...Nine English AEP Frankenstein/Science Fiction Essay (Reading and Writing Task) Topic: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is the Science Fiction text that allowed all other examples of the sub-genre to follow. Discuss this proposition with specific reference to the Drama Script and Film versions of the novel, along with any other relevant Science Fiction texts you have read or viewed. * Your essay should especially consider Shelley’s context and that of other writers you refer to, as well as your own context as a reader. * You should make specific reference to the texts you are discussing via both direct (quotations) and indirect (explanations) evidence. * Be sure to plan your response so that each paragraph has its own unified idea. A sample paragraph structure might look like the following: 1. Introduction – Thesis: e.g.: “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is the first text which uses scientific experimentation as the basis of its plot. In doing this, it paved the way for all Science Fiction which followed…” 2. Body P1 – Author context + sub-genre features – what changes have occurred over time as a result of context? Consider Mary Shelley, H.G. Wells, Ray Bradbury 3. Body P2 – Discussion of Frankenstein 4. Body P3 – Discussion of other text e.g.: War of the Worlds (make some reference to Frankenstein as well) 5. Body P4 - Discussion of other text e.g.: There Will Come Soft Rains (make some reference to Frankenstein as well) 6. Body...
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...every story told of good versus evil, the protagonist is hailed as the hero who vanquished the heartless villain? Yet no one ever cares to think of the antagonist at a personal level, and actually try to understand what they are feeling. In Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein, Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s creation commits crimes that portray the creature as an evil and immoral being, and based solely on its actions the reader cannot help but hate the creature to a certain degree. However in this story the reader is allowed to know what is happening within the mind of the creature and is able to find reason behind its actions. Knowing the origin of the creature’s feelings, showing that is more than just a grotesque hunk of flesh, allows the reader to sympathize with the creature and to understand its reasoning behind its actions. There are many stories where a reader is only vaguely informed of the past of the antagonist and the reader is unable to feel a connection between both the antagonist and protagonist. Most likely the reader will side with the protagonist because their feelings are more easily understood and accepted and the reader will not even give a second thought about the antagonist. Luckily for the reader, Frankenstein is not like that, Mary Shelley allows the reader to understand the creature by giving the full presentation of the character. “Listen to my tale: when you have heard that, abandon or commiserate me, as you shall judge that I deserve.” (Shelley 69). By allowing...
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...1818, by an “anonymous” author, Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus has inspired numerous adaptations, remakes and parodies across different literary genres. Reprinted again in 1831, this time with an introduction written by Mary Shelley acknowledging her authorship, Frankenstein through its discrediting of science and the omnipotence of nature, confirms ands challenges our own habitual understandings of the world around us. The habitual understanding I will be focusing on is western hegemonic rationalism and the dominance of science as the ruler and explainer of my universe in comparison to the earlier more romantic ideology of Shelley’s time. Frankenstein also carries a warning about ambition. In a society that believes ambition to be a good thing, Shelley attempts to revel catastrophic consequences for humans over come with the quest for glory and science’s obsessive and overly ambitious nature. Western hegemonic ideal is the cultural identity that has conditioned me, becoming habitual, normal and routine. However, Shelley was privileged as she was writing at the beginning of the scientific enlightenment era, and could therefore identify what would be lost if science and technology were to usurp the position of God, nature and fate. Art, emotions, passion, suffering, humility etc were to be restricted into liminal spaces, creating a world not unlike Aldous Huxley’s A Brave New World. Romantic philosophies have been endorsed in Frankenstein through the downfall of Victor...
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...The worlds of Frankenstein and Blade Runner are effective representations of their context and the values which were catalysts for their composition. How has your study supported this? Throughout time, literature has served well as a window into the schools of thought and social concerns of any given era of human history. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (Director’s cut), 1986, continue this trend. Frankenstein is a typical example of Gothic literature that engages with issues commonly raised during the Enlightenment and Romantic Movement. Blade Runner was composed in the early 1980’s, a time of radical change and development in areas of science and business. Despite their differing social contexts, both texts question similarly ethically driven issues. The question over man’s right to push the boundaries of science in the creation of life has transcended time, growing increasingly relevant with recent advancements in technology. The contentious issue was predominant throughout the Enlightenment period, an era characterised by significant change where reason was valued over religious faith. This contextual significance is mirrored in Shelly’s condemnation of Frankenstein’s experiment through the loathing tone of “now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.” She furthers her argument through the monster’s description of Frankenstein as an “unfeeling, heartless creator!”, reflective...
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...Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Key facts full title · Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus author · Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley type of work · Novel genre · Gothic science fiction language · English time and place written · Switzerland, 1816, and London, 1816–1817 date of first publication · January 1, 1818 publisher · Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones narrator · The primary narrator is Robert Walton, who, in his letters, quotes Victor Frankenstein’s first-person narrative at length; Victor, in turn, quotes the monster’s first-person narrative; in addition, the lesser characters Elizabeth Lavenza and Alphonse Frankenstein narrate parts of the story through their letters to Victor. climax · The murder of Elizabeth Lavenza on the night of her wedding to Victor Frankenstein in Chapter 23 protagonist · Victor Frankenstein antagonist · Frankenstein’s monster setting (time) · Eighteenth century setting (place) · Geneva; the Swiss Alps; Ingolstadt; England and Scotland; the northern ice point of view · The point of view shifts with the narration, from Robert Walton to Victor Frankenstein to Frankenstein’s monster, then back to Walton, with a few digressions in the form of letters from Elizabeth Lavenza and Alphonse Frankenstein. falling action · After the murder of Elizabeth Lavenza, when Victor Frankenstein chases the monster to the northern ice, is rescued by Robert Walton, narrates his story, and dies tense · Past foreshadowing · Ubiquitous—throughout...
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...Frankenstein Essay Assignment For this essay, you will choose a focus in the novel, Frankenstein, and create an original argument based on it. Your writing may be strictly literary analysis or it may take the form of a compare/contrast essay that works to connect an aspect of the novel to concepts or events outside the book. You are free to choose whatever focus you like in the novel. A good starting point is to consider what aspects of Frankenstein interest you most as you read it; for example you might be particularly drawn to the monster’s development, the relationship between Victor and Walton, Victor and the monster, the role of women, the nature vs. nurture debate, the importance of companionship, or the role of nature in the book. Here are some topic ideas that you may choose if you would like to connect the novel to outside sources: 1) Psychology/Identity formation- research child development, nature vs. nurture, and connect what you find to the monster’s development in the novel. What does Shelley’s novel seem to suggest about how identity is formed? Compare and contrast Shelley’s views with your research. 2) Philosophy- Shelley was heavily influenced by Locke and Rousseau, two major philosophical thinkers. Read excerpts of their works, and apply concepts from their writings to the novel. 3) Shelley’s biography- If you are interested in learning more about the writer behind the story, this is a good option for you. It won’t take you long to see...
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...Brett Jacobs March 24, 2014 Mrs. Zink English III Loving Frankenstein When reading most books today people are likely to compare what happens in the book to their real life experiences. Readers do this frequently in many different kinds of books from horror novels to love stories. While reading the novel Frankenstein, though it may not be the first thing on a readers mind, after being done with the novel people cant resist the urge to go back and understand the relationships between many of the main characters and why some of the characters did what they did. Mary Shelley the author of Frankenstein is known for creating relationships in novels and either leaving them unexplained or making the reader question what she was trying to reveal about society and its shortcoming though a specific characters relationship. While reading Frankenstein this happened many times with multiple relationships such as the one between Elizabeth and Victor, Victor and the monseter or the monster and society. Almost every character revealed speaks to the most inner thoughts people have. Throughout the novel Frankenstein, the reader comes to understand the human condition in many ways. In this particular novel, many times loneliness comes into effect and changes how the character acts and reacts to each other and their surroundings. When Elizabeth is first introduced into the book she is portrayed as a lonely character. She is an orphan and seems to have a assortment of problems and never to...
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...“The real monster in the novel Frankenstein” In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, the main character, Victor Frankenstein, is a troubled man. The novel begins with a tale told by a sea caption, Robert Walton, who rescued Frankenstein from icy waters while traveling to the North Pole. Frankenstein tells the tale of his creation of a monster to the sea caption. Victor was educated in college in the field of philosophy and chemistry. During his years in college, Victor becomes obsessed with the notion of creating life. Using his education and knowledge, he begins to create a live being out of old body parts. Isolating himself and working diligently for a long time, Victor’s dream finally came true. After creating this monster and bringing the monster to life, he becomes frightened at what he did and flees his home in terror. When he returns home, he discovers the monster is missing. Although he is concerned, he does nothing to remedy the situation. Soon after, Victor has learned from his father that his brother was murdered and returns to his childhood home. While traveling home, he catches sight of the monster and is convinced the monster has killed his brother. A young girl who was adopted by the Frankenstein family is found guilty of the murder and put to death. Victor, knowing it is the monster that killed his brother, says nothing to defend the young girl, afraid it may be discovered that he created the monster. Shortly thereafter, Victor encounters the monster...
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...Frankenstein When one makes a decision, the consequences of that decision can affect one for the rest of one’s life. When one makes a good decision, one will have good consequences. When one makes a bad decision, one will have bad consequences. In Frankenstein, a Gothic science fiction novel, written by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein discovers the consequences of making bad decisions and how he must be responsible for his actions. He learns that even though his intentions were good, the outcomes were destructive. The theme of good intentions can have destructive outcomes is expressed when Victor goes to Ingolstadt. While he is there, he studies alchemy and modern science. By studying science, he learns about life. He is fascinated by the secret of life and decides that he wants to create life from a dead body. He visits morgues for the necessary body parts for his scientific experiment. When he begins his scientific experiment, he neglects his health, family, friends, and schoolwork. When the scientific experiment is finished, the grotesque appearance of the monster horrifies Victor. He runs out of his apartment, leaving his eight-foot monster behind. While he is out, he runs into his best friend, Henry. Henry takes Victor back to his apartment. Because he was neglecting his health, he falls ill with a fever. The theme of good intentions can have destructive outcomes is also expressed when the monster he created results in the destruction of everyone around him. When...
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...Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley and ‘Bladerunner’, directed by Ridley Scott both present similar perspectives to humanities use of technology, despite being set more than 150 years apart. The contexts are different, yet the values and issues remain the same. Both Shelley and Scott explore what seemed possible at the time. The idea of creating life seemed possible at the time where science was beginning to explore new fields. This is also similar in Bladerunner, where Scott takes new technology from the 1980s and extrapolates these ideas into the future. Frankenstein was published in 1818 at a time of the emerging Romantic Movement which highlighted the need for more open self expression. Imagination was seen as a powerful force which ‘went beyond the ordinary’ as to interpret and see the world afresh. It was also a period which focused on the importance of nature, the sublime, and focused on its awareness of the individual, which for Shelley, Victor Frankenstein as her example. Shelley showed her admiration of the wild and natural world by directly referencing it in her work. Rugged and untamed landscapes and settings are evident in Frankenstein as Shelley uses descriptive language and imagery to represent to the reader of the sweeping landscapes which are stark, barren and majestic, “river raging among the rocks, and the dashing of waterfalls around, spoke of a power mighty as omnipotence.” These harsh and cold landscapes also mirror the cold and ruthless personalities each...
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...who the real monster is. With judgment comes pity, a universal human characteristic that determines a person in a unstable situation looking for help. Analyzing an individuals isolation from society, having parents with poor parenting skills, and manipulation of character can all have an influence of who we pity. In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein she allows us to make our own choices based on details she presents from various characters. Mary Shelley uses the motif of Isolation in exploring the idea of humanity. Both Victor Frankenstein and the Creature suffer from isolation physically and mentally. Shelley emphasizes what the Creature lacks when he says, “ I learned and applied the words, fire, milk, bread, and woods. I learned also the names of the cottagers themselves. The youth and his companion had each of them several names, but the old man has only one, which is father. The girl was called sister, or Agatha; and the youth Felix, brother, or son”. (112) Shelley purposefully uses those words because they are exactly the first words a baby would learn, showing that the Creature is similar to a helpless infant. Clearly, Victor Frankenstein is the primary cause of his creature to feel rejected, lonely, and determined to seek revenge. Shelley has the Creature realize the rejection he feels from society when he says, “ I possessed no money, no friends, no kind of property. I was, besides, endowed with a...
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...Frankenstein Biblical Allusions Essay Marco Ng Mrs. Hawes English 11 14 January 2016 To what extent does one’s collective intellect and diligence increase his/her capacity to achieve greatness? Is it feasible to believe that humanity—with adequate knowledge and wisdom— may be capable in imitating the abilities and power of God? These questions are flamboyantly revealed in the novel, Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelly, as a result of numerous biblical allusions focusing on the relationship between Victor Frankenstein and the monster. Through the biblical allusions in Frankenstein, Victor and the monster are utilized to emphasize the terror of uncertain human boundaries and also portray the duality of the two questionable protagonists in the novel. The duality depicted serves to critique the dominant religious beliefs developed up to the time period of the novel and challenge the axioms formed due to religious faith towards the Bible. The primary biblical allusion illustrated in Frankenstein is the reflection of Victor and the monster as creator and creation. In other words, Victor represents God and the monster represents Adam. By forming this allusion, Shelley illustrates the uncertain boundaries of human capability and arouses fear towards the power of human achievement. This biblical allusion inducing fear in human achievement first appears in chapter four through implicative dialogues involving the reanimation of life. While Victor defines reanimation, he accentuates...
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...Frankenstein I would like to introduce a theory on the characters based on the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley R. What I would like to introduce is the parallel lines that run through these characters Walton, Victor Frankenstein, and the Creature. Mary Shelleys Frankenstein is a novel that was written for a contest between her and her peers, a contest was to see who could write the most telling tale of fright. Mary, who was the youngest t and had never put pen to paper in this manner, took to the challenge. The story told by her impressed one of her friends Percy Shelly and being of some affluence had the book published. The story that was told begins at the end of Victor Frankenstein's life where he is found in the farthest reaches North in to the cold and icy waters chasing some unknown figure. At the same time which appears to be by coincidence he is rescued by an explorer on a quest of glory. Victor agrees to board the explorers boat to recover his strength and will so he can continue his chase of the unknown figure. While aboard the explorers ship Victor befriends the explorer and they begin to trust each other and talk to each other. This novel at the surface appears to be like many others that have been written some I have read some I have not but, upon, much reading and re-reading the novel I have discovered something that I have found very fascinating Is this a tale of one man, two or three. We meet Walton the first character introduced...
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...There are many times, in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, where internal conflict is illustrated. Internal conflict is the conflict which is found within a person. Many times, the conflict arises from what a person wants to do and what the person should do (essentially, the conflict between right and wrong). (On a side note, I have an electronic copy of the text. Page numbers do not exist. I will provide you with chapter number.) How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? One of the most profound examples of internal conflict is found in chapter five. When the creature first comes to life, Victor is beside himself. He cannot understand why the being he toiled over is so horrible. A thousand times rather would I have confessed myself guilty of the crime ascribed to Justine...a declaration would have been considered as the ravings of a madman, and would not have exculpated her who suffered through me. The above quote comes from chapter eight. Here, Victor is struggling with his own confession regarding Wiliam's death. He knows that his confession would not matter and only make him look insane. “I did confess; but I confessed a lie. I confessed, that I might obtain absolution but now that falsehood lies heavier at my heart than all my other sins." In the same chapter, Justine shows internal conflict when she confessed to William's murder (although she did was not guilty)...
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...In the Beginning There Was Frankenstein Many have said that love makes the world go around but we are left with the question of who creates love? What would life be like if we had not experienced love and, ultimately, what would each of us be like without experiencing love? The Holy Bible provides numerous examples of a perfect love from the Creator and explains that people have been created to love. Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus, creates questions about the responsibility of a creator, and what can happen when some basic responsibilities of a creator are ignored. The novel describes a monster and his actions due to his creator abandoning him. Throughout Mary Shelley’s novel, there is the question of who really is the monster? Victor Frankenstein, the creator of the monster, can easily be compared to the Judeo-Christian God and the story of creation found in the book of Genesis. The God referred to as the creator of all mankind is driven by love for his creation, but Victor Frankenstein is driven to create by his own personal ideas of grandiosity and ego. The Holy Bible is the account of the Judeo-Christian God’s action in the world and his purpose for all creation. The writing of the Holy Bible took place over sixteen centuries, and is the work of over forty human authors. There are sixty-six books that provide various lessons for living and moral conduct, examples of love from a Creator, and a starting point for creation. In Genesis, the...
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