Chapters 1-2

Chapter 1

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

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 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

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- But other people consider the ideas of these men to be outdated.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

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Victor begins to question the ideas of his previously beloved alchemists, which now seem outdated.

1Narrative Structure

1.1Narrative Structure

1.1.1Narrative Structure

1.1.2Narrative Distancing

1.1.3End of Topic Test - Narrative Structure

2Character Summaries

2.1Walton & Frankenstein

2.1.1Walton

2.1.2Victor Frankenstein

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Walton & Frankenstein

2.2The Monster

2.2.1The Monster

2.2.2The Monster 2

2.2.3End of Topic Test - The Monster

2.3Elizabeth, Justine & Henry

2.3.1Elizabeth Lavenza

2.3.2Justine Moritz

2.3.3Henry Clerval

2.3.4End of Topic Test - Elizabeth, Justine & Henry

2.4Families & Other Characters

2.4.1The Frankenstein Family

2.4.2The De Lacey Family

2.4.3Other Characters

2.4.4End of Topic Test - Families & Other Characters

3Intertextuality & Allusions

3.1Intertextual References

3.1.1The Modern Prometheus

3.1.2The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

3.1.3The Bible

3.1.4Mutability & Tintern Abbey

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Intertextual References

3.2Philosophical & Scientific Theories

3.2.1Edmund Burke

3.2.2Thomas Paine

3.2.3John Locke

3.2.4Jean-Jacques Rousseau

3.2.5Historical Figures

3.2.6End of Topic Test - Philosophy & Science Theories

4Biographic Context

4.1Biographic Context

4.1.1Shelley's Parents

4.1.2Loss & Maternal Anxiety

4.1.3Literary Legend

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Biographical Context

5Chapter Summaries

5.1Letters

5.1.1Letters 1 & 2

5.1.2Letters 3 & 4

5.1.3End of Topic Test - Letters

5.2Chapters

5.2.1Chapters 1-2

5.2.2Chapters 3-4

5.2.3Chapters 5-6

5.2.4Chapters 7-9

5.2.5Chapters 10-11

5.2.6Chapters 12-15

5.2.7Chapters 16-19

5.2.8Chapters 20-23

5.2.9Chapter 24 & Walton’s Last Letters

5.2.10End of Topic Test - Chapters 1-6

5.2.11End of Topic Test - Chapters 7-15

5.2.12End of Topic Test - Chapters 16-23

5.2.13End of Topic Test - Chapter 24 & Walton's Letters

6Key Themes

6.1Key Themes

6.1.1Curiosity & Knowledge

6.1.2Science & Society

6.1.3Loss & Companionship

6.1.4Connection to Nature

6.1.5Injustice

6.2Key Locations

6.2.1Extreme Landscapes

6.2.2Industrialised University Cities

6.2.3End of Topic Test - Key Themes & Locations

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