• gothic fiction is a genre of literature that combines horror, death and sometimes romance.

• gothic literature often has strong-willed protagonists that are in isolated, fearful settings and there are usually elements of sublime nature and supernatural, fearful spectres.

• It makes readers feel a strong sense of foreboding

Bleak Foreboding environments:

• Dark forests

• imposing mountains

• Temperatures weather

• areas far away from civilisation.

• Shadow, a beam of moonlight in the blackness, a flickering candle, or the only source of light failing.

• Extreme landscapes , like lugged mountains, thick forests or icy wastes and extreme weather.

Protagonist:

• The plot involves hidden secrets which threatens the protagonists.

• The protagonist are isolate or alone.

• There's some physical entrapment.

• emotional unease and tension- cut off from the people close to them.

• They usually tend to have a high social ranking.

• They suffer psychological conflict and inner turmoil

• They suffer from a tragic flaw which ultimately leads to their downfall.

Supernatural:

• writers can invoke the supernatural directly or rely upon the imagination of the readers to provide it.

Science:

• People like charles Darwin advances in science made people fearful of weather and would try to use science to replace God and do unnatural actions.

• Gothic literature exploits this fear.

Emotions:

• high emotions are triggered by murders, kidnappings, people going mad and tragic illness.

• characters are often passionate and strong-willed, defying others or even their own common sense in pursuit of their goals.

Discussion Questions:

1. Frankenstein begins and ends with letters written by Robert Walton. Why do you think that Mary Shelley chose to have him frame the novel? How would your opinions of Victor Frankenstein and his creation differ if their story was told directly by Victor Frankenstein himself? What if the story was told solely by the creation?

2. Walton yearns for a friend, much like Victor Frankenstein’s creature does. What does this tell you about human nature? Is it in our nature to want companionship, someone to confide in, and someone to care for?

3. In Letter IV, Walton writes, “Yesterday the stranger said to me, “You may easily perceive, Captain Walton, that I have suffered great and unparalleled misfortunes. I had determined at one time that the memory of these evils should die with me, but you have won me to alter my determination. You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been. I do not know that the relation of my disasters will be useful to you; yet, when I reflect that you are pursuing the same course, exposing yourself to the same dangers which have rendered me what I am, I imagine that you may deduce an apt moral from my tale, one that may direct you if you succeed in your undertaking and console you in case of failure. Prepare to hear of occurrences which are usually deemed marvelous.”

   A. In the excerpt above, Victor is foreshadowing the creation of his monster and how it went quickly awry. Are there any other instances of foreshadowing in these letters?

   B. In the excerpt above, the themes of knowledge and wisdom are introduced. Often, knowledge and wisdom are seen as interchangeable, or as going hand-in-hand, but are they necessarily the same. Pay attention to how knowledge and wisdom are portrayed in the book.

4. Walton and Frankenstein are both men of science but in vastly different fields. What does having two main characters in this field tell you about 1800s Europe? What does it tell you about the gender roles of this time?