5.1.2

Letters 3 & 4

Test yourself on Letters 3 & 4

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Letter 3

Walton lets Margaret know that the journey is underway and that they are getting nearer to the North Pole.

Progress

Progress

  • Walton lets Margaret know that the journey is underway and that they are getting nearer to the North Pole.
  • Even though they have encountered some extreme weather and superficial damage to the boat, Walton assures his sister that he is not in danger and not to worry.
Unchecked ambition

Unchecked ambition

  • "What can stop the determined heart and resolved will of men."
    • Shelley is foreshadowing the meeting with Victor and the warning that Walton is about to receive about the unchecked ambition of men.

Letter 4

In Walton’s next letters, he informs his sister of a very strange few days that have occurred out at sea.

Mirroring the Mariner

Mirroring the Mariner

  • Walton tells of his ship being caught up in ice and mist (very similar to The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Coleridge.)
  • Later on that day, he and his crew observe the figure of a "gigantic" man travelling across the ice.
  • Next morning, they find Victor close to death on a dog sled.
  • They bring him aboard and nurse him back to health.
Companionship

Companionship

  • Victor tells Walton that he was pursuing someone across the ice, and Walton feels that he has found the friend he was so longing for.
Victor's tale

Victor's tale

  • After a few days, Walton writes to his sister to tell her that his companion has listened to his own hopes for the future and grand plans, to which Victor warns him about his own failings, saying: "But I—I have lost everything, and cannot begin life anew."
  • Walton promises to write down Victor’s tale, to which the readers are then introduced in the classic novel form of chapters.
Jump to other topics
1

Narrative Structure

1.1

Narrative Structure

1.1.1Narrative Structure1.1.2Narrative Distancing1.1.3End of Topic Test - Narrative Structure
2

Character Summaries

2.1

Walton & Frankenstein

2.1.1Walton2.1.2Victor Frankenstein2.1.3End of Topic Test - Walton & Frankenstein
2.2

The Monster

2.2.1The Monster2.2.2The Monster 22.2.3End of Topic Test - The Monster
2.3

Elizabeth, Justine & Henry

2.3.1Elizabeth Lavenza2.3.2Justine Moritz2.3.3Henry Clerval2.3.4End of Topic Test - Elizabeth, Justine & Henry
2.4

Families & Other Characters

2.4.1The Frankenstein Family2.4.2The De Lacey Family2.4.3Other Characters2.4.4End of Topic Test - Families & Other Characters
3

Intertextuality & Allusions

3.1

Intertextual References

3.1.1The Modern Prometheus3.1.2The Rime of the Ancient Mariner3.1.3The Bible3.1.4Mutability & Tintern Abbey3.1.5End of Topic Test - Intertextual References
3.2

Philosophical & Scientific Theories

3.2.1Edmund Burke3.2.2Thomas Paine3.2.3John Locke3.2.4Jean-Jacques Rousseau3.2.5Historical Figures3.2.6End of Topic Test - Philosophy & Science Theories
4

Biographic Context

4.1

Biographic Context

4.1.1Shelley's Parents4.1.2Loss & Maternal Anxiety4.1.3Literary Legend4.1.4End of Topic Test - Biographical Context
5

Chapter Summaries

5.1

Letters

5.1.1Letters 1 & 25.1.2Letters 3 & 45.1.3End of Topic Test - Letters
5.2

Chapters

5.2.1Chapters 1-25.2.2Chapters 3-45.2.3Chapters 5-65.2.4Chapters 7-95.2.5Chapters 10-115.2.6Chapters 12-155.2.7Chapters 16-195.2.8Chapters 20-235.2.9Chapter 24 & Walton’s Last Letters5.2.10End of Topic Test - Chapters 1-65.2.11End of Topic Test - Chapters 7-155.2.12End of Topic Test - Chapters 16-235.2.13End of Topic Test - Chapter 24 & Walton's Letters
6

Key Themes

6.1

Key Themes

6.1.1Curiosity & Knowledge6.1.2Science & Society6.1.3Loss & Companionship6.1.4Connection to Nature6.1.5Injustice
6.2

Key Locations

6.2.1Extreme Landscapes6.2.2Industrialised University Cities6.2.3End of Topic Test - Key Themes & Locations
7

Recap: Main Quotes

7.1

Characters Quotes

7.1.1Walton - Quotations7.1.2Victor Frankenstein - Quotations7.1.3The Monster - Quotations7.1.4The Educational Texts - Quotations7.1.5Elizabeth Lavenza - Quotations7.1.6Justine Moritz - Quotations7.1.7Henry Clerval - Quotations7.1.8Alphonse Frankenstein - Quotations7.1.9The De Lacey Family - Quotations
7.2

Quotes by Chapters

7.2.1Letters 1 & 2 - Quotations7.2.2Letters 3 & 4 - Quotations7.2.3Chapters 1-6 - Quotations7.2.4Chapters 7-13 - Quotations7.2.5Chapters 14-20 - Quotations7.2.6Chapters 21-24 & Waton's Last Letters - Quotations

Practice questions on Letters 3 & 4

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Where is Walton when he is writing his third letter?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Which text does Walton's description of his ship being caught in ice and snow reference?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Who do Walton and his crew see travelling across the ice?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    What does Victor tell Walton he was doing?Multiple choice
Answer all questions on Letters 3 & 4

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Letters 1 & 2

End of Topic Test - Letters