ELT B2
Science Fiction Downloadable
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The pleasure of Reading
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Eli Readers is a beautifully illustrated series of timeless classics and specially-written stories for learners of English.
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STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4 STAGE 5 STAGE 6 Classic
FRANKENSTEIN
Young Adult
- Information about Mary Shelley’s life - Sections focusing on background and context - Glossary of difficult words - Comprehension activities - B2 First style activities - Exit test
Downloadable
Classic
Stage 4 B2
In this reader you will find:
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Mary Shelley
FRANKENSTEIN
Victor Frankenstein is a young, ambitious scientist who wants to make a better world, but doesn’t understand the consequences of his work. Victor makes great progress in the study of medicine and biology and creates a new kind of human being – one that is so terrifying it’s known simply as ‘the monster’. In this fantastic adventure story, Victor and the monster fight a long courageous battle. This brilliant science-fiction story asks questions about science that we’re still trying to find the answers to today.
Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley FRANKENSTEIN
Stage 4 B2
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Audio Files
Book brief 1
Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus is an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley, considered by many to be the first example of a science fiction story.
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The novel is set in the 18th century and the action takes place in various places such as Geneva, The Swiss Alps and near the North Pole.
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It tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young ambitious scientist who creates a creature in his laboratory without realising how this monster will change his life.
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The story has both elements of the Gothic novel and the Romantic movement and is told through a series of letters that Captain Robert Walton writes to his sister, which include both Victor’s and the monster’s stories.
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Main themes include loss, guilt and the consequences of going against the laws of nature.
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In this reader: 21st Century Skills
To encourage students to connect the story to the world they live in.
First
B2 level activities.
Culture Notes
Brief cultural information.
Glossary
An explanation of difficult words.
Picture Caption
A brief explanation of the picture.
Audio
These icons indicate the parts of the story that are recorded: start stop
The FSC certification guarantees that the paper used in these publications comes from certified forests, promoting responsible forestry management worldwide.
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Young Adult Eli Readers The ELI Readers collection is a complete range of books and plays for readers of all ages, ranging from captivating contemporary stories to timeless classics. There are four series, each catering for a different age group: First ELI Readers, Young ELI Readers, Teen ELI Readers and Young Adult ELI Readers. The books are carefully edited and beautifully illustrated to capture the essence of the stories and plots. The readers are supplemented with ‘Focus on’ texts packed with background cultural information about the writers and their lives and times.
Frankenstein Mary Shelley Retold and Activities Elizabeth Ferretti Illustrations Rodolfo Brocchini Studio Kojac ELI Readers Founder and Series Editors Paola Accattoli, Grazia Ancillani, Daniele Garbuglia (Art Director) Graphic Design Tiziana Barigelletti Production Manager Francesco Capitano
Photo credits Corbis, Getty Images, Shutterstock © New edition: 2022 First edition: 2009 ELi, Gruppo editoriale ELi P.O. Box 6 62019 Recanati (MC) Italy T +39 071750701 F +39 071977851 info@elionline.com www.elionline.com Typeset in 10,5 / 15 pt Monotype Fulmar Printed in Italy by Tecnostampa – Pigini Group Printing Division Loreto – Trevi (Italia) – ERA 401.10 ISBN 978-88-536-3247-0 www.eligradedreaders.com
Contents
6 8 10 20 24 34 38 48 52 62 66 76 80 90 94 104 108 118 122 132 134 136 138 139 140 141 142 143
Main Characters Before you Read Chapter One A Mysterious Visitor Activities Chapter Two Where Does Life Come From? Activities Chapter Three The Most Unhappy of All Men Activities Chapter Four I Was Cold, Alone and Afraid Activities Chapter Five Hatred Filled My Heart Activities Chapter Six The Storm at Sea Activities Chapter Seven The Wedding Activities Chapter Eight Journey to the North Activities Chapter Nine Journey’s End Activities Focus on... Mary Shelley Focus on... A Shocking Tale Focus on... Major Themes in Frankenstein Focus on... Biographical and Historical Timeline Focus on... Frankenstein in Popular Culture Focus on... The Relevance of Frankenstein Test yourself Syllabus
Main Characters Created by Victor Frankenstein, the monster is very tall and ugly but also intelligent.
Victor’s father, he always tries to help his son.
The protagonist of the story, he discovers the secret of life and creates the monster.
An explorer on an expedition to the North Pole, he meets Victor in the Arctic.
Victor Frankenstein’s best friend.
Adopted by the Frankensteins as a child, she becomes Victor’s wife.
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A kind, loving woman who likes to help the poor.
Robert Walton’s sister.
Victor’s younger brother.
Elizabeth’s friend. She helps her manage the Frankenstein house.
Victor’s youngest brother.
The elderly man’s son.
The elderly man’s daughter.
A magistrate who understands Victor because he can speak German.
Victor asks the judge to help him catch the monster. 7
A poor, blind man who lives in a cottage with his son and daughter.
The professor of chemistry admired by Victor at university.
Before you Read
Vocabulary 1 Most of the story takes place in Switzerland and near the Arctic circle. Complete the table with words you expect to read. Switzerland mountains valleys
Arctic ice freezing
2 Match the opposites. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
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calm love excited good happy hope joy kind heroic
Speaking
despair depressed selfish evil cowardly hatred disappointed wild sorrow
21st Century Skills
3 Discuss the following questions with a partner.
1 What words would you use to describe your character? 2 Do you always show what you feel or do you try to hide your emotions? Why? 3 What makes you happy and when do you feel sad? 8
Vocabulary 4 Find 25 words that describe negative emotions and discover the
hidden phrase that says what Victor Frankenstein wanted to become. D
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5 Write under each picture the correct name and decide which means of transport you expect to find in the story that is set in the late 1700s. coach • cable car • rowing boat • steam ship • lorry • sledge
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Chapter One
A Mysterious Visitor
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Letter I To Mrs Saville, England St Petersburg, Dec. 11th, 17– My dear Sister, You’ll be pleased to learn that I arrived in St Petersburg safely yesterday. You don’t need to worry anymore! I’m confident that my expedition* to the North Pole will be a success in spite of the dangers. I feel the north wind here and the smell of it increases my excitement at my new adventure. I’m going to a place where the sun doesn’t set, where I’ll discover a new and wonderful land, where I can carry out experiments to find out how compasses* work. It is a dangerous, unknown land, but I feel as happy and safe as a little child setting off in a boat on a lake. One day, dear Margaret, one day I’ll be famous. I’m so grateful for your love and kindness. Your affectionate* brother, Robert Walton ***
expedition journey to make scientific discoveries
compass instrument you use to find direction affectionate loving
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Frankenstein
Letter II To Mrs Saville, England Archangel, 28th March, 17– Everything is ready for my expedition to the north. I’ve hired* a whaling boat*, have an excellent crew* and as soon as the weather improves, we’ll set off on our historic voyage* of discovery. There’s one thing missing, however, and it makes me suffer. I don’t have a friend to share the difficulties and excitements of my journey with. I’m hopeful of success, but ask you to remember me with affection if you never hear from me again. Your affectionate brother, Robert Walton *** Letter III August 5th, 17– Something so surprising and strange has happened to us since my last letter to you. The southern gales* made our journey to the north quicker than I expected, but our ship has been almost completely stuck in the ice for the past two days and the crew and I are beginning to become very worried. There’s nothing we can do but wait. Yesterday afternoon the mist lifted and we had a clear view of the huge areas of ice around us. Suddenly there was a shout from one of the crew. We ran to him and looked to where he was pointing. There,
hire pay to use something for a certain amount of time whaling boat small boat for catching whales
crew (here) people who work on a ship voyage a long journey by sea gale very strong wind
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Mary Shelley
The crew see a gigantic figure riding across the ice on a sledge.
only half a mile from us, a gigantic* figure wearing furs was riding at full speed on a sledge* pulled by eight dogs. We watched him as he disappeared towards the north. Last night, the ice around the ship broke, and we were free to continue our journey. Next morning when I woke up, I saw the crew pulling something up onto the ship from the ice below. To my surprise, I saw a man, thin and ill from the cold and lack of food. He spoke English but had a European accent. What was even stranger, in my view, was that he only allowed us to bring him onto the ship when I told him we were searching for the North Pole, because that was where he wanted to go too! When I looked over the side of my ship, I saw his sledge was half broken and only one of his dogs was left alive to pull it. After that, he collapsed* and we carried him to my cabin. We looked after him as well as we could, but he was very weak and I was worried that he’d die. His eyes gave the impression of wildness*, even madness*, but he’s so grateful for everything we do for him, he gives us the sweetest smiles. It was many days before he was well enough to speak to us. We had a lot of questions to ask him. ‘Why have you come so far north on that strange sledge, risking your life in this way?’ I asked. ‘I’m following someone who’s running away from me,’ he replied. ‘Is this person also travelling on a sledge pulled by dogs?’ I asked, and when he nodded I told him of the gigantic man we’d seen. ‘That’s him,’ the stranger said. gigantic huge sledge see page 13, the dogs are pulling a sledge
collapse fall down wildness (here) violent, extremely strong madness craziness
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Mary Shelley
The stranger became agitated*. He wanted to go immediately on deck* and look for this giant man on his sledge, but he was still too ill so I wouldn’t let him, though it took me all my strength to stop him. I told a member of the crew to watch for the gigantic man instead. *** August 13th, 17– During the time I’ve spent with my strange guest, I’ve begun to like him more and more. In fact he’s become my very good friend. He speaks so well, is so educated, seems to know so much. Now that his health has improved, he spends as much time as he can on deck looking for the sledge and the gigantic traveller. There’s one thing which really worries me – he seems more unhappy than anyone I’ve ever seen. He spends his days lost in misery. I can’t imagine what’s happened to make him so sad. To make him feel a little better, I told him how happy I was to have him as my new friend. ‘Yes,’ said the stranger, ‘a friend is indeed a great gift. I had a friend once, the best friend a man could wish for. I envy* you, Captain Walton, you have hope, your whole life in front of you, but I, I’ve lost everything. All that I have left is despair.’ He became extraordinarily agitated and his face was full of grief. Yesterday, the stranger said to me, ‘You see how much I suffer, and of course you’re curious about why. Before I met you, I’d decided that my terrible story would die with me and remain a secret. I’ve changed agitated extremely anxious, nervous deck (here) ‘floor’ on a ship
envy want what someone else has
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Frankenstein
my mind. You’ve told me of your expedition to the North Pole, your great desire* for knowledge, but I hope with all my heart that in your search for knowledge you don’t make the same mistakes as me. I don’t want your story to end in tragedy and evil as mine has done. I hope that my tale may serve as a warning to you.’ He’s promised to start telling me his story tomorrow. I feel sure it’ll be terrible and tragic. I’ve decided to write it down for you in this journal, dear Sister. I’m impatient for this story to begin. *** Victor’s Story I come from an important and well-known family in the city of Geneva in Switzerland. I had a happy childhood, my mother and father loved each other very much. After they were married, they travelled in France, Germany and Italy, where I was born, in Naples. My first memories are my mother and father’s love for me. I was an only child* for many years. I was the centre of their world and they taught me above all to be patient, kind and to have self-control*. My mother was very happy but often said how much she wanted a daughter. My mother liked to help poor families and would visit them when we travelled, to give them money. It was on one of these visits that she found a child who had the most beautiful blond hair. Indeed, her hair was of the brightest gold. She looked so adorable and sweet. My mother asked the family about this child. When she discovered that the child’s parents had died and that these poor people were only self-control not showing your emotions, reactions etc
desire strong wish/want only child no brothers or sisters
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Mary Shelley
looking after her, my mother persuaded them to let us take her to our home to live with us. The next day, my mother said to me, ‘Victor, I have a surprise for you. A pretty present.’ And so it was that Elizabeth Lavenza came to live with us as part of the family and she became my adored playmate*, sister and companion. Elizabeth and I were almost the same age, but our characters were very different. She was calm and poetic, while I wanted to find out how things worked. From an early age I looked at the world with the eyes of a scientist and more than anything I wanted to understand the hidden laws of nature. When I was seven, my mother gave birth to a son and some time later to another boy. My family decided to live permanently* in Geneva. I wasn’t happy about this as I didn’t have many friends there, I preferred to be alone. I did have one good friend though, he was heroic*, loved danger and was a wonderful storyteller and writer. His name was Henry Clerval. No one could have had a happier childhood. I was full of energy and had a strong temper, but Elizabeth always found a way to calm me, and in time I learnt to put all my energies into my scientific studies. I didn’t go to school, but instead studied the books in my father’s library. I was free to choose what I read; my father wasn’t scientific and didn’t follow me in my studies. By chance, I started to read the scientific texts of ancient Greece. At the time, no one explained to me that the ideas in these books were completely wrong and that playmate person you play with (as a child) permanently forever
heroic very brave
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Frankenstein
modern science had made many new discoveries. I was fascinated* by what I was learning and didn’t realise I was wasting my time. *** One night, when I was fifteen, something happened which made me abandon the ancient Greeks. There was a terrible thunderstorm over the mountains of my home. Lightning lit up the mountains, thunder echoed* around me. I was standing watching this incredible sight from the front door of our house, when suddenly, I saw fire coming out of a beautiful old oak tree which stood close to the front of our house. It’d been struck by lightning. When we went to inspect* the tree next morning, there was nothing left but a black stump*. It’d been completely destroyed. Until then I hadn’t studied the laws of electricity, but a scientist friend of my father was staying with us then and he told me everything that science had discovered about electricity at that time. I was fascinated and excited by what I heard. From that time on, I threw all my old study books away and studied only subjects relating to* mathematics. I thought that these were the only things worth studying. My life was changed by lightning striking a tree. Although at the time it seemed such an unimportant event, it was to lead to the complete destruction of everything I loved. *** When I was seventeen, my father decided I should go to study at the University of Ingolstadt. However, before I could leave, the first fascinated strongly attracted and interested echo (of a sound) be repeated after the original sound has stopped
inspect have a close look at stump base of a tree that has been cut down relating to connected to
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During the 18th century, much progress was made in the practice of medicine, mathematics and physics, as well as a better understanding of chemistry and the study of electricity.
The University of Ingolstadt in Germany was founded in 1472 and closed in 1800. Students could study humanities, sciences, theology, law and medicine.
Mary Shelley
of the great tragedies of my life occurred. I should have seen it as an omen*, should have realised that my life was doomed*. Elizabeth became seriously ill with a terrible infection. We begged* my mother not to visit her, however, when it seemed as if Elizabeth might die, my mother insisted on looking after her. In fact Elizabeth did recover, but it was my mother who then caught the disease* and died of it in only a few days. We were all devastated* by her death. It came to the time when I had to leave to go to Ingolstadt. My friend, Henry Clerval, had asked his father if he could come and study with me, but his father had said no and so I had to go on my own. I wasn’t at all happy about leaving my father, Elizabeth and my two brothers, my dear Clerval, so soon after the death of my mother. For the first time in my life, I found myself alone. *** Once I arrived at university, I started to organise my new life. I found somewhere to live and I began to study with some of the most intelligent men of the age. I studied all aspects of science. Chemistry, in particular, I found of great interest. One of my favourite teachers was Mr Waldman, a professor of chemistry at the university. One day, I was sitting listening to one of Mr Waldman’s lectures* when he said something which I can remember to this day. ‘Scientists are able to perform* miracles,’ he said to us. ‘They’re uncovering the deepest secrets of nature, they’re showing us how things work. They’ve discovered how the blood circulates around the body, and we now know so much about the air that we breathe. Through their omen bad sign or prediction of what will happen in the future doomed without hope beg (here) ask someone desperately disease illness
devastated full of great sadness, grief and shock lecture formal lesson at a university in front of many students perform carry out, do
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Frankenstein
hard work and the discoveries they’ve made, they’ve gained* new and almost unlimited* powers. They can command the thunders of heaven, make the earth shake. Nothing is beyond their capabilities*.’ Such was the effect of these words that I didn’t sleep at all that night. The next day, I went to visit Mr Waldman and told him of my strong desire to study chemistry. He talked to me about the wonders of chemistry and gave me a list of books to study. When I left him that day, I was filled with ambition, inspired* by my wonderful teacher. I decided that in my life as a scientist, I’d do so much more than those who’d gone before me. I’d find a new way to explore the unknown powers of science, I’d show the world the mysteries of creation. And so ended a day I’ll never forget. It was the day that decided my destiny*.
gain get unlimited inexhaustible capability the power or ability to do something
inspired interested and encouraged (here to begin his studies) destiny the hidden power believed to control future events
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After-Reading Activities • Chapter One
Speaking
21st Century Skills
1 Discuss in pairs. Give reasons for your answers. 1 Are you enjoying the story of Frankenstein? 2 Do you like Victor? 3 Would you like to explore the Arctic? 4 What countries in the world would you most like to visit? 5 Are there any countries you wouldn’t like to visit? 6 Would you like to make a discovery to help mankind? 7 In your opinion, what were the three most important inventions or discoveries of the twentieth century? 8 Are there any inventions or discoveries you’d like to un-invent or un-discover?
Reading 2 Put the events in the order they happen in the story. (1-11).
A ■ Walton and his crew see a gigantic man on a sledge. B ■ Victor sees lightning destroy a tree and becomes interested in studying electricity. C ■ Victor meets Professor Waldman and begins to study chemistry. D ■ Robert Walton arrives in St Petersburg. E ■ The stranger tells Walton he’s following the gigantic man on the sledge. F ■ Victor talks about his friends Elizabeth Lavenza and Henry Clerval. G ■ Victor’s mother dies and he goes to university. H ■ Victor decides to explore the unknown powers of science. I ■ Robert Walton hires a crew and a whaling boat. J ■ Victor starts telling Walton about his childhood. K ■ The crew pull a stranger from the ice. 20
Grammar B2 First 3 Read the letter below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. My dear Sister, You’ll be pleased to learn (1) ........................... I arrived in St Petersburg safely yesterday. You don’t need to worry (2) ...........................! I’m confident that my expedition (3) ........................... the North Pole (4) ........................... be a success in (5) ........................... of the dangers. I feel the north wind here and the smell of it increases my excitement at my new adventure. I’m going to a place (6) ........................... the sun doesn’t set, where I’ll discover a new and wonderful land, where I can carry out experiments to find (7) ........................... how compasses work. It’s a dangerous, unknown land, but I feel (8) ........................... happy and safe as a little child setting off in a boat on a lake. (9) ........................... day, dear Margaret, one day I’ll be famous. I’m so grateful (10) ........................... your love and kindness. Your affectionate brother, Robert Walton
Writing B2 First 4 Imagine that you’re Robert Walton. Using 140-190 words, write a letter to your sister Margaret describing Victor Frankenstein.
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Grammar 5 Complete the sentences using the correct form and tense of the verbs in the box.
ask • ride • inspire • see • make • say • pull be • stand • decide (x2) 1 Only half a mile from us a gigantic figure ........................... at full speed on a sledge ........................... by eight dogs. 2 I ........................... to write it down for you in this journal, dear sister. 3 At the time, no one explained to me that the ideas in these books ........................... completely wrong and that modern science ........................... many new discoveries. 4 I ........................... watching this incredible sight from the front door of our house, when suddenly, I ........................... fire coming out of a beautiful old oak tree, which stood close to the front of our house. 5 My friend, Henry Clerval, ........................... his father if he could come and study with me, but his father ........................... no. 6 Frankenstein ........................... by his teacher Mr Waldman. 7 It was the day that ........................... my destiny.
Grammar 6 Complete the sentences below using the conjunctions in the box. so • although • when • but • as 1 We watched him ........................... he disappeared towards the north. 2 He spoke English ........................... had a European accent. 3 He only allowed us to bring him onto the ship ........................... I told him we were searching for the North Pole. 4 He wanted to go immediately on deck to look for this giant man, but he was still too ill ........................... I wouldn’t let him. 5 ........................... at the time it seemed such an unimportant event, it was to lead to the complete destruction of everything I loved.
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Pre-Reading Activities • Chapter Two
Speaking
21st Century Skills
7 In your opinion, which of the following will Victor need to do in order to create life? Discuss in pairs. Then read and check. 1 Study the birth of animals. 2 Study animal reproduction. 3 Study how animals die. 4 Study what happens to a body after death. 5 Study human anatomy.
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Reading Comprehension 8 Do you think the following statements about the next chapter are true (T) or false (F)? Discuss in pairs. Then read and check. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Victor didn’t study very much when he was at university. While he was at university, Victor often went home to see his family. Victor made an important discovery about how life was created. Victor decided to create a small animal. Victor was very happy with his creation. Victor worked so hard that he was exhausted. Elizabeth looked after Victor when he was ill. Someone stole Victor’s creature from the lab. Victor left his home to search for the creature.
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Focus on...
Mary Shelley Born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin on 30th August 1797, she was an English novelist who wrote the Gothic novel ‘Frankenstein’ considered an early example of science fiction.
1790
Family Her father, William Godwin was a British political philosopher, who questioned whether government and marriage were necessary. The Romantic poets, in particular Wordsworth and Coleridge, found his radical ideas interesting. Mary’s mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was also an important thinker. Her most famous work was A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1790), where she wrote about the need for a completely new view of women in society. Mary didn’t know her mother as she died ten days after Mary was born.
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1814
Love Mary’s father had many admirers, including Percy Bysshe Shelley, one of England’s most important Romantic poets. Shelley was a regular visitor to the Godwin house. In 1814, Mary and Shelley ran away to Europe, she was only 16 and Shelley was married with two children. Mary’s father and English society at the time were shocked. Mary became pregnant, but the child was born prematurely and died.
1816
Frankenstein In 1816, Mary and Shelley went to spend the summer with Shelley’s friend Lord Byron who’d rented a house on the shores of Lake Geneva. It was here that Mary started to write Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus, which was first published in 1818. At the end of 1816, following the suicide of Shelley’s wife, Harriet, the couple got married. They travelled around Italy, had two more children, but both died. Eventually, Mary gave birth to Percy Florence who survived. Mary’s father was unsympathetic about his daughter’s tragedies and financial difficulties.
Later Years
1851
In 1822, Mary’s husband drowned in a sailing accident in the Bay of La Spezia, Italy. She and her son, Percy, returned to England in 1823, where she devoted herself to him. Although she wrote other books, Frankenstein was the only one that was commercially successful. In her later years, she became close to her father again. Mary died (probably of a brain tumour) on 1st February 1851, aged 53.
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Focus on...
A Shocking Tale
The Birth of Frankenstein In 1816, Shelley and Mary spent the summer with Lord Byron in Switzerland. The men spent their time talking, reading and discussing the latest ideas and discoveries, both philosophical and scientific. Mary says she simply listened to the conversations. That summer was grey and wet. Mary wrote later, ‘incessant rain often confined us for days to the house.’ Lord Byron made a suggestion to keep them all busy, ‘We will each write a ghost story,’ he said. Mary wanted her story to terrify her readers. She spent a long time
thinking of a story ‘which would speak to the mysterious fear of our nature... one to make the reader afraid to look round, to curdle the blood and quicken the beatings of the heart.’ Then one night in a waking dream she saw a frightening scene of a man lying apparently dead. Another man started ‘a powerful engine’ and the dead man came to life. The man who’d created this new life was horrified by what he’d done and ran away. Mary opened her eyes, terrified by what she’d seen, but she now knew what her ‘ghost story’ would be about.
Ruins of Castle Frankenstein, in Germany, which gave the title to Mary Shelley's novel.
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of the novel was the idea of a human being as a creator. This was seen as ‘impious’ or disrespectful of God. Most of the critics thought the book had been written by a man. It was still unusual for women to write at that time and the story was both frightening and unpleasant in its concentration on death and dying – not thought of as suitable for a young lady. Many critics did see the power of Mary Shelley’s writing however. One magazine wrote ‘[the book] possesses a power of fascination... it has an air of reality attached to it.’ In spite of the critics, the book was immediately popular with the public, it was quickly turned into a play and was also translated into French. In the 200 years since its publication, Frankenstein has become part of our cultural heritage.
Title page of the 1831 edition.
Frankenstein and the Critics When the novel was first published, anonymously, in 1818, many critics were shocked by it. The most shocking element
Task
True or False? 1 In 1826, Shelley and Mary spent the summer with Lord Byron in Germany. 2 Mary spent her time talking, reading and discussing. 3 Mary wrote a story to terrify her readers. 4 One night she saw a frightening scene of a man lying apparently dead.
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Focus on...
Major Themes in Frankenstein
Nature Throughout the book, Victor and the monster both find psychological peace in nature, including the mountains and lakes of Switzerland. The book expresses the Romantic view of the sublime beauty of nature and its spiritual power.
Death Victor is fascinated by death and there are a number of violent deaths in the story.
Aleksandr Puskin at the Seashore, 1896
The weather and the elements Victor discovers electricity during a thunderstorm; when he reaches the place where his brother was murdered, he says that the storm is like a funeral for him. The ice and cold of the north eventually kill Victor. 138
Alienation The book explores what can happen when people are deliberately excluded from society. It looks at the ‘other’ and questions how we define ourselves.
Madness From the beginning of the book Victor shows obsessive tendencies, can’t control his emotions and is twice kept in prison as a result of what we’d now call a mental breakdown.
Biographical and Historical Timeline Select cultural, scientific and biographical timeline from Mary Shelley’s birth to the publication of Frankenstein. 1797 Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin born. 1801 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is formed. First steam-powered vehicle demonstrated by Richard Trevithick. The first census is carried out. The population of England and Wales is 8.9 million. 1802 Marie Tussaud opens her waxworks museum in London. 1803 Start of the Napoleonic Wars. 1807 Pall Mall is first street with gas street lamps. The slave trade is abolished in the British Empire. 1809 Charles Darwin born. The ‘Hindoostanee Coffee House’, London’s first Indian restaurant is opened. 1811 Prince George becomes Regent, because of his father, George III’s, insanity. This period is known as the English Regency. 1813 Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is published. First steam-powered warship launched in New York.
1814 First plastic surgery carried out in London. Premier of Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony. 1815 Battle of Waterloo, end of the Napoleonic Wars. 1816 ‘Kubla Khan’ is published by Coleridge. ‘The year without a summer’ – disruption to climate in Europe and N. America following a volcanic eruption. Mary Shelley starts writing Frankenstein. 1818 First blood transfusion using human blood. Emily Bronte, author of Wuthering Heights, born. John Keats writes ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’, ‘The Eve of St Agnes’. Frankenstein is published, anonymously.
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Focus on...
Frankenstein in Popular Culture The actor Boris Karloff in The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), directed by James Whale.
Frankenstein is the story of ambitious scientist, Victor Frankenstein, but most people believe that it’s the monster who’s called Frankenstein. The book is seen as the first modern science fiction story, with its ‘mad scientist’ and an alien monster. Like much science fiction it uses technology which hadn’t been invented at the time of writing, however, it also has many of the traditional elements of gothic horror. In 1931, Hollywood released a film
version of the book starring Boris Karloff as the monster. His appearance was so dramatic, with his square head and bolt through his neck, that this is what many people think the monster looks like. This was the first time Victor became ‘Dr’ Frankenstein. Young Frankenstein is a comedy version of the story. It stars Gene Wilder as the mad scientist’s grandson who wants to repeat the experiment, unfortunately his assistant, Igor, gives him the wrong brain...
Task
True or False? 1 Frankenstein is the story of ambitious artist. 2 It’s the monster who’s called Frankenstein. 3 The book is the first modern science fiction story. 4 In 1931, Hollywood released a film version of the book. 140
T ■ ■ ■ ■
F ■ ■ ■ ■
The Relevance of Frankenstein
The Industrial Revolution Frankenstein was written as the Industrial Revolution was taking off, in an age when there were many new technological and scientific discoveries. It is no coincidence that Mary Shelley’s book is still popular today, when so much is changing in our world and so quickly.
DNA
Critics
Although DNA, the building block for life, was not discovered until the 1960s, Frankenstein seems to look forward to today’s genetic sciences. Throughout the world, there’s strong debate about whether it’s ok to make genetically modified organisms, to carry out research on human foetuses, or on stem cells – cells which develop very early in a human foetus – all discussed as part of bioethics.
Critics say that scientists are ‘playing God’ and are shocked by human beings creating new forms of life. However, this type of research is providing cures for fatal diseases, and a deeper understanding of how life works. Frankenstein is a story about what could happen if we don’t think about what we’re doing. 141
Test Yourself 1 Answer the questions about the book. 1
Where’s Robert Walton travelling to at the beginning of the book? ..........................................................................................................................
2 What’s Victor Frankenstein’s first language? .......................................................................................................................... 3 Who ‘finds’ Elizabeth? .......................................................................................................................... 4 What time of year is it when Frankenstein brings the monster to life? .......................................................................................................................... 5 What happens to Victor’s little brother? .......................................................................................................................... 6 Who’s hanged for the murder of Victor’s brother? .......................................................................................................................... 7 Where do Victor and Elizabeth go after their wedding? .......................................................................................................................... 8 Where’s Elizabeth killed? .......................................................................................................................... 9 During the story, Victor visits many countries. How many can you remember? ..........................................................................................................................
2 Give the word in English for these definitions. 1
A person who’s seen something relating to a crime. ..........................................................................................................................
2 A thing you use for finding North, South, East and West. .......................................................................................................................... 3 Light, not strong, wind. .......................................................................................................................... 4 The water your body makes when you’re hot. .......................................................................................................................... 5 Flashes of light in a storm. .......................................................................................................................... 6 The opposite of a friend. .......................................................................................................................... 142
Syllabus Level B2 This reader contains the items listed below as well as those included in Level B1. Verbs Present perfect simple and continuous Past simple and continuous Future tenses including, future perfect Irregular verbs: would for willingness/refusal Third conditional also with ‘if only’ If clauses (in zero conditional) Used to and would Phrasal verbs Passive forms all tenses Infinitive constructions Sentence types clauses of concession: even though, in spite of, despite Complex sentences with more than one subordinate clause Embedded relative clauses Inversion after hardly, no sooner, not only Modal verbs Will Might May Shall Could Should
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Young Adult
Readers
STAGE 1 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet Jonathan Swift, Gulliver’s Travels Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe STAGE 2 Shakespeare, Hamlet Prince of Denmark Charles Dickens, Great Expectations William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet Bram Stoker, Dracula William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream Robert Louis Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Jerome K. Jerome, Three Men in a Boat John Buchan, Thirty-Nine Steps STAGE 3 Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray William Shakespeare, Macbeth Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol Wilkie Collins, The Woman in White Anonymous, Beowulf Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped Elizabeth Ferretti, The Earthkeepers Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d’Ubervilles George Orwell, 1984 STAGE 4 James Joyce, Dubliners Mary Shelley, Frankenstein Henry James, The Turn of the Screw Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights Edgar Allan Poe, Stories of Mystery and Suspense Charles and Mary Lamb, Tales from Shakespeare Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities Hermann Melville, Moby Dick Jane Austen, Emma Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter E.M.Forster, A Passage to India STAGE 5 Virginia Woolf, Mrs Dalloway Francis Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby STAGE 6 Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness J. Borsbey & R. Swan, Editors, A Collection of First World War Poetry Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest