Contents

Page Handouts
Introduction ............................................................................... v

Teacher Notes ........................................................................... vii

1 Context: Introducing Frankenstein...................................... 1 ...................................1, 2, 3
2 Mary Shelley’s Framing Device ........................................... 7 .................................... 4, 5
3 Frankenstein’s Early Years ............................................... 13 .................................6, 7, 8
4 Creating a Monster ........................................................... 19 .............................9, 10, 11
5 The Creature’s Story......................................................... 27 ...........................12, 13, 14
6 The Bargain Broken ......................................................... 35 .................................15, 16
7 Victor Frankenstein: Characterization .............................. 41 .................................17, 18
8 Misery Loves Company ..................................................... 47 .................................19, 20
9 Major Themes in Frankenstein .......................................... 53 ............................ 21, 22, 23
10 Poetic Connections: Shelley and Wordsworth .................... 61 .................................24, 25

Supplementary Materials
Final Test ......................................................................... 65
Answer Key ...................................................................... 69
Culminating Activities ...................................................... 70

Bibliography ............................................................................. 72

iii
 Lesson 4
Creating a Monster
Objectives between the two. Finally, they note the mental
• To recognize the short- and long-term ef- states of both Frankenstein and the monster
fects of Victor Frankenstein’s response to and the way both relate to nature.
his own creation
• To analyze the depression and anger felt Procedure
by both Frankenstein and his monster 1. Distribute Handout 9, and have small
groups answer the questions.
• To emphasize Mary Shelley’s portrayal of
nature as healer Suggested Responses:
1. Victor is persuaded to study modern
science. He wants to eliminate the curse
Notes to the Teacher
of death.
The events in chapter 5 are the most
pivotal in the novel. After the crescendo of 2. Victor seems to become a total loner,
highly-motivated study, Victor Frankenstein obsessed and compelled by the single
is ready for some decisive action. All the fac- desire to create life. He neglects cor-
tors of the experiment come together in the respondence with his family at home.
“birth,” the awakening of the creature. A He is disconnected from other people.
problem arises which Frankenstein has never
thought through: What if the awakened crea- 3. Victor uses material from cemeter-
ture should be different from what the creator ies, slaughterhouses, and dissecting
imagined? The scientist, unable to manage his rooms—pieces of bodies. The references
horror at the appearance of the live creature, are vague, allowing the reader’s vivid
takes flight, thereby rejecting the new being. imagination to take over. Victor preoc-
A pattern is established which will reappear in cupies himself with the moment of
the novel. Victor suffers mental and physical change from life to death and resolves
illness; Henry Clerval supports him with care to create a being who will be a “new
and friendship; Victor recovers. species,” and thus to “renew life” and
conquer death. Working on cadavers,
Victor has failed to plan for his creature’s he proceeds with his experiment and
integration into the world. Victor does not, in loses all sense of time and place.
fact, aid this integration, but instead rejects his
creation totally. Chapter 7 begins with a letter 4. Victor feels a total revulsion and runs
Victor receives from his father, a letter which away. He is especially horrified by his
announces the brutal murder of William. In creation’s eyes.
chapter 8, Justine Moritz is falsely accused 5. Victor’s young brother, William, is mur-
of the crime, forced into a confession, and ex- dered, and Victor feels sure his own
ecuted. Victor suffers desperately as he knows creation is responsible. Victor feels
that the true criminal, his brother’s murderer, responsible for loosing evil and danger
is his own creation. In these chapters, and in on the world.
the two following chapters, Shelley emphasizes
the mental states of both Frankenstein and the 6. Justine Moritz was abused in her own
monster. home and was adopted into the Fran-
kenstein family. She is executed as
This lesson focuses on chapters 4–10, from a murderess after being convicted on
Victor Frankenstein’s immersion in college circumstantial evidence. Little William’s
through his creation of the monster up to his locket was found in her pocket, and,
reencounter with his own creation and agree- although innocent, she is pressured by
ment to listen to the monster’s story. Students a priest into confessing guilt.
begin with a general overview, using discus-
sion questions. They then focus on the nature 7. Henry joins Victor, providing companion-
of creator and creation and the relationship ship, helping restore him to health, and
bringing some sense of normalcy.

19
 8. Nature soothes and calms Victor, much innocence, but the fangs of remorse
in the Romantic tradition. tore my bosom and would not forgo
their hold.” (chapter 8)
9. Victor feels a parallel between his own
plight and that of Coleridge’s mariner. • “Anguish and despair had penetrated
He, too, is plagued by a guilty action, into the core of my heart; I bore a
and he does indeed feel the threat of hell within me which nothing could
the fiend he has created. extinguish.” (chapter 8)

10. Out on an expedition in the Alps, Vic- 2. In the Romantic tradition, nature has
tor meets the monster he created and the power to heal Frankenstein in a
is persuaded to listen to the creature’s limited and temporary manner. Sample
story. quotations include the following:

2. Write on the board or overhead projector • “My country, my beloved country!

the words creator and creation. Point out Who but a native can tell the delight
to students that nearly all cultures have I took in again beholding thy streams,
myths that explain the creation of the thy mountains, and more than all,
world and humanity. Remind them of the thy lovely lake!” (chapter 7)
story of Prometheus. Point out that the • “These sublime and magnificent
Judeo-Christian Bible also tells a story of scenes afforded me the greatest
creation. If possible, read aloud the first consolation that I was capable of
two books of Genesis. Then ask students receiving. They elevated me from all
how God responded to his creation. Lead littleness of feeling, and although
them to see that the Bible repeatedly they did not remove my grief, they
says that he saw the things he created subdued and tranquillized it.” (chap-
as good. ter 10)
3. Point out the contrast in Victor Fran- • “The sight of the awful and majestic
kenstein’s response to a creature that is in nature had indeed always the
totally dependent on him: he immediately effect of solemnizing my mind and
recognizes his creation as ugly and re- causing me to forget the passing
pulsive. His response is total rejection. cares of life.” (chapter 10)
Ask students to brainstorm the effects 5. Ask students to discuss the alienation and
of rejection (anger, violence, depression, bitterness that the monster feels as a re-
resentment, etc.). sult of isolation and rejection and to find
4. Distribute Handout 10, and have small passages in chapter 10 that demonstrate
groups complete the exercise. ways nature acts as a refuge or healer for
him, too.
Suggested Responses:
Suggested Responses:
1. Numerous statements demonstrate Victor
Frankenstein’s painful state of mind. • “The desert mountains and dreary gla-
The following will serve as examples. ciers are my refuge.”
• “I have wandered here many days; the
• “Fear overcame me; I dared not
caves of ice, which I only do not fear,
advance, dreading a thousand name-
are a dwelling to me, and the only one
less evils that made me tremble,
which man does not grudge.”
although I was unable to define
them.” (chapter 7) • “These bleak skies I hail, for they are
kinder to me than your fellow beings.”
• “. . . [I]n all the misery I imagined
and dreaded, I did not conceive the 6. Point out that Victor Frankenstein attempts
hundredth part of the anguish I was an act of creation, something we all do
destined to endure.” (chapter 7) now and again, although not on the scale
• “The tortures of the accused did not of his ambition. Distribute Handout 11,
equal mine; she was sustained by and review the directions. Set a date for

20
students to bring their creations to share
with the class. After students present their
work, conduct a discussion on how many
“saw that it was good” and how many felt
that their work was a failure and wanted
to destroy it. Link students’ responses to
the text.

21
Frankenstein Name_______________________
Lesson 4
Handout 9 (page 1) Date________________________

Discussion Questions: Chapters 4–10

Directions: Use the following questions to summarize key events and insights into characters.
1. What field of study does Victor Frankenstein pursue at the university in Ingolstadt? For
what aim?

2. What is wrong with Victor’s lifestyle at the university?

3. What is the material out of which Victor makes his creature? How graphic are Mary Shelley’s
descriptions?

4. What is Victor’s emotional and physical reaction to the sight of his creature? What specific
aspect of the monster’s appearance horrifies Victor?

5. What first death does Victor feel responsible for, and why?

© COPYRIGHT, The Center for Learning. Used with permission. Not for resale.

22
Frankenstein Name_______________________
Lesson 4
Handout 9 (page 2) Date________________________

6. Who is Justine? Why does she also die?

7. How does Henry Clerval help after Victor’s ordeal begins?

8. When the Frankenstein family moves to the country, what effect does the move have on
Victor? How does this reflect a Romantic perspective?

9. In chapter 5, Victor quotes lines from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” Why?

10. At the end of chapter 10, whom does Victor meet? Where? What is the result?

© COPYRIGHT, The Center for Learning. Used with permission. Not for resale.

23
Frankenstein Name_______________________
Lesson 4
Handout 10 Date________________________

Frankenstein’s Mental State

Directions: Record passages from chapters 7–10 that provide insight into Frankenstein’s state of
mind. Then record passages that address how he experiences nature as a restorative power.
1. State of mind (fear, anguish, remorse, despair, guilt, etc.)

2. Power of nature

© COPYRIGHT, The Center for Learning. Used with permission. Not for resale.

24
Frankenstein Name_______________________
Lesson 4
Handout 11 Date________________________

The Act of Creation

Directions: Review the content of chapters 5 and 6. Then create an original art work alone, with a
partner, or with a small group. Choose one of the following projects, and jot down your ideas.
1. Short video or PowerPoint presentation with musical background and/or voice-over
2. Series of drawings representing emotions of joy and sorrow
3. Original poem titled by a phrase from chapter 5 or 6
4. Original sculpture that reflects some aspect of the novel
5. Other creative project in a medium of your choice

Main Idea Medium

Artistic
Creation

Color Size

© COPYRIGHT, The Center for Learning. Used with permission. Not for resale.

25