5.2.1

Chapters 1-2

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Chapter 1

Victor describes his childhood and upbringing. He explains that he was born into a wealthy and distinguished Genevese family.

Victor's family

Victor's family

  • The history of his father’s marriage with his mother, Caroline Beaufort, presents a picture of Alphonse as a caring, loyal man.
  • He helps Caroline’s father (Beaufort) when he had fallen into debt, and subsequently falls in love with his daughter and marries her after Beaufort’s death.
  • Victor is their first child.
Elizabeth Lavenza

Elizabeth Lavenza

  • Victor introduces Elizabeth, an orphan who was adopted by Caroline and brought from Italy back to Geneva.
  • Alphonse and Caroline love Elizabeth very much and Victor comes to believe that one day he will marry his "more than sister".
    • This relationship would have seemed less peculiar in the 19th century than it may to modern readers.

Chapter 2

Victor describes his close relationship with Elizabeth and his blossoming interest in natural philosophy, which was the 19th-century term for modern 'science'.

Victor's family and Clerval

Victor's family and Clerval

  • Victor and Elizabeth are brought up together.
  • The Frankensteins welcome two more sons: Ernest and the youngest, William.
  • Victor meets Henry Clerval when they are 9 years old and they become firm friends.
  • Whilst Victor’s childlike curiosity focuses on science, Clerval is enamoured with stories of chivalry, romance and bravery.
Natural philosophy

Natural philosophy

  • Victor's interest in natural philosophy is sparked by a book by Cornelius Agrippa and develops through avidly studying the works of Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus, too.
    • But other people consider the ideas of these men to be outdated.
Thunderstorm

Thunderstorm

  • Victor witnesses a very violent thunderstorm when he is 15 years old and is struck by the destructive power of nature.
    • Young Victor is introduced to nature's power and man's inability to control it.
      • This was a concept which interested Romantic thinkers, like Shelley's husband, Percy.
  • Victor begins to question the ideas of his previously beloved alchemists, which now seem outdated.
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 Chapters 1-2

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

  1. 1
    Who is Elizabeth Lavenza?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    How is Alphonse portrayed in Chapter 1? Multiple choice
  3. 3
    What was the 19th-century term for modern 'science'?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Which author did NOT contribute to Victor's interest in natural philosophy?Multiple choice
Answer all questions on Chapters 1-2

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End of Topic Test - Letters

Chapters 3-4