section 8:Frankenstein relates toHeart of Darkness in where both books include a story

within a story concept.Frankenstein includes three platforms within the story. It has a story

within a story within a story.Heart of Darkness includes a story within a story, just two

platforms. Another parallel is that both stories include the plot of finding another character and

finding ones true identity. Victor finally finds out that he is the monster that created his creature.

Likewise, Kurtz finds that he is a savage and lost true control and is a beast due to the lack of

society and identity at the time he spends in the Congo. With The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, it

included the two-step platform of a story within a story and at the end, shows that one of the

characters found their true identity. (Bloom 357)

Section 9: The Countdown

5: Discoveries

1. ForebodingsA feeling that something bad is going to happen2. FerventShowing ardent or extremely passionate enthusiasm3. CelestialRelating to, suitable for, in, or typical of heaven4. Eccentricitiesa quality of being unconventional, especially in a whimsical way5. AsseverationsTo state something earnestly or solemnly

4: Items of Interest

1. Story within a story within a story organizationWith this book, I actuallyunderstood its organization, as its the second book with stories within stories. I

found that his book is more interesting getting perspective from other main

characters in their own narrative chapters.


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2. GenreI learned that I absolutely love the genre ofFrankenstein. The genre ofGothicism and Science Fiction really intrigues me. I can find myself leaning

towards more Science Fiction books as Ive rarely done.

3. The idea of science towards the bookI like the idea that Mary Shelley did toinclude something new like science in her book, to make the book scarier. Her

idea of putting electricity into the book and making associations that electricity

can be something of horror. A very smart move.

4. I like how the book flowed very smoothly with the different narrators and storyplatforms. Mary Shelley did a very well job of transitioning everything smoothly

and with timing. This allowed me to understand the story very well and it make

me interested in reading the book more.

3: Quotes

1. Miserable himself that he may render no other wretched, he ought to die. Thetask of his destruction was mine, but I have failed. Pg. 199-200

a. Victor Frankenstein is confession that his monster should die but the causeof all of the destruction he caused to him and other people is Victors fault

because he created him and failed at treating it well. Plus, this could be

tied into Victor failing at following his creatures demand to create a

women version for him but failed to do so.

2. I am alone and miserable: man will not associate with me; but one as deformedand horrible as myself would not deny herself to me. Pg. 169

a. Victor is explaining how he is such a miserable man and that he cannotdeny his horror, to create a monster and ignore him, to himself. Hes such


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a horrible person he says, that he thinks that no other man would associate

himself with him for what creating a monster.

3. Flash of lightning illuminated the object and discovered its shape plainly to me;its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspect, more hideous than belongs to

humanity, instantly informed me that it was the wretch, the filthy demon to whom

had given life. Pg. 60

a. I find this quote very detailed in how Mary Shelley explained the giving oflife to the creature Victor has put together. Its a bit funny that Victor

brought the best parts together and yet, the monster turned out ugly and a

piece of work that Victor doesnt like at all!

2: Allusions

1. Tittle:Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheusa. This is an allusion to Prometheus as he is a Titan who gives man fire and

life. This portrays what Frankenstein did, giving life to his creation. So, in

other terms, they are alluding that Frankenstein, is a god who gives life.

2. Victor telling his story to Walton aka The Rime of the Ancient Marinera. The story includes the same concept of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner

where Victor, the mariner, is telling his story to another person, Walton,

who then tells his story to his sister. The story of the book is basically an

allusion of how Mary Shelley organized the book and plots to work in the

sense of how the Rime of the Ancient Mariner did. (Bloom 357)

1: Six-Word Memoir

1. Man meet world, to look at it in great disgust of his creator. Rashid Goshtasbi


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Section 10:

1. Very Trip Is A Quest (except when its not)a. This book is in tie to this chapter where Victor is the quester, who has a

place to do with a stated reason to go there. It includes challenges and

trials such as the death of Victors family members, Justines trail. Plus, its

very obvious the real reason Victor goes to the Northern Pole, is to find

his creature and kill it for the revenge of his family.

Section 11:

Man meets world,

Yet he got nowhere to go,

He finds his father,

Without any hope,

He learns hes disliked,

Horrible it seems,

Where his face is ugly,

Horrid and mean,

He makes his mind up,

To follow his heart,

And get revenge,

From the darkest of his heart,


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Yet,

The creator of him,

Searches for clues,

To get rid of the monster,

He brought alive,

Deaths and deaths,

Races all around,

The creator dies first,

With the monster right by and death on his mark.

Section 12:What is acceptable science, and when does it go too far?

What is acceptable in science should be defined as how moral is the issue/idea brought

on the table. Would you consider slaughtering children to determine a reasonable conclusion to a

hypothesis? Absolutely not! Its morally wrong to do that. If science research instructions were

base on moral values, wed probably have less propositions to deal with, money saved, and an

easy way to come to conclusions about scientific research and if it should be done or not.

When does it go too far? Again, it should be based on moral values and ethics. You

would ask yourself, you I do that to my child, myself, or family. Conclusions on scientific

studies should be based on moral values and if we see it as moral right/wrong.


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Section 13: Letter to the Author

Dear Mary Shelley,

I am a huge fan of your book Frankenstein as it was introduced to me in my AP

Literature class. The way you structured your book into three levels of story telling was truly a

challenge you took and showed talent in as I fell in love with it. Frankenstein, the actual creator

of the monster I presumed was Frankenstein was surprising to me. Although, I wish you gave a

name to Victors creation because Im interested in what you would have named it. I do find it

interesting how you tied a lot of your life experiences into the book, which I think, made it very

successful and recognizable for people who studies you and learned more about you as an author.

Plus, on the last note, it was such a creative idea to take electricity, as a new invention, and have

it be a part of something scary in your time period. This truly led people to read Frankenstein all

over the world.

Sincerely,

Rashid Goshtasbi


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Works Cited

Bloom, Harold. "Samuel Taylor Coleridge." The best poems of the English language: from

Chaucer through Frost. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2004. 357. Print

History -- In Search of History : Frankenstein. A&E Television Networks, 2008. DVD.

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