Frankenstein

23 Pages·2013·14.31 MB·English

Frankenstein
or the Modern Prometheus
Mary Wollstonecraft
Lord Byron
anonymous
Godwin (Shelley)
1818
Background Notes
Percy Bysshe Shelley John Polidori
Thursday, February 7, 13
SYLLABUS
FRANKENSTEIN (1818)
THE MODERN PROMETHEUS
by Anonymous
I.OBJECTIVE
! Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus, will be read and analyzed with the objective that the student will understand the historical context, the
scientific issues, the literary elements of an Epistolary novel, and the relationship of the novel to the specified focus AND essential questions.
II. TEXT
A. Required reading: Frankenstein 1818 - anonymous.
B. Recommended reading: Transhumanism: A Grimoire of Alchemical Agendas - Scott D. de Hart & Joseph P. Farrell 2012:Feral House
On Reserve in the Library. May be used but not checked out.
III. FOCUS QUESTIONS (typed 1 page per question; 2 resources used in paper - science/religious journal/article or book. Cite author/title/p #, http address. 1 source may
be Transhumanism: A Grimoire ...)
A.What issues are involved in creating, lengthening, and bettering life? (due end of week 1)
B.What is technology’s role in society (due end of week 2)
C.When do technological solutions become new problems? (due end of week 3)
D.Is there a point (percentage of replacement parts) when a human being is no longer considered human? (due end of week 4)
E.How have humans been redefined by technological advances? (due end of week 5)
IV. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS (typed 1 page per question; 2 resources used in paper - science/religious journal/article or book. Cite author/title/p #, http address. 1 source
may be Transhumanism: A Grimoire ...)
A.What role will I place in future technology? Will I question it, consume it, or help to create it? (due end of week 6)
B.What price am I willing to pay for immortality? (due end of week 7)
C.What are the tradeoffs for technological advances? (due end of week 8)
D.What moral limitations do we put on the use of technology? (due end of week 9)
V. ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS - ALL assignments must be completed and turned in ON TIME. No late papers.
A.Keep a reader/writer journal for each letter and chapter of the novel. Character analysis will be journaled with a graphic organizer. Special attention will be given to main
character traits as evidenced (by properly cited quotations, MLA format) through words, actions, and inactions. The journal will account for 130 points toward the total
grade. Weekly journal check will be made on Fridays.
B.Complete all Focus & Essential typed questions concerning modern medical/technological matters which cross ethical boundaries of life and moral/or spiritual values.
The Focus/Essential Questions will account for 225 points (25 quiz points per question)
C.A final Presentation - Powerpoint or Oral Report with visuals (chronological 3 fold board). The Final Presentation must be based on Focus questions C,D,E AND
Essential questions C,D, AND its relationship to Frankenstein 1818.
D. Short/Long Essay Quizzes may be given from time to time as class supplemental assessments on student progress/understanding.
E.Extra Credit is available for (a) outstanding and original art work on the annotated map. Design an accurate map of the travels of Victor Frankenstein with notations as
to the chronology (letter or chapter). Must be based on the 1818 edition of Frankenstein; Of (b) a 3 page typed and researched analysis of the relationship of Percy
Shelley’s life to the novel Frankenstein 1818. Extra Credit will only be given IF the Final Presentation is ALSO completed.
VI. AGENDA FOR CLASS TIME
! Students will read in class, keep journal notes, write short essays on discussion questions, view videos related to science/technology/ethics, and write responsive
papers.
Thursday, February 7, 13
JOURNAL LETTERS
For each Letter (Walton) a summary must be written. Two Quotations
minimum (MLA - Author & Page #) must be included in each summary.
The summary should be no less than 1 paragraph, 5 sentences. Also,
ask one probing question or prediction.
LETTER #
Summary 1 paragraph: d
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Prediction/Question:
Thursday, February 7, 13
JOURNAL CHAPTERS
For each Chapter a summary must be written. Five Quotations
minimum (MLA - Author & Page #) must be included in each summary.
The summary should be no less than 1/2-3/4 page. Also,
ask one probing question AND one prediction.
Chapter #
Summary 1/2 - 3/4 page: d
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Prediction:
Question:
Thursday, February 7, 13
I. FOCUS QUESTIONS
A.What issues are involved in creating,
lengthening, and bettering life?
B.What is technology’s role in society
C.When do technological solutions
become new problems?
D.Is there a point (percentage of
replacement parts) when a human being
is no longer considered human?
E.How have humans been redefined by
technological advances?
Respond in a one page quick write to 1 of the
Focus Questions.Think about the possibilities,
complications, consequences and the cost to
nature.
Thursday, February 7, 13
Important Dates
1814
In May Mary re-encounters Percy Shelley (they first met in passing at her home on 11
November, 1812) at the family home in London. On 28 July, Mary and Percy elope to
France accompanied by Mary’s stepsister Clara, (now Claire); many trials both abroad
and when they return to their outraged families in England: Percy was already married
to Harriet Westbrook (1795-1816).
1815
Mary gives birth (22 February) to daughter Clara, a premature child who later dies
(6 March)
1816
Mary gives birth (24 January) to son William; in the summer, Mary and Percy plan a trip
to the Continent with their son and Claire, who arranges for them to meet George
Gordon Byron (Lord Byron, the famous & notorious Poet), her lover, in Geneva. Visiting
Byron at the Villa Diodati, the group have conversations about science (Shelley & Byron
in particular), read German ghost stories during the stormy summer days & nights, and
decide to have a ghost-story writing contest: This is supposedly where the idea begins for
the Frankenstein story. John Polidori, Byron’s personal physician is also present and
supposedly writes his Vampire story (the first in English literary history). They return to
England in September. Mary’s half-sister Fanny commits suicide (October); Percy’s wife
Harriet commits suicide; Mary and Percy get married on December 29.
Thursday, February 7, 13
Important Dates
1817
Frankenstein is finished in May; Mary gives birth to a second daughter, again named
Clara; History of a Six-Weeks’ Tour (about Percy & Mary’s elopement) is published.
1818
Percy & Mary’s daughter Clara dies in Venice; Frankenstein is published anonymously.
1819
Percy & Mary’s son William dies in Rome; Mary gives birth to another son
(November), Percy Florence, while living in Florence.
1821
John William Polidori commits suicide, 24 August
1822
Percy Bysshe Shelley dies at sea, July 8
1823
2nd Edition of Frankenstein published, largely with revisions by William Godwin,
Mary’s father
1824
Lord Byron dies, 19 April. Fever while attempting to liberate Greece as a soldier
1831
Revised 3rd edition of Frankenstein published and becomes standard edition
1851
Mary Shelley dies 1 February of a brain tumor
Thursday, February 7, 13
SOMETHING REALLY SCARY!
Thursday, February 7, 13
Preface (Frankenstein, 1818)
THE event on which this fiction is founded has been supposed, by Dr. Darwin, and some of the physiological writers of Germany, as not
of impossible occurrence. I shall not be supposed as according the remotest degree of serious faith to such an imagination; yet, in assuming
it as the basis of a work of fancy, I have not considered myself as merely weaving a series of supernatural terrors. The event on which the
interest of the story depends is exempt from the disadvantages of a mere tale of spectres or enchantment. It was recommended by the
novelty of the situations which it develops; and, however impossible as a physical fact, affords a point of view to the imagination for the
delineating of human passions more comprehensive and commanding than any which the ordinary relations of existing events can yield.
I have thus endeavoured to preserve the truth of the elementary principles of human nature, while I have not scrupled to innovate upon
their combinations. The Iliad, the tragic poetry of Greece- Shakespeare, in the Tempest/and Midsummer Night's Dream- and most
especially Milton, in Paradise Lost, conform to this rule; and the most humble novelist, who seeks to confer or receive amusement from his
labours, may, without presumption, apply to prose fiction a licence, or rather a rule, from the adoption of which so many exquisite
combinations of human feeling have resulted in the highest specimens of poetry.
The circumstance on which my story rests was suggested in casual conversation. It was commenced partly as a source of amusement, and
partly as an expedient for exercising any untried resources of mind. Other motives were mingled with these as the work proceeded. I am by
no means indifferent to the manner in which whatever moral tendencies exist in the sentiments or characters it contains shall affect the
reader; yet my chief concern in this respect has been limited to avoiding the enervating effects of the novels of the present day and to the
exhibition of the amiableness of domestic affection, and the excellence of universal virtue. The opinions which naturally spring from the
and situation of the hero are by no means to be conceived as existing always in my own conviction; nor is any inference justly to be drawn
from the following pages as prejudicing any philosophical doctrine of whatever kind.
It is a subject also of additional interest to the author that this story was begun in the majestic region where the scene is principally laid, and
in society which cannot cease to be regretted. I passed the summer of 1816 in the environs of Geneva. The season was cold and rainy, and
in the evenings we crowded around a blazing wood fire, and occasionally amused ourselves with some German stories of ghosts, which
happened to fall into our hands. These tales excited in us a playful desire of imitation. Two other friends (a tale from the pen of one of
whom would be far more acceptable to the public than anything I can ever hope to produce) and myself agreed to write each a story
founded on some supernatural occurrence.
The weather, however, suddenly became serene; and my two friends left me on a journey among the Alps, and lost, in the magnificent
scenes which they present, all memory of their ghostly visions. The following tale is the only one which has been completed.
Marlow, September, 1817.
Thursday, February 7, 13
MARY’S PREFACE 1831
In the summer of 1816, we visited Switzerland, and became the neighbours of Lord
Byron. At first we spent our pleasant hours on the lake, or wandering on its shores;
and Lord Byron, who was writing the third canto of Childe Harold, was the only one
among us who put his thoughts upon paper. These, as he brought them successively
to us, clothed in all the light and harmony of poetry, seemed to stamp as divine the
glories of heaven and earth, whose influences we partook with him.But it proved a
wet, ungenial summer, and incessant rain often confined us for days to the house.
Some volumes of ghost stories, translated from the German into French, fell into
our hands.
"We will each write a ghost story," said Lord Byron; and
his proposition was acceded to. There were four of us.
Many and long were the conversations between Lord Byron and Shelley, to which I was
a devout but nearly silent listener. During one of these, various philosophical doctrines
were discussed, and among others the nature of the principle of life, and whether there
was any probability of its ever being discovered and communicated. They talked of the
experiments of Dr. Darwin, (I speak not of what the Doctor really did, or said that he
did, but, as more to my purpose, of what was then spoken of as having been done by
him,) who preserved a piece of vermicelli in a glass case, till by some extraordinary
means it began to move with voluntary motion. Not thus, after all, would life be given.
Perhaps a corpse would be re-animated; galvanism had given token of such things:
perhaps the component parts of a creature might be manufactured, brought together,
and endued with vital warmth.
At first I thought but of a few pages of a short tale; but Shelley urged me to develope the
idea at greater length. I certainly did not owe the suggestion of one incident, nor
scarcely of one train of feeling, to my husband, and yet but for his incitement, it would
never have taken the form in which it was presented. From this declaration I must
except the preface. As far as I can recollect, it was entirely written by him.
Thursday, February 7, 13