Frankenstein
First, a journal Death is nothing; but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily. Napolean Bonaparte What do you think this quote means? Do you agree or disagree? Why? Thoroughly explain your answer.
A Brief History French Monarchy was violently overthrown in 1789, which sent shockwaves through Europe Britain joined forces with other countries in attempting to squlech the French Revolution French Revolution allowed Napoleon to seize France and a series of wars (Napoleonic Wars) cost Britain and France lots of money. Napoleonic Wars end in 1815
A Brief History End of the wars brought an economic depression to Britain An oversupply of goods meant that farms and manufacturers needed fewer workers Industrial Revolution had disrupted the old ways of life and returning soldiers from Waterloo faced domestic turmoil. Sound familiar??
Romanticism Begin in 18 th century Germany & quickly spread throughout Europe Influences art, literature, art & philosophy The term romantic comes from the word romance which refers to a medieval heroic narrator This narrative centers on a heroic individual and weaves in elements of the exotic & mysterious
Romanticism During this time artists, writers and philosophers rebelled against the rational, orderly forms that had been popular during the previous era Create works that celebrated emotion over reason, nature over human artifice, ordinary people over aristocrats and spontaneity and freedom over decorum and control
Romanticism At the heart of the changes was an emphasis on the individual and a growing reverence for the power of a creative imagination These shifts in thinking led to political uprisings. Few historical eras have seen this kind of political and social change
Romanticism Charles Dickens characterized the times as the best of times and the worst of times. It was the best because society saw the birth of freedom and equality and the worst because the cost of freedom and equality was bloodshed Why does it happen this way?
Romanticism Gothic Novels: were long stories that contained elements of suspense, mystery, magic, and macabre that included exotic settings such as haunted castles and untamed wilderness
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley 1797-1851
Born to the infamous parents: William Goodwin (journalist, political philosopher, radical & novelist) and super feminist Mary Wollstonecraft (A Vindication of the Rights of Women) Raised by her father and older sister, Fanny Family scandal came to light when Fanny was 11 and was told by her father (Goodwin) that she was the illegitimate daughter of Wollstonecraft and American Gilbert Imlay. More drama ensued when Goodwin remarried the neighbor woman and added three more children to the mix. Because of Goodwin, Mary as able to mingle with the intellects of British society (Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Humphrey Davy, and William Nicolson). These men influenced Frankenstein as seen in Shelley s blending of literature, the fantastical and science.
At 14, Mary is sent to Scotland b/c she and her step-mother do not get along. Mary returns home in 1814 (she is 16) and quickly falls for Percy Bysshe Shelley whom she had met two years prior with his wife. Percy Bysshe Shelley & Mary eloped to the continent (Europe) in July of 1814. They were outcasts no one would take them in they had no money and debt-collectors wanted their money. Goodwin did not acknowledge the relationship and technically the two simply ran away together Shelley was still married to Harriet and now Mary was pregnant. As Shelley begins to secure financial security, the couple is able to make friends and Mary begins writing again her step-sister Claire is determined to compete with her & begins a tumultuous affair with Lord Byron.
Claire gets pregnant with Lord Byron, who runs back to his wife and refuses to acknowledge the child Mary convinces Shelley to claim the child has his own and makes a deal with the Devil, aka Lord Byron Lord Byron does not have to acknowledge the child but he must provide financial support and support Shelley as a writer The two men become close intimate friends and Mary begins writing on her own Returns to England in the summer of 1816 and then tragedy strikes the Goodwin family Fanny commits suicide in October and then Shelley s wife commits suicide in December Mary and Shelley finally marry in late December of 1816 The Shelley family moves to Italy where Shelley becomes the famous poet we know him to be.
January 1, 1818: Frankenstein is published anonymously Mary s career continues to flourish under the name, The Author of Frankenstein Shelley drowns in 1822 Mary dies quietly in her home in 1851
Frankenstein Started as a round table ghost story between Mary, Percy, and Lord Byron. Fueled by opium, and insecurities Mary is encouraged by Lord Byron to turn little ghost story into a novel. Lord Byron, Mary and Percy begin a weird long-lasting relationship seen in Frankenstein.
Characteristics of Romantic Poets Beauty of the Supernatural: British Romantics believed something existed beyond the physical world. The Spirit world, according to Romantics, had unleashed its power and inspiration to overthrow tyranny in government and in literature. Championing of the Individual: British Romanticism attempted to free itself from traditional forms and subjects. The Importance of Nature: The poet, according to the Romantics, is only at peace when in nature; moreover, while in nature, the poet intervened with the great Universal Mind. Romantic poets made frequent use of personification with nature, ascribing human traits to daffodils, fields, streams, and lakes. Nature, in essence, became emotionally expressive. The Dangers of Technology: A natural consequence of celebrating nature was a disdain for technology and industrialism.
Frankenstein The novel is essentially about transformation. What do you think this means? Based on the bio of Mary Shelley, why do you think she chose to write about transformation? (7-8 sentences) Paragraph 2: High school is essentially a period of transformation. Explain why transformation during adolescence is so important and the consequences of not evolving and changing during these years. (7-8 sentences)
Characteristics of Romanticism Ancestral Curse Anti-Catholicism Body-Snatching (Grave Robbing) Cemetery Claustrophobia Gothic Counterfeit Devil GROUP A
Characteristics of Romanticism Haunted House or Castle Inquisition Literature of Terror vs. Literature of Horror Marvelous vs. the Uncanny Masochism GROUP B
Characteristics of Romanticism Mist Mystery Necromancy Gothic Parody Possession Pursued Protagonist Pursuit of the heroine GROUP C
Characteristics of Romanticism Revenant Revenge Dark Romanticism Sadism Sensibility Somnambulism The Sublime GROUP D
Characteristics of Romanticism OSupernatural Gadgetry OSuperstition OTransformations OUnreliable Narrator GROUP E OVampire OVillain-Hero (Satanic, Promethean, Byronic Hero)
Characteristics of Romanticism OWerewolf OWitches and Witchcraft All Groups
Characteristics of Gothic Literature For your assigned group, you need to use the resource on Splitek s website to create a succinct definition for each of the terms in your group. You must also identify a modern day pop-culture example of the term. You will be sharing these terms with their definitions with your table mates tomorrow (Wednesday) in class. If you don t finish, they will have to do it for homework on their own on Wednesday night. All of the terms must be defined with an example by the start of class on Thursday.
Characteristics of Gothic Literature: EXAMPLE Werewolf Definition: A normal human by day that turns into a wolf at night. The condition can be hereditary, or acquired through a werewolf bite. Also, some werewolves are able to control when they change shape, while others are unavoidably turned by the full moon. Pop-culture Reference: Teen Wolf or Professor Lupin from Harry Potter series
Reading Chapters 1 & 2 Read chapters 1 & 2 of Frankenstein (pgs 17-27) When you are finished with your chapters, write a 5-6 sentence paragraph on your first impressions of the novel so far. You also need to write a seven sentence summary of the chapters. You will have ONLY have 2 paragraphs when you are finished. Things to Remember: The person talking is Dr. Victor Frankenstein the half-dead guy that Captain Walton and his crew found wondering on the ice. Dr. Frankenstein is talking to Captain Walton who is relaying it for us in a letter to his sister, Margaret. This is the first story within a story.