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7. Significant historical background (from 1818-1851) - How is Frankenstein a reflection of the time?

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7. Significant historical background (from 1818-1851) - How is Frankenstein a reflection of the time?

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Frankenstein reflects its time as it is a cautionary tale for science and of its possible dangers. Science is something that people fear as it is progressing at a fast rate and if we don't keep it in check it could turn dangerous. The atomic bomb is an example of increasing knowledge in science but morally it is a horrible weapon of mass destruction. Frankenstein also takes influence from the enlightenment philosophy and romanticism two movements during her time. These enlightenment ideas are expressed throughout the story as well as romanticism.

Source: http://web.pdx.edu/~babakz/portfolio/Frankenstein%20Take%20Home%20Exam.htm

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5. What is Gothic Romanticism? Famous authors/words?

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5. What is Gothic Romanticism? Famous authors/words?

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Gothic Romanticism was a genre that emphasized emotions and imagination as well as elements of the supernatural and horror. Gothic Romanticism usually took place in a castle with a mysterious atmosphere mixed with suspense. Some famous authors include Lord Byron, Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and more.

Source: https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/arts/language/lit-terms/gothic-romance

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3. Was Mary W. Shelley identified as a Romantic writer? How?

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3. Was Mary W. Shelley identified as a Romantic writer? How?

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Mary W. Shelley was considered a Romantic writer as Romanticism was about the focus of individual emotions, enthusiasm about the grandeur of the natural world, and a celebration of creativity and the figure of the artist. In Frankenstein, the monster comes into the world without knowledge of social norms and behaviors which Romanticism writing tries to identify how innate human nature is shaped by society and culture. Frankenstein also shows the Romantic themes of an individual versus society which Romantics see the individual as great and distinct from society. The power of nature which is another important characteristic of Romanticism is shown throughout the story of Frankenstein.

Source: https://study.com/academy/lesson/romanticism-in-frankenstein.html

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Born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin on August 30, 1797, in London, England. She was the daughter of a philosopher and political writer William Godwin and renounced feminist Mary Wollstonecraft. Mary was unable to know her mother as she died soon after birth and was raised by her father. Mary's father soon remarried to Mary Jane Clairmont who Mary never got along with. Mary didn't have a formal education but made use of her father's library where she read often and later in 1807 published her first poem. In 1814 Mary began a relationship with a poet named Percy Bysshe Shelley and they fled England together the same year.

Source: https://www.biography.com/writer/mary-shelley

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6. Why did Mary W. Shelley choose to write Frankenstein as a "ghost story?" - Casey

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6. Why did Mary W. Shelley choose to write Frankenstein as a "ghost story?" - Casey

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This story is considered a "ghost story" is because it includes Goth Literature, it deals with a madman who isn't fond of what he has created. He realizes that what he has made was a huge mistake, the decides to neglect the living creature he made. After he decides to neglect the creature, Frankenstein then causes mayhem and takes a few lives. During the time the story was made there were various different doctors that were actually experimenting with electrocuting the human body, also known as "Galvinsim." There are many different authors and people who believe the story has a tie between the scientist in the story and scientists in real life.

Source
http://thatslifesci.com/2018-10-29-Frankenstein-A-ghost-story-about-scientific-ethics-and-work-life-balance-Marjadi/

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4. What are the literary qualities that comprise Gothic Literature? - Casey

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4. What are the literary qualities that comprise Gothic Literature? - Casey

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Some literary qualities that could compromise Gothic Literature is some sort of dark idea; this can include things such as death and decay, emotional distress, nightmares, ghosts, vampires etc. Some prime examples of Gothic Literature in stories are books such as "The Castle of Otranto" by Horace Walpole. The book by Horace Walpole includes ideas such as a madman, setting in a castle, as well as a murder that took place. Another example is "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Alan Poe, this story depicts the downward spiral of his anonymous narrator after he arrives at the home of a friend who has recently passed. Even though his friend has recently passed, the house is very much alive.

Source:
https://examples.yourdictionary.com/gothic-literature-basics-genre-key-elements

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Gothic literature is a popular genre that dominated Western literature throughout the 19th century and still endures today due to its grotesque yet gripping allure. From the looming image of Frankenstein's monster to the macabre tales of Edgar Allan Poe, images of the gothic genre have permeated Western literature and popular culture. Explore the morbid, fantastical elements and characteristics of Gothic literature, as well as classic and contemporary examples of this influential genre.

Whitby Abbey near sunset

What Is Gothic Literature?

Gothic literature is a genre of literature that rose to prominence in the late 18th century. The term Gothic historically refers to a style of architecture popularized in the Medieval period. The term has since become applicable to any medium that displays particular aesthetic characteristics, such as dark settings and atmosphere and elements of the supernatural. All this and more can be found in Gothic novels.

Classic Gothic Literature Examples

Many Gothic stories that are read and retold today are now considered classics. Dive into the plots of a few Gothic novel greats.

The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Alan Poe (1839)

This celebrated story is an early example of the Gothic genre from an American writer. Poe endures as one of the most influential voices in the Gothic movement and penned countless chilling tales. The master of macabre depicts the downward spiral of his anonymous narrator after he arrives at the home of a friend who has recently passed. Although his friend is dead, the house may be very much alive.

Modern Gothic Literature Examples

Classic Gothic novels gave birth to modern ghost stories and horror. While these works continue to be adapted for modern audiences, new tales are being told all the time. Often these tales replace the castles with urban settings and archetypal figures with contemporary characters, but you still see the essential elements of Gothic literature.

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (1938)

Take a psychological thrill ride with Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca. Rebecca weaves a classic tale of a wealthy widower and his new, young wife, whose name is never revealed. However, the ghost of his previous wife, the eponymous Rebecca, hangs over their marriage, and the new wife begins to spiral with a bit of help from a sinister housekeeper.

History of Gothic Literature

Gothic literature can trace its roots to Romanticism, a movement that swept through Europe in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Gothic literature stems from Dark Romanticism, a more macabre subgenre of Romanticism. This literary movement was particularly prevalent in English and German literature and ultimately dominated the market. Notably, many female authors rose to prominence writing Gothic literature, including Ann Radcliffe, Clara Reeves, Mary Shelley, the Brontë sisters, and even Jane Austen.

Subgenres of Gothic Literature

Some subgenres of Gothic literature include Gothic romance and Gothic horror. A popular example of Gothic romance is Jane Eyre, while the term Gothic horror might apply to the works of Edgar Allan Poe. A popular subgenre that has emerged in modern times is Southern Gothic, with notable works such as Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, Beloved by Toni Morrison, and the works of Flannery O'Connor and Cormac McCarthy.

Characteristics of Gothic Literature

There is a reason the word "gothic" brings to mind trap doors, castles, monasteries, and more. This is because Gothic literature has specific characteristics like:

creepy settings - In Gothic fiction, the setting is a character in its own right. Some common types of settings include castles, haunted houses, graveyards, and dark forests.

natural imagery - A hallmark of both Romanticism and Gothic literature is imagery, particularly pertaining to nature.

dark atmosphere - No Gothic story is complete without atmosphere, including complementary weather conditions. Examples include rain, storms, a chill in the air or howling wind.

archetypal character traits - Gothic literature typically has particular types of characters: a distressed heroine, tyrannical male characters (usually villains) and anti-heroes, also known as Byronic heroes after Romantic poet Lord Byron.

suspense - Gothic plot lines typically revolve around suspenseful events, familial mysteries, disappearances, unexplainable events, and frightening objects.

terror - The protagonist is haunted by supernatural or seemingly supernatural events such as doors suddenly closing, baying of dogs, footsteps, moans, and eerie sounds in the night.

paranormal activity - Gothic novels are famous for featuring ghosts, vampires, monsters, and other shadowy figures. Sometimes these supernatural figures are literal, and other times they are symbolic or have a natural explanation.

omens and prophecies - The protagonist or a supporting character will often typically have distressing dreams, visions or prophecies connected to the setting or events of the story.

agony and ecstasy - Gothic stories are often characterized by melodrama, inner turmoil, intrigue, and insanity as well as sweeping romance, grandiose passions and enchanting prose.

macabre and morbid - No Gothic tale is complete without a little death and destruction. This can be in the form of a murder or other such macabre themes laced throughout the text.

Gothic Writing Style

Gothic literature feeds off the fears and curiosities of the human experience to weave thrilling, imaginative tales. Keep your journey into literature going by exploring different literary genres, including ghost and monster stories.

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Gothic Literature: Basics of the Genre & Key Elements

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Gothic literature is a popular genre that dominated Western literature throughout the 19th century and still endures today due to its grotesque yet gripping allure. From the looming image of Frankenstein's monster to the macabre tales of Edgar Allan Poe, images of the gothic genre have permeated Western literature and popular culture.

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During the year 1818, Mary W. Shelley was a year that really revolutionized her life. Mary wrote the book Frankenstein, this is one of her most famous books to date. After writing Frankenstein Mary went on to write other books such as Valperga (1823), The Last Man (1826), an autobiography called Ledore (1835) and a book that was produced after her death called Mathilde. Mary had developed a relationship with a man named Percy Shelley in 1814. Mary and Percy had a pretty rocky marriage, it was full of headaches and disloyalty. Mary had struggled with having children after losing her first one in 1815 and two more after the birth of Percy Florence. Their only child to make it to adult hood was Percy Florence who was born in 1819. Mary's life was yet struck again with more tragedy when Percy her husband had drowned to death when sailing with a friends in the Gulf of Spezia. While being a widow is when she wrote books such as Valperga & The Last Man. During this time she was also trying to promote her husbands poetry and trying to cement him in history, she also faced opposition when her late husband's father tried to intervene. He never approved of her late husbands lifestyle. Unfortunately in 1851 Mary W. Shelley aged 53, died in London, England from brain cancer. She was then buried with the cremated remains of her late husband's heart. Her late book Mathilde wasn't released until the 1950s. She left behind a legacy in the book Frankenstein which is still used in movies, cartoons, TV shows, newspaper skits, Halloween etc.

Source:
https://www.biography.com/writer/mary-shelley