Question

you can search online and find information about the novel. I searched but I don't understand anything because the English not my native language I can't understand this novel to answer these question please help me (please my last chance please help)

Can you please help me with these Discussion Questions for Shelley’s Frankenstein:

Questions for Volume I:

The novel’s title page prompts readers to link Frankenstein with Prometheus. Familiarize yourself with Prometheus. In what way is the myth relevant to Shelley’s novel?

Describe Victor Frankenstein. What is his passion? What motivates him? What does he aim to accomplish by creating the monster?

What similarities exist between Walton and Victor Frankenstein?

What does the novel suggest so far regarding the importance of human relationships?

Where does the novel display tenets of Romanticism? In what ways are Romantic beliefs pitted against those of the Enlightenment?

Discuss Victor’s attitude toward his creation of the monster.

Make some conjecture as to what it is Victor hopes to impart to Walton in conveying the story of the monster and the ensuing events.

Where do you see the features of Gothicism evident?

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) (The novel’s title page prompts readers to link Frankenstein with Prometheus. Familiarize yourself with Prometheus. In what way is the myth relevant to Shelley’s novel?)

Prometheus, in Greek mythology, is a titan who is known for creating man from clay. The Gods don’t particularly like Prometheus as he stole fire from the Gods and gave it to man. This fire enabled man to make progress that the God wouldn’t have wanted.

In the book Victor is desperate to use is medical knowledge to create a creature by putting together parts of the bodies of deceased human beings. He is an intelligent man who seems to think of himself as superior. This project of creating a creature seems conceited and short-sighted as the story goes on to prove. Similarly, Prometheus creates humans who are not entirely obedient or extremely benevolent creatures.

(Describe Victor Frankenstein. What is his passion? What motivates him? What does he aim to accomplish by creating the monster?)

Victor Frankenstein was a scientist who was self-conceited and was passionate to the point of obsession, with creating a creature. He used his knowledge of human anatomy to build a monster only for his selfish purposes of having a name for himself. Victor did not stop to think about the monster, the identity he was creating for him or even the new being that would come into existence.

(What similarities exist between Walton and Victor Frankenstein?)

The book is written from the point of view of Captain Walton who finds Victor Frankenstein on the ice in the Arctic. He nurses Victor back to health and writes down his adventures in the form of letters that he addresses to his sister Margaret Seville in England.

Walton had an uneven temperament of a good side and a bad side. This good side seems to be like the good and innocent side of the monster. The bad seems like the cunning and ambitious side of Victor.

Walton and Victor are equally ambitious and crave fame and glory. Both of them want to contribute to the human race and seem like reckless characters. They are focused on earning their glory and not at the repercussions of their actions.

(What does the novel suggest so far regarding the importance of human relationships?)

This novel highlights the importance of human relationships in terms of their work and ethics. This novel was more like a benchmark in the field of science and medical ethics. It defined a circumstance where the question of “how far would you go?” was earnestly asked.

Ethical codes today acknowledge the subject just as much as anything else.

When Victor created the monster, he didn’t stop to think about the entity he made, his desires and the life he created. It was all an experiment for him from the very beginning. Since there was no heart and only logic put into his work, it begs the question of how emotions and considerations are such an important part of human relationships.

(Where does the novel display tenets of Romanticism? In what ways are Romantic beliefs pitted against those of the Enlightenment?)

The novel romanticises the idea of how Victor feels that he can twist, turn and mould science to be anything that he wants it to be. He does not stop to think about the consequences of his actions. He is in love with the idea of a life where his knowledge can have any outcome that he romanticises about. Creating the monster was the product of such thought.

These beliefs are pitted against enlightenment because they are not sagacious; they are abrupt and inconsiderate thoughts. Furthermore, they are selfish and done for personal glory without consideration to the monster and the people around him.

(Discuss Victor’s attitude toward his creation of the monster.

Make some conjecture as to what it is Victor hopes to impart to Walton in conveying the story of the monster and the ensuing events.)

The monster was a living being with rage, emotions, thoughts and a life. To Victor, however, it was a lab rat that helped him become famous. Victor had failed with his creation because it gets too menacing for him to handle. He, therefore, hopes to impart the similar passion to Walton as he sees potential in him. This shows that Victor learns nothing from his experience and is the least bit enlightened by his mistakes.

He sees Walton as someone who would bear the proverbial torch of his glory and carry on his unethical work.

(Where do you see the features of Gothicism evident?)

Gothicism is an old form of Swedish literature that combines elements of horror, fiction, death etc. These elements are clearly evident in the plot devices, the tropes and themes and the very idea of the story.