Frankenstein
A Level Literature
In the following activities, you will be developing the following Assessment Objectives: AO1 Articulate creative, informed and relevant responses to literary texts, using appropriate terminology and concepts, and coherent, accurate written expression. AO2 Demonstrate detailed critical understanding in analysing the ways in which structure, form and language shape meanings in literary texts. AO4 Demonstrate understanding of the significance and influence of the contexts in which literary texts are written and received. Read the following opening from Chapter 5 of Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley:
Chapter 5 It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils. With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs. How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips.
Comprehension
1. Discuss - with reference to the text - how the author creates an appropriate atmosphere in the opening paragraph. 2. Try and draw your own interpretation of the creature’s face. Discuss how this may differ from your own preconceived ideas.
Extension 1. How does the fixed perspective of Frankenstein as narrator create a prejudice reading of the chapter? Make use of textual references in your answer. 3. Discuss an alternative interpretation of this chapter. Is this creation of science a “miserable wretch”? 1
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Frankenstein
A Level Literature
Diary Entry A lot of the novel is written from Victor Frankenstein’s point of view. To properly understand the creature’s persepective, write a diary entry from his point of view based on your close reading of Chapters 10 - 16 (AO1)
Chapters 7 - 9: Comprehension 1. How does the theme of haunting manifest itself in these chapters? 2. How does the theme of secrecy manifest itself in these chapters? 3. How is the theme of loss and loneliness developed in these chapters?
AO4
Jean-Jaques Rosseau 1712 - 1778
In his early writing, Rousseau contended that man is essentially good, a "noble savage" when in the "state of nature" (the state of all the other animals, and the condition man was in before the creation of civilization and society), and that good people are made unhappy and corrupted by their experiences in society. He viewed society as "artificial" and "corrupt" and that the furthering of society results in the continuing unhappiness of man. Rousseau's essay, "Discourse on the Arts and Sciences" (1750), argued that the advancement of art and science had not been beneficial to mankind. He proposed that the progress of knowledge had made governments more powerful, and crushed individual liberty. He concluded that material progress had actually undermined the possibility of sincere friendship, replacing it with jealousy, fear and suspicion. Perhaps Rousseau's most important work is "The Social Contract" that describes the relationship of man with society. Contrary to his earlier work, Rousseau claimed that the state of nature is brutish condition without law or morality, and that there are good men only a result of society's presence. In the state of nature, man is prone to be in frequent competition with his fellow men. Because he can be more successful facing threats by joining with other men, he has the impetus to do so. He joins together with his fellow men to form the collective human presence known as "society." "The Social Contract" is the "compact" agreed to among men that sets the conditions for membership in society.
Homework Look back at key chapters so far and consider Rosseau’s philosphy in relationship to the novel (AO4). 2