6.1.2

Science & Society

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Science and Society

Shelley imagines the effect of science on society when it is left unchecked and uncensored.

Reanimation

Reanimation

After the 18th/19th century, scientists such as Galvani and Aldini pioneered experiments which used electricity to ‘reanimate’ dead animals or decapitated criminal’s heads.

Body-snatching

Body-snatching

The practice of ‘body-snatching’ became popular as financial rewards were given because of medical schools’ demands for cadavers.
Certain groups of people in society became anxious about the development of science and the boundaries it was breaking.

Blasphemy

Blasphemy

In a highly religious society, the idea of reanimating dead matter was seen as blasphemous and taboo; Shelley draws upon these fears in her novel.

Victor’s hubris

Victor’s hubris

Victor’s hubris for being the first man to "banish disease from the human frame" by surpassing the natural ways of reproduction might seem far-fetched to a modern reader, but to a contemporary reader, they would have been afraid of these scientific developments.
Shelley imagines the effect of science on society when it is left unchecked and uncensored.

1

Narrative Structure

1.1

Narrative Structure

1.1.1Narrative Structure 1.1.2Narrative Distancing 1.1.3End of Topic Test - Narrative Structure

2

Character Summaries

2.1

Walton & Frankenstein

2.1.1Walton 2.1.2Victor Frankenstein 2.1.3End of Topic Test - Walton & Frankenstein

2.2

The Monster

2.2.1The Monster 2.2.2The Monster 2 2.2.3End of Topic Test - The Monster

2.3

Elizabeth, Justine & Henry

2.3.1Elizabeth Lavenza 2.3.2Justine Moritz 2.3.3Henry Clerval 2.3.4End of Topic Test - Elizabeth, Justine & Henry

2.4

Families & 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

3

Intertextuality & Allusions

3.1

Intertextual 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

3.2

Philosophical & 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

4

Biographic Context

4.1

Biographic Context

4.1.1Shelley's Parents 4.1.2Loss & Maternal Anxiety 4.1.3Literary Legend 4.1.4End of Topic Test - Biographical Context

5

Chapter Summaries

5.1

Letters

5.1.1Letters 1 & 2 5.1.2Letters 3 & 4 5.1.3End of Topic Test - Letters

5.2

Chapters

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

6

Key Themes

6.1

Key Themes

6.1.1Curiosity & Knowledge 6.1.2Science & Society 6.1.3Loss & Companionship 6.1.4Connection to Nature 6.1.5Injustice

6.2

Key Locations

6.2.1Extreme Landscapes 6.2.2Industrialised University Cities 6.2.3End of Topic Test - Key Themes & Locations

7

Recap: Main Quotes

7.1

Characters Quotes

7.1.1Walton - Quotations 7.1.2Victor Frankenstein - Quotations 7.1.3The Monster - Quotations 7.1.4The Educational Texts - Quotations 7.1.5Elizabeth Lavenza - Quotations 7.1.6Justine Moritz - Quotations 7.1.7Henry Clerval - Quotations 7.1.8Alphonse Frankenstein - Quotations 7.1.9The De Lacey Family - Quotations

7.2

Quotes by Chapters

7.2.1Letters 1 & 2 - Quotations 7.2.2Letters 3 & 4 - Quotations 7.2.3Chapters 1-6 - Quotations 7.2.4Chapters 7-13 - Quotations 7.2.5Chapters 14-20 - Quotations 7.2.6Chapters 21-24 & Waton's Last Letters - Quotations

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1

Narrative Structure

1.1

Narrative Structure

1.1.1Narrative Structure 1.1.2Narrative Distancing 1.1.3End of Topic Test - Narrative Structure

2

Character Summaries

2.1

Walton & Frankenstein

2.1.1Walton 2.1.2Victor Frankenstein 2.1.3End of Topic Test - Walton & Frankenstein

2.2

The Monster

2.2.1The Monster 2.2.2The Monster 2 2.2.3End of Topic Test - The Monster

2.3

Elizabeth, Justine & Henry

2.3.1Elizabeth Lavenza 2.3.2Justine Moritz 2.3.3Henry Clerval 2.3.4End of Topic Test - Elizabeth, Justine & Henry

2.4

Families & 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

3

Intertextuality & Allusions

3.1

Intertextual 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

3.2

Philosophical & 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

4

Biographic Context

4.1

Biographic Context

4.1.1Shelley's Parents 4.1.2Loss & Maternal Anxiety 4.1.3Literary Legend 4.1.4End of Topic Test - Biographical Context

5

Chapter Summaries

5.1

Letters

5.1.1Letters 1 & 2 5.1.2Letters 3 & 4 5.1.3End of Topic Test - Letters

5.2

Chapters

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

6

Key Themes

6.1

Key Themes

6.1.1Curiosity & Knowledge 6.1.2Science & Society 6.1.3Loss & Companionship 6.1.4Connection to Nature 6.1.5Injustice

6.2

Key Locations

6.2.1Extreme Landscapes 6.2.2Industrialised University Cities 6.2.3End of Topic Test - Key Themes & Locations

7

Recap: Main Quotes

7.1

Characters Quotes

7.1.1Walton - Quotations 7.1.2Victor Frankenstein - Quotations 7.1.3The Monster - Quotations 7.1.4The Educational Texts - Quotations 7.1.5Elizabeth Lavenza - Quotations 7.1.6Justine Moritz - Quotations 7.1.7Henry Clerval - Quotations 7.1.8Alphonse Frankenstein - Quotations 7.1.9The De Lacey Family - Quotations

7.2

Quotes by Chapters

7.2.1Letters 1 & 2 - Quotations 7.2.2Letters 3 & 4 - Quotations 7.2.3Chapters 1-6 - Quotations 7.2.4Chapters 7-13 - Quotations 7.2.5Chapters 14-20 - Quotations 7.2.6Chapters 21-24 & Waton's Last Letters - Quotations

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1
What practice became popular in the 18th/19th centuries?Multiple choice
2
Why was reanimating dead matter seen as blasphemous and taboo when Shelley was writing?Multiple choice

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Curiosity & Knowledge

Loss & Companionship