Questions to Answer from Chapters 7 - 10

Answer each of the following questions:

1. Do you think that Frankenstein went too far in his quest for knowledge? Did he have a good motive for his project? Did he have adequate knowledge to begin his project? Did he consider possible consequences of his actions?
2. How is Frankenstein affected by what happens after he abandons the creature? Why does he call himself the "true murderer" of William? Do you agree with Frankenstein that he bears some responsibility for the death?

Add the line(s) that stood out to you and your explanations.

Read chapters 11 - 13 for Friday.

Chapters 1 - 6 Disappointment?

In these chapters you are introduced to both Frankenstein and his monster along with other characters. There is little description of the Creature's appearance and no detail of how Frankenstein brought him to life. Why do you think Shelley did this? Does the lack of detail add to or take away from the story?

Answer the above question and add the line that stood out to you giving reasons why this line impressed you.

Read chapters 7 - 10 for tomorrow

3/19/07 Responding to the Letters

Each day you will be given a reading assignment. When you read, note a specific line or lines that stand out to you or impress you in some way. You will be asked to share these in your comment back to me and the class. Occasionally, I will ask you to comment to other students' postings. Below you will find an example of one type of response.

Teacher prompt to the reading:
Careful readers of the novel point out that there is a symbolic element that develops the idea of the two main characters, Frankenstein and his monster as doubles for each other, or two parts of a divided self.

Typical Student comment back:
As I read the letters which are the introduction to the creature and Frankenstein there were several lines that stood out to me. When Walton first saw Frankenstein he referred to him as "not a savage inhabitant" (23) and "a more interesting creature" (24). The word choice leads me to believe that Shelley set up the idea of the divided self even at this early point in the novel. By doing this she also introduced the theme of acceptance. Here Walton finds a stranger who has manners "so conciliating and gentle..." that Walton "begin[s] to love him as a brother" and who is filled "with sympathy and compassion" because of Frankenstein's grief (25). From what I know of the novel, Frankenstein rejects his monster, his creation. Perhaps had Frankenstein been like Walton he would have found acceptance for the monster and himself for creating it.

More assignment information:
Sometimes I will give you a prompt. Other times there will be no prompt; you will lead the discussion with a line that stood out to you.

Today 3/19/07 - comment to the prompt given above from your reading so far. Read Chapters 1 page 31 through Chapter 6 page 68 for tomorrow. Be prepared to discuss your reading and a line or two that stood out to you and why.

Frankenstein - Introduction and Assignment Information

Welcome to Online Lessons for AP Literature We are starting with an understanding of the origins of Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein.

• Your first reading assignment was to read the Author's Introduction and the Preface.

• You will be expected to follow the directions given in each of the assignment outlines through this online medium. You will also be expected to keep up with the reading. When you are completing your comment sections on this Blog, your answers are expected to be well-thought out, original and written using standard English conventions and adequate in length to represent the work of an Advanced Placement Literature student.

• Go to the next Blog - Prereading Activity

Prereading Activity

Moral responsibility in light of scientific invention

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.