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FRANKENSTEIN
Or the Modern Prometheus
By Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley’s
family Influence
 Born on August 30, 1797.
 Daughter of two of England’s leading intellectual

radicals.
 Mother: Mary Wollstonecraft
She was a famous feminist author who was
a pioneer in promoting women’s rights and
education.
She died 11 days after giving birth to Mary.
 Father: William Godwin

He was a famous 19th century political
philosopher and novelist who believed in the
rights of the individual. (August 30, 1797-February 1,
1851)
Her love – percy shelley
• Her future husband, the admired
poet Percy Shelley, was one of her
father’s frequent visitors.
• When she was sixteen and he was

still married, she and Percy eloped
to France.
• His first wife drowned which

allowed for them to finally marry.
• She gave birth to four children in

five years, three of whom died as
infants.
• Percy died eight years later, due to

a boating accident.
Literary Influences on Mary Shelley
“Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Coleridge
The Greek myth of Prometheus
Paradise Lost by Milton

“The Rime of the ancient Mariner”
When Mary was nine, she hid under a

sofa to hear Samuel Taylor Coleridge
recite this poem.
Its themes of isolation, suffering, and

transformation influenced her.
It also explored the theme of man vs.

nature and how important it is to
respect the natural world.
Modern Prometheus
• Prometheus was the son of a Titan
• In the battle between Zeus and the Titans for control of

Olympus, he sided with Zeus and became his chief
counselor.
• Zeus denied man fire.

• Prometheus stole fire and gave it to man.
• Therefore, Zeus became furious.
• He chains him to rock and lets birds devour his liver.
• Since his liver grew back every night, this torture continued
indefinitely.
The importance of fire/electricity and

the theme of continual suffering are
both reflected in Shelley’s work.
Paradise Lost
• This epic poem is

referenced often in
Shelley’s novel
• Written by John Milton
• This poem attempts to
"justify the ways of God
to man" by retelling of
the story of Creation,
the revolt of Lucifer
and his fall from grace,
and the story of Adam
and Eve.
Modern Scientific advances
During Mary’s time, scientists and
physicians were fascinated by the
elusive boundary between life and
death.
They experimented with lower

organisms, performed human
anatomical studies, and attempted to
resuscitate drowning victims.
Galvanism - a theory defined as the

effect of the application of electric
current pulses through body tissues
that causes muscle contraction.
The Baby and The Dream
• Mary’s 1st daughter

died in 1815.
• Mary dreamed that

her daughter was
brought back to life
through vigorous
rubbing and being
held near a warm fire.
• This also added to

her inspiration to
write Frankenstein.
In May 1816, Mary, Percy
Shelley, and Claire Clairmont
spend the summer in Geneva,
Switzerland with the poet
Lord Byron.
The summer proved to be

dreary and full of constant
rainstorms. The party
entertained themselves by
reading aloud German ghost
stories.
Lord Byron suggested that they each

write their own supernatural story.
Frankenstein grew from a short story to a

novel and was published in 1818
Characteristics of a Gothic Novel
•Set in medieval times
•Dark, mysterious, evil tone
•Dark castles, palaces, chambers, haunted

mansions
•Isolated setting
•Repressed fears and desires
•All come together to emphasize the sense of

evil
Themes in the Novel
1. Personal Responsibility
2. Responsibility to Others
3. Parent/Child Relationship
4. Compassion and Forgiveness
5. Life, Consciousness, and Existence
6. Isolation
7. Ambition and Fallibility
8. Romanticism and Nature
9. Revenge
10. Prejudice
11. Lost Innocence
12. Playing God
Setting of Frankenstein
Time: Eighteenth century (late1700s)
Place: Geneva, Switzerland

Ingolstadt,
Germany
England
Scotland
the Arctic ice
Point of View:
Robert Walton – letters at
beginning
Victor Frankenstein
Frankenstein’s monster
Robert Walton – letters at end
Frame story
Characters
Protagonist - Victor Frankenstein
• Scientist and narrator of the main portion of the
story
• Discovers the secret of life
• Creates an intelligent but grotesque monster
• Recoils in horror from his creation
• Feels guilty and ashamed
Antagonist – Frankenstein’s Monster

• 8-foot tall, hideously ugly creation of
Frankenstein
• Intelligent and sensitive
• Tries to fit in with other people, but all shun
him
• Feels abandoned
• Seeks revenge against his creator
Robert Walton
• Arctic seafarer
• Letters open and close the novel
• Hears Victor’s story
• Tells story to his sister, Margaret, through
letters
Other Characters:
• Alphonse Frankenstein – Victor’s father
• Elizabeth Lavenza – Victor’s wife
• Henry Clerval – Victor’s boyhood friend
• William Frankenstein – Victor’s brother
• Justine Moritz – Frankenstein housekeeper

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FRANKENSTEIN

Or the Modern Prometheus

 Daughter of two of England’s leading intellectual

She died 11 days after giving birth to Mary.

 Father: William Godwin

• When she was sixteen and he was

• His first wife drowned which

• She gave birth to four children in

• Percy died eight years later, due to

“Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Coleridge

The Greek myth of Prometheus

Paradise Lost by Milton

When Mary was nine, she hid under a

Its themes of isolation, suffering, and

It also explored the theme of man vs.

• In the battle between Zeus and the Titans for control of

• Zeus denied man fire.

The importance of fire/electricity and

• This epic poem is

They experimented with lower

Galvanism - a theory defined as the

• Mary’s 1st daughter

• Mary dreamed that

• This also added to

The summer proved to be

Lord Byron suggested that they each

Frankenstein grew from a short story to a

•Set in medieval times

•Dark, mysterious, evil tone

•Dark castles, palaces, chambers, haunted

•Repressed fears and desires

•All come together to emphasize the sense of

Time: Eighteenth century (late1700s)

Place: Geneva, Switzerland

Antagonist – Frankenstein’s Monster

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