Transcript The Frankenstein Unit

The Frankenstein Unit
Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay
To mould me, Did I solicit thee
From Darkness to promote me?
Paradise Lost, X 743-745
Mary Shelley’s background
(August 30, 1797-February 1, 1851)
Born on August 30th 1797.
Mother: Mary Wollstonecraft
a famous feminist author
who died 11 days after
giving birth to Mary
Father: William Godwin
A famous 19th century
philosopher who believed
in the rights of the
individual.
Shelley’s marriage
• At 15 years of age Mary
met her future husband
Percy Bysshe Shelley, a
disciple of William
Godwin and a famous
poet.
• Despite being previously
married to another
woman, Percy Bysshe
Shelley convinces Mary to
elope with him in France
when she was 17.
The Making of Frankenstein
• On 19 March 1815
Shelley recorded in
her journal, after the
death of her first child:
"Dream that my little
baby came to life
again--that it had only
been cold & that we
rubbed it before the
fire & it lived."
Byron’s Challenge
• In the summer of 1816,
Percy and Mary visit Lord
Byron’s estate in France.
• The summer of 1816 had
fall like weather because a
massive volcano in
Indonesia spewed ash
around the world.
• Because of the gloomy
weather, Byron issued a
challenge to his guests to
create the best horror story.
The Publishing of Frankenstein
• At Byron’s estate, Mary
has a dream about a man
who plans to bring life to
the dead.
• She turns her idea into a
story and is encouraged by
her husband to turn the
story into a novel.
• In 1818, Shelley publishes
the novel at the age of 19.
I saw—with shut eyes, but acute mental vision—I saw
the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the
thing he had put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of
a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some
powerful engine, show signs of life and stir with an
uneasy, half-vital motion. Frightful must it be, for
supremely frightful would be the effect of any human
endeavor to mock the stupendous mechanism of the
Creator of the world.
So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein—more,
far more, will I achieve; treading in the steps already marked, I will
pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world
the deepest mysteries of creation.
The Title of the Novel
• The name “Frankenstein”
originates not from the
Creature, but the Creator,
Victor Frankenstein.
• Victor, like Shelley,
suffers the loss of many
loved ones at an early age.
• He creates his creature as
a way to bring back the
dead.
The Doppelganger
• The story is a
Doppelganger, or German
word for “double image.”
• Both the Creature and
Victor mirror each other in
their effort to destroy the
other.
• The Doppelganger
represents a divided self,
or two alter egos who are
more alike than different.
Famous Doppelgangers
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
• Batman and the Joker
• Bruce Banner and The
Incredible Hulk
• James Bond and Blofeld
• Mario and Donkey Kong
• Optimus Prime and
Megatron
The Modern Prometheus
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Mary Shelley’s subtitle for
Frankenstein is “The Modern
Prometheus”
In Greek Mythology, the titan
Prometheus stole fire from the sun
and gave it to humanity.
This angered the Greek god Zeus
who did not want humans to
control fire.
He was punished by being chained
to a lake while an eagle would feast
on his liver.
The Prometheus Myth has become
a metaphor of what happens when
humans get a hold of something
they cannot control and reach
beyond their ability.
The Creature
• Unlike the Hollywood
stereotype, the
Creature is an
intelligent being
whose rage stems
from his neglect from
Victor.
I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be
spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on.
Themes in the Novel
1. Personal Responsibility:
Are we responsible for
our own actions?
2. Responsibility to Others:
Are we responsible for
the actions of others?
3. Recreate the Past: Can
we reshape the past?
The Hollywood Stereotype
• James Whale directed
the 1931 film
Frankenstein where
our image of the
Creature comes from.
• In the film, a mad
scientists creates a
creature with little
intelligence who rages
against humanity.
The Cultural Myth
• There are over 100 films
about Frankenstein.
• Frankenstein has been
used to sell merchandise
such as Twix candy bars,
Levi’s Jeans, Coca-Cola,
Frankenberry Cereal,
M&Ms, Penzoil, and Pez.
Favorite Titles of Frankenstein
Movies
• “Frankenstein’s Musical
Christmas”
• “Alvin and the Chipmunks
meet Frankenstein”
• “Frankenstein vs.
Dracula”
• “Frankenstein: the College
Years”
• “Blackenstein”
Films, Films, Films Oh My!
Because the myth of
Frankenstein has
become such a part of
our pop culture we
will by watching clips
from various versions
of “Frankenstein.”
Read the Book, then the Sparknotes!
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You may be required to
read 30+ pages a night.
I realize there are
websites like Sparknotes
that summarize the book,
please use this as a
resource. To pass you
must read the book!!!
Please answer the following in your
daybooks:
What is the appeal of Frankenstein’s
monster?