reflection of culture and fear

Question 1

each aspect of the groundbreaking and controversial text is a

Answer 1

•striking characterization of the cultural anxieties and values of the time as well as exaggerated personifications of shelley’s own experiences

Question 2

the text itself serves as a

Answer 2

•cautionary tale warning readers abt the misuse of science and technology, represents the fragmented social & economic hierarchy that impacted the functionality of its society, and its genre of romanticism brings forth the subject of individuality

Question 3

frankenstein confronts the

Answer 3

•social movements,stigmas and values with its commentary through science fiction

Question 4

19th century england life was defined by

Answer 4

•a boistering economic prosperity & rigid class division

Question 5

the industrial revolution shifted the

Answer 5

•economy and workforce from agriculture based to manufacture based

Question 6

not only did this change a multitude of industries,

Answer 6

•it had a widespread effect on the functionality & culture of communities
•just as agriculturally living was seen as slower paced, modest and collaborative, living in an industrial boom mechanized society

Question 7

most production & excess goods changed consumer habits and the requirements for the avg worker to be hired

Answer 7

•changed
•the factory environment lacked any support of emphasis of individuality which is a key then of frankenstein

Question 8

piecing together this cultural history gives context

Answer 8

•on how individualism was portrayed throughout the novel as a reaction to a jarring shift in shelley’s and her community’s reality

Question 9

charles darwin’s scientific exploration on species strongly challenged

Answer 9

•religiously based Victorian values
•religion and science struggled to coexist in this era & they weren’t the only two aspects of the existing culture that clashed

Question 10

things that didn’t align with the values of victorian society didn’t

Answer 10

•fade out under oppression, rather, a no. of counter culture mvmts surface

Question 11

one of these mvmts was expressed in

Answer 11

•the romantic genre of literature
•just as factory & industrial culture rose to become a keystone of 19th century europe, individual expression became a primary value of the growing romantic genre

Question 12

in a similar way, the challenging of darwin’s discoveries and the advancement of natural science as a whole resulted in

Answer 12

•nature being another aspect of the genre

Question 13

esp in the case of frankenstein, science was portrayed to

Answer 13

•wrongfully allow people to play God, and in general science was perceived as smthn that disturbs natural order

Question 14

the rise of the romantic genre is seen as a

Answer 14

•reaction of society not valuing individuality, emotion, art and nature
•as a famed romantic text, frankenstein has a myriad of examples of how deeply emotional individuality is & how for some, it’s rejected by society

Question 15

since individuality wasn’t a celebrated aspect of humanity,

Answer 15

•those who expressed it often struggled with humiliation and remorse

Question 16

rejection of individuality has its consequences
shelley’s personification of creature exemplifies

Answer 16

•the cultural standpoint
•creature described as monstrous early in novel, but doesn’t fully embody monstrosity until rejected by victor

Question 17

characterization of creature as something profoundly ugly personifies and represents

Answer 17

•how society fears science
•victor is largely accused of “playing God” by scholars & shelley’s personification of creature shows there’s consequences for those actions

Question 18

this fear is demonstrated when

Answer 18

•creature becomes out of control & commits multiple murders while also serving as a living manifestation of fear and the unknown

Question 19

during industrial revolution, innovation & creation highly valued by society. era was increasing productivity & prosperity for society

Answer 19

•however the creature wasn’t created for improving the quality of life for others

Question 20

why was the creature created

Answer 20

•creature created out of curiosity by someone who played with smthn only god or nature should control: death

Question 21

it’s seen that the more victor delves into the taboo aspect of science

Answer 21

•the more he faced repercussions
•”sorrow only increased with knowledge.”

Question 22

his exploring of smthn he shouldn’t have interfered with is depicted to cause him pain. shelley is implying

Answer 22

•that by choosing to delve into this dangerous combination of science, death and life, the outcome is internally & externally negative

Question 23

this exemplifies more than just scientific values at the time. rigid class structure only functions if

Answer 23

•those at bottom are uneducated & unorganized
•if lower class is convinced that education only brings sorrow then they’ll stay uninformed & ignorant

Question 24

how creature if treated also is a representation of society & structure

Answer 24

•he’s instantly rejected as his apparent monstrosity was similar to the lower class Europeans at the time

Question 25

victor doesn’t want any association with

Answer 25

•the creature which inevitably leads to the monster committing atrocities

Question 26

on surface, seems like monster is just an angry inhumane aberration, though,

Answer 26

•its only when he’s denied what humans need that he acts out in such devastating ways

Question 27

like lower class, creature comes into works capable of love and education like everyone else

Answer 27

•he only becomes a monster as a product of his environment & community
•its not unreasonable for anyone to want the same companionship the monster wants

Question 28

quite a few examples of creatures humanity beyond him teaching himself how to read and write

Answer 28

•when being treated equally or not being attacked he expresses empathy
•feels obligated to help a family he’s staying with & learning from and even stops taking their foood as he realizes it caused them to struggle

Question 29

the creatures actions are objectively empathetic, however, victors skewed view of him is monstrous since he..

Answer 29

•has never treated the creature as an equal or with respect

Question 30

how does victors view of the monster reflect 19th century

Answer 30

•reflective of the 19th century europe’s social values since entire groups of people were automatically deduced to being uneducated and classless just because they were born into a lower socioeconomic community

Question 31

things such as wealth and property were directly correlated with an individuals or entire class’s humanity

Answer 31

•the creatures reflection makes this clear
•”…I possessed no money, no friends, no kind of property…. I was not even of the same nature as man..”

Question 32

shelley expertly articulates the reflection of an

Answer 32

• individual who’s being rejected because of his lack of material items
•he teaches himself how to read and write but still is reduced to a monster with no humanity

Question 33

as society and victor see him as a monster..

Answer 33

•the monster sees himself as one and starts to act like one too
•his uniqueness alienates him

Question 34

shelley’s exploration of romanticism and gothic literature also reveals

Answer 34

•that she had an opposing value of her era and culture: individualism

Question 35

her portrayal of individuality in the creature is personified in him being

Answer 35

•alone, having no trust in a human society,and being a product of science

Question 36

science at the time was strong parallel to individuality as in essence represents developing new and unique ways to perceive world

Answer 36

•victors pursuit of science overstepped boundaries in his pursuit to discover the unknown

Question 37

both characters portray individuality in their own ways and both experience negative repercussions of said individuality

Answer 37

•victor expresses individuality in his thoughts and actions while the creature is the only being of his kind
•both of them experiencing struggles in response to their expression of self reflects the rising era of the industrial revolution

Question 38

what did the growing culture of factor assembly lines & mass production oppose

Answer 38

•science and creativity

Question 39

what does the creature epitomize

Answer 39

•epitomizes romanticism as a reaction to the oppression of his and shelley’s apparent society

Question 40

shelley’s portrayal of the creature shows

Answer 40

•the torture that ensues towards an individual who’s diff from rest of society

Question 41

creature loathes own existence and creation

Answer 41

•”Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed?”

Question 42

both creature and victor loathe themselves after

Answer 42

•creatures creation and individually having powerful internal battles
•in some ways victor represents a byronic hero

Question 43

how does victor represent a byronic hero

Answer 43

•he’s a fascinating character that expresses both Gothic and Romantic elements whose complicated paradoxes and bruiting attitude ultimately lead him into a lot of internal & external struggles

Question 44

what does victor denying to name the creature allude to

Answer 44

•alludes to his view on the relationship between individuality & humanity
•by not giving creature a name, he inherently loses aspects of individuality

Question 45

the creatures realization of his uniqueness is accompanied by his realization of his monstrosity

Answer 45

•”I am an unfortunate and deserted creature,”
•”I am an outcast in this world forever.”

Question 46

his awareness of his rejection turns him into

Answer 46

• a monster
•a creation being rejected by a creator did irreparable damage to the creature
•shelley’s portrayal of individuality suggests that not celebrating people’s uniqueness is what’s truly destructive

Question 47

it’s challenging to discern which aspects of shelley’s writing reflected

Answer 47

•her own views or commentary on her culture and society
•the cultural values of the time were very different than they are now, esp considering the impact of the industrial revolution and the value on religion

Question 48

the rise of the gothic and romantic genres support that

Answer 48

•groups and individuals were reacting to the societal values or lack there of with these counterculture movements

Question 49

the creature personified the views of

Answer 49

•religion and science. individuality, the changing factory based environment, and the social and economic hierarchies that existed

Question 50

the creature was an early personification of

Answer 50

•the fear of science and the dangers that amount as a result of the ignorant and curious man

Question 51

since having a name is a humanizing characteristic,

Answer 51

•by not giving the creature one, it supports that shelley was commenting on the concept of individualism

Question 52

the creature lacked individuality and was also

Answer 52

•disrespected and disregarded by society similarly to the poor and working class

Question 53

the culture of 19th century england had both deeply

Answer 53

•ingrained and also rapidly changing values
•while they coexisted, the change in culture left some alienated and monstrous

Question 54

the creature was an amalgamation of

Answer 54

•the fears of science and rejection while also personifying shelley’s commentary and criticisms of society