Reading Overview for Tuesday, July 20

Assigned Text: Shelley’s Frankenstein, Vol. III, Ch. 1-3 (pp. 103-120)

Summary Information for Volume II

Here are the links for the Facebook pages presented by Mike and Hailey: Victor Frankenstein and The Creature

About Volume III

I’m not going to say much in the way of introduction about this final section of Frankenstein because I would hate to ruin any of the suspense and excitement created in the events of this section. I’ll raise a few questions about the section you’re reading and about the novel as a whole.

Questions for Thinking and Discussion

• Continue thinking about the ways that the gothic, sentimentality, and the sublime appear in this novel. Mark specific passages that illustrate these terms. In particular, I would like for you to focus on a passage about Henry Clerval demonstrating his sensibility and experiencing the sublime at the end of chapter 1 (pp. 107-108). In this, Shelley quotes from Wordsworth’s “Tintern Abbey.” What is the effect of her incorporation of Wordsworth in this section? How does Henry fulfill the expectations of a Romantic poet?
• In this section, Victor grapples even more with the responsibility of creating life. How does he handle that responsibility?
• As the story continues to progress, what are your opinions of Victor? Have they changed since Volumes I and II? 

Questions from Tuesday’s Presenters

• In what way does Victor escape his depression and how does that tie into the Romantic period as talked about in class?
• What characters do you sympathize with most in Frankenstein?
• How does Frankenstein feel about Elizabeth? Is he more committed to her or to another?
• After reading the story, how could it apply or relate to the modern day?
• Who is the real monster in the story?