Mary Shelleys FRANKENSTEIN Chapters 3 5 Chapter Summaries

Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN Chapters 3 -5 Chapter Summaries Frankenstein’s Development Symbols & Allusions The Creature

Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN Letters 1 -4 and Chapters 1 & 2 Chapter Summaries Chapter 4 Chapter 3 • Goes to university at 17 • Elizabeth catches scarlet fever from mother – wish for marriage – focus on emotions (grief) • Realizes he has been studying nonsense so focuses life studying new sciences • Goes to work in a lab with Professor Krempe • Chemistry becomes “sole occupation” for two years • Begins to question structure of body, purpose of life, and how to create life • “To examine the causes of life, we must first have recourse to death” (Anatomy / Death & Decay) • Discovers reanimation • Foreshadows lesson: “…how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge “ • Questions morals, responsibilities, etc. of creating life but ultimately creates human form • Believes creature will “bless its creator and source” • Takes a year to complete project • The more time spent working, the less social Frankenstein becomes, (shuns others) Chapter 5 • Opens with PATHETIC FALLACY • Immediate descriptions of creature are not positive • “…the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart” • Nightmare: Kissing Elizabeth but she changes to a corpse • Allusion to Dante (Description of creature) • Allusion to Coleridge, “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” – Being followed • Runs into Clerval (hasn’t seen in years) • Creature gone when Frankenstein and Clerval return to house. Clerval knows something is up • Clerval gets Frankenstein to communicate with family

Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN Letters 1 -4 and Chapters 1 & 2 Victor Frankenstein – Character Development Victor Frankenstein: An Emotional Rollercoaster CHAPTER 3 • Grief due to loss of mother ”These are the reflections of the first few days; but when the lapse of time proves reality of the evil, then the actual bitterness of grief commences” • Motivated to learn all aspects of science ”Thus ended a day memorable to me; it decided my future destiny” CHAPTER 4 • Curiosity/Determination Digging around in graveyards • Imaginative Focusing on powers of life and death • Inquisitive Wonders if he is doing the right thing • Oppressed Removes himself/shuns all fellow creatures CHAPTER 5 • Disgust Realization that creature is wretched • Tormented With thoughts of vileness of his actions/creation IRONY: The more time Frankenstein spends creating life, the more he loses his own life

Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN Letters 1 -4 and Chapters 1 & 2 Symbols and Allusions SYMBOLS • Body parts • Light vs. Darkness • Mad Scientist • Recurring Dreams/Nightmares ALLUSIONS • Outdated sciences (i. e. Alchemy) • Pathetic fallacy / Use of seasons (i. e. “fall of a leaf”) • Dante’s Inferno • “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” • “The Vicar of Wakefield”

Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN Letters 1 -4 and Chapters 1 & 2 The Creature Planned Creature Resulting Monster • • Proportioned limbs; beautiful face Large and strong Appreciative of its Creator Intended to be a companion/friend • • • Yellow skin barely covered muscles and arteries Dull yellow eyes Mutters “inarticulate sounds, while a grin wrinkled his cheeks” Reaches out, as if to detain Frankenstein Ends up being a cause for sickness