Module 4 Frankenstein Flashcards
Exposition of Frankenstein
-narrative revolves around ambitious scientific pursuits and the consequences of his experiments
-Viktor Frankenstein pursuit of his creation across different locations in Europe
-once Viktor succeeds in animating his creation, story focuses more on creatures experiences and interactions
-creature embarks on a self discovery journey
Climax of Frankenstein
-when Viktor is in pursuit, he finds himself on a desolate and icy terrain in the artic
-confronts consequences of his actions and obsession with creating life
-confrontation of Viktor and the Creature
-creature delivers message detailing its suffering and loneliness
Denouement of Frankenstein
-Viktor dies laying on Waltons ship
-creature vercome with guilt for the suffering it has caused -comes to side of Viktors bed
-final convo creature expressed deep sorrow and loneliness, and intention to end its own existence
-murdered William Franeknstein
Questionable things the Creature did
-murdered william frankenstein (Viktors brother)
-wrongfully framed Justine Moritz -family friend of Frankensteins
-threats and demands Viktor to create female companion
-violence and retribution- vows revenge on Viktor -psychological torment
Prometheus Allusion in Frankenstein
Viktor is seen as Illusion to Prometheus
-titan who stole fire from gods and gave it to humanity -granting knowledge and enlightenment -angered gods and was punished
Just like Viktor and pursuit of knowledge and desire to unlock secrets of life
-Viktor creates monster in attempt to use powers of creation that belongs to gods
-experiences consequences just like Prometheus
Adam Allusion in Frankenstein
-adam from bible
-creature expresses and identifies with story of Adam as he expresses desire for companionship
-Adam- first human, Creature-first of his kind
-creature feels abandoned by his creator just like Adam did by god
-both learn about the world and grapple with questions of identity and purpose
Credibility in Frankenstein: Ethos
Ethos: ethical appeal or credibility- persuading an audience by establishing credibility, authority, trustworthiness
-mary shelley wrote it -distinguished author
-told through Viktors eyes, a scientist, and had witnesses
credibility in Frankenstein: Pathos
Pathos: refers to emotional appeal, persuading audience by appealing to their emotions
-creatures loneliness and rejection from Viktor
-Vikots guilt and remorse for leaving/ abandoning the creature he made
-wrongful execution of Justine Moritz
Credibility in Frankenstein: Logos
Logos: refers to logical appeal, persuades audience by using logical reasoning, evidence, facts, and stats to support an argument
-Viktor pursues his experiment through science and logic
-uses deductive reasoning and logic throughout describing his experiments
-ethical dilemmas of creating life, things that come with it
-light and fire is used to convey deeper meanings and enrich the logical framework of novel and different views
Methods Walton Uses to establish Credibility
Witness and Testimony: primary witness and narrator of frankensteins story, as he describes what happened to him directly, creates credibility
Corroboration and Consistency: frankensteins account is corroborated by various other characters who encounter the creature -testimonies of Clerval and Elizabeth
Epistolary Writing in Frankenstein
-novel written as a series of letters
-Waltons letters to Margaret
-Elizabeth to Frankenstein
-Alphonso (franks father) writes to him
-Felix and Sofies letters
-Frankenstein is contained to and what the letter writes know or reveal
Uncanny in Frankenstein
-whole book is very uncanny (scary, eerie, etc)
-gothic novel: develops a brooding atmosphere of gloom and terror
-creates feeling of badness to reader
-creature was made out of cadavers (corpse), charnel houses, slaughterhouses, graves, tortured animals
Binaries and Imbalance in Frankenstein- Creature vs Creation
Creator vs Creation: Viktor and creature -Viktor represents the creature while the creature is the creation
-highlights power dynamics and moral responsibilities inherent in the act of creation
Imbalance is Viktors rejection and abandonment of creature
Binaries and Imbalance in Frankenstein: Nature vs Science
-tension between natural order and scientific intervention -Viktors pursuit of scientific knowledge disrupts natural order
Imbalance reflected in unnatural creation of the creature and the following disruption of societal norms and moral boundaries
Symbolism of Light and Dark in Frankenstein
-light usually means good, knowledge, dark usually means mystery, evil
-In Frankenstein, light and fire symbolize knowledge, discovery, scientific ambition
-darkness represents unknown, fear, consequences of playing God -creation of creature in darkness of night symbolizes unnatural and morally ambiguous aspects of experiments
