The novel starts with the Letters pages 15 to 29. This will be your reading assignment for tomorrow.
Before you read go to http://en.wikipedia.org and
- look up galvanism
- look up Rime of the Ancient Mariner Read the plot summary.
- In Rime... Coldridge uses a framing device of the Mariner telling his story
- In Frankenstein Shelley uses the same type of literary device in letters
- look up Frankenstein
- Read only the first paragraph of information. Beware the Spoiler Warning - Plot summary. If you are the type of person who wants to know the end of the story before reading, the summary is for you; otherwise, reading it will ruin the novel. I would see this better as a post reading activity before writing an essay or taking a test.
- Click on one of the following blue links in the paragraph:
Gothic novel
Romantic
Industrial Revolution
Prometheus
- After your research, comment on what you have learned and how you think Shelley incorporated the information on galvanism, Rime of the Ancient Mariner and one of the four elements listed above contributed to the novel.
18 comments:
So regarding your second blog posting... the class was not sure if you wanted us to spend the period researching the items you listed, then read the letters, and then comment, or just research during the period and comment tomorrow. We've been researching what you asked this period, but are unable to do both the research and read all of the letters, and then leave you a comment. I've tried to call you but was unable to reach you so I left you a message.
After researching the topics you asked us to, I think Shelley incorporated Prometheus and Galvanism directly to the creation of Frankenstein. Galvanism is what was used to create Frankenstein, while Dr. Frankenstein's story parrallels that of Prometheus.
Galvanism is directly incorporated into Victor Frankenstein's work because he brings a corpse to life through surging electricity through the brain, thus stimulating the muscles. It is clear how Frankensteins creations are related to Prometheus, because Prometheus was a titan who stole fire from the gods and favored humanity. Frankenstein did not literally steal fire from the gods, however he does have compassion for humans.
Well i learned about what a gothic novel and romantisism is and they sound descriptive of what the novel will be like. I'm also told that to understand how the Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Frankenstein relater, we have to read the letters. So this is really all I have to say for now.
Oh yea... I learned what galvanism is, because I had no clue before. It is very relevant to the novel because Frankenstein is brought to life through a surge of electricity. a.k.a. galvanism
Galvanism is the contraction of a muscle that is stimulated by electrical current. So, in theory, enough electricity might be able to create life as Dr. Frankenstein does to the "monster". Mary Shelley uses many features of gothic novels in Frankenstein such as: castles, darkness, madness, secrets and death. All of these contribute to her novel and illuminate the story.
After my research and the reading of Frankenstein that I have done, it is clear to me what Shelley used as inspiration to create her novel. Galvanism, The Rime of The Ancient Mariner and Gothic themes have all played a role in her tale. The monster comes to life due in part to galvanism, the letters at the beginning of Frankenstein mirror parts of the Rime Of The Ancient Mariner and gothic writing is prominent throughout the story; including monsters, terror, darkness and the supernatural.
Lydia~
After researching the topics provided, I have realized that Mary Shelley's Frankenstein would be considered a gothic fiction. Although this novel contains some aspects of the romanic movement, it seems to me that it looks to be more of a darker story. Promethius plays a part in this because it sounds like he did the same thing Frankenstein did by creating something new to the people of the time. Just like Promethius brought fire to the people, Frankenstein brought life where it was not before. Galvanism also plays a role in this story because it is how the monster of Frankenstein is born.
Mary Shelley uses electricity to stimulate the brain, galvanism, which jumpstarts Frankenstein's creature. Shelley also uses the prometheus to show frankenstein's compassion for humans.
I have researched what you wanted and read the other things too. It seems that the gothic theme is a type of romanticism that focuses more on the fear of emotion, not just any emotion. Like Shelly's story, the gothic is used with like castles, supernatural, death, fear, ugliness, that sort of stuff. Shelly uses the ideas of experiments and gavalnism mixed with the gothic theme to create this story in her head of an unatural thing that would terrify the reader and bring about new frightfull ideas
Lisa Papa
Never having heard much of "Frankenstein" as a child, and not having read any farther than the preface, I cannot say exactly how Shelley incorporated all of these ideas into her novel. Galvanism, I can assume, is what the doctor uses to create his monster, and this definitely appears to be a gothic novel considering the dark mood, the monster, and I am going to assume that many more features of gothic fiction will come later in the book. I am unsure yet how the poem will come into play in Shelly's work, but I am sure I will find out soon enough. However, one line in the poem did stand out to me. "He made and loveth all." He, referring to God, loves every creature that he creates. I know from the discussions we have had in class that this relates to the novel, for Doctor Frankenstein has played God and given life to a creature. However, instead of giving this creature unconditional love, he runs away from it in terror.
When a muscle was stimulated by an electric current it was know as Galvanism. I am assuming that in the novel Frankenstein, Galvanism takes a part in creating the “monster.” I chose the topic Prometheus, because I didn’t know anything about it. In ancient Greek Mythology Prometheus was a titan known for stealing fire from the gods and giving it to mortals. Prometheus was supposed to have been an intelligent and cunning figure. I can see that there would be a resemblance between Prometheus and the creator of Frankenstein in that Prometheus stole fire from the gods and the creator of Frankenstein, took into his own hands the power of life and death. Also, anyone who attempts to and succeeds in creating life from death must have been very intelligent and cunning.
Galvanism is the contraction of a muscle that is stimulated by an electric current. From the many cartoons and tales of Frankenstein we know that galvanism was used to give him life.Some features included in a "Gothic Novel" are physical and physcological terror, death, darkness, castles, and madness. From the basic understanding of the novel all the features listed above are relevant.
I had an appointment with my dentist today during class and I just got online to see the assignment. Clearly, galvanism explains the science of how it was poosible in the novel for Dr. Frankenstein to create his monster and to give it life. Also, the Rime of the Ancient Mariner seems to parellel the letters in the beginning of the novel in that the story is being told by a member of the boats crew. Prometheus is relevant to the novel because he is often credited with the creation of man and is known as cunning and intelligent. Dr. Frankenstein is very much like Prometheus because he must have been intelligent to create life, he created life just as Prometheus did and he stole the power to give life from the gods, just as Prometheus stole fire.
Austin
Each day I will add that nights reading. All of the comments were well done. Some were a little brief however. Go to the new topic for today.
The incorporation of galvanism is clear, as Frankenstein is brought to life in this way. After reading, "The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner", many similarities were brought to my attention. Such as the gothic style in which each of the pieces were written, and the supernatural occurences in both. After researching the story of Prometheus, and reading of how he stole fire from the gods to give to the mortals, it was clear that both of the stories were indeed very similar. Both reveal the question of right and wrong,and within both are the intentions of good for mankind. Yet stealing fire, stealing life...who decides if it is right or wrong?
Yesterday I was a little confused with some of the students in the class yesterday that because of our confusion didn't post our comment. Although, yesterday I did do the research. The story of Frankenstein is very familiar to our culture like the story of Dracula and it incoorparates the Gothic theme. In Frankenstein it is well known that it has a gloomy theme and is set in a castle, and is about a doctor who believes in galvanism, who digs up the body parts from a graveyard, again incoorparating the gothic theme.
(This is late because I was not in school and this was the soonest I could post)
Galvanism basically explains how Frankenstein was created. Rime of the Ancient Mariner is similar to the story Frankenstein in how they are both gothic novels. They were both written around the time when gothic writing was somewhat new, which is probably what made them so popular. I believe the author used a ton of resources to create her story of Frankenstein.
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