Chapters 4-6

Chapter 4, Volume II

The Monster continues to observe the cottagers and admires their simple way of life, but notices that they often seem unhappy.

Poverty

The Monster eventually realises that the family is unhappy because they are very poor.
- The Monster stops stealing from their food supply at night when he realises and forages for himself instead.
- The Monster starts gathering wood for them at night to add to their supply.

Communication

The Monster learns certain words by listening to the family, including the names of the young man and woman: Felix and Agatha.
The Monster experiences empathy for the family, both when they feel sadness and joy.

Appearance

The Monster admires the cottagers' beauty and is shocked by his ugly appearance when he sees his reflection in a pool of water.
The Monster wants to reveal himself to the cottagers, but only once he has learnt to speak their language.
- He believes this will compensate for his 'deformity'.

Prejudice

In presenting how the Monster views himself just as other have seen him, Shelley exemplifies the impact of prejudice.
- She perhaps wishes the reader to consider the extent to which appearances are actually important.

Chapter 5, Volume II

As spring approaches, the Monster delights in the beauty of the natural world, but soon becomes lonely.

Safie's arrival

Felix seems particularly unhappy until a beautiful young lady, called Safie, arrives in a dark suit and veil.
- Felix is very happy to see her and he kisses her hand.

The Monster's learning

Safie does not speak the same language as the cottagers, so Felix teaches her.
- The Monster is able to learn alongside and also learns to read.
Felix teaches Safie from a history book, so the Monster learns a brief history of governments and religions.
- The Monster is surprised by how 'vicious and base' humans can be.

The Monster's loneliness

As he continues to learn about the world through Felix and Safie, the Monster becomes aware of his own isolation and lack of companionship.
- This Monster questions what he is.

Chapter 6, Volume II

After some time, the Monster is able to learn the history of the cottagers and the events which led to their poverty.

The De Laceys

The old blind man is called De Lacey and he descends from an affluent family in France.
- His children are Agatha and Felix.

Safie's father

Safie's father, a Turkish merchant, became a problem to the French government and was sentenced to death.
- Felix felt this was unfair and vowed to help him and Safie, with whom he fell in love.
Safie's father promised Felix her hand in marriage if he would help him escape prison.

Exile

Felix helped Safie's father escape from prison.
Safie's father betrayed Felix and the French government put De Lacey and Agatha in prison.
The whole family was put on trial, deprived of their fortunes and exiled from France to live in the small cottage where the Monster had found them.

Safie's escape

Safie's father was planning on forcing Safie to return to Constantinople.
Safie managed to escape with some jewels and money, helping her to travel to find the De Laceys.
- Before Safie's mother had died, she encouraged Safie to aspire to greater independence than she would get from Islam and marry a Christian man in a country with more freedom for women.

1Plot Summaries

1.1Volume I

1.1.1Letters I-IV

1.1.2Chapters 1-3

1.1.3Chapters 4-6

1.1.4Chapters 7-8

1.1.5End of Topic Test - Volume I

1.2Volume II

1.2.1Chapters 1-3

1.2.2Chapters 4-6

1.2.3Chapters 7-9

1.2.4End of Topic Test - Volume II

1.3Volume III

1.3.1Chapters 1-3

1.3.2Chapters 4-6

1.3.3Chapter 7 & Walton in Continuation

1.3.4End of Topic Test - Volume III

2Characters

2.1Victor Frankenstein

2.1.1Role

2.1.2Quotations

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Victor Frankenstein

2.2The Monster

2.2.1Role

2.2.2Quotations

2.2.3End of Topic Test - The Monster

2.2.4Grade 9 - The Monster Question & Extract

2.3Other Characters

2.3.1Robert Walton

2.3.2Elizabeth Lavenza

2.3.3Alphonse Frankenstein

2.3.4Henry Clerval

2.3.5Justine Moritz

2.3.6The De Laceys

2.3.7End of Topic Test - Walton, Elizabeth & Alphonse

2.3.8End of Topic Test - Henry, Justine & the De Laceys

3Key Themes

3.1Ambition & Pursuit of Knowledge

3.1.1Presentation

3.1.2Key Quotations

3.2Prejudice

3.2.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.3Justice

3.3.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.3.2End of Topic Test - Ambition, Prejudice & Justice

3.4Companionship & Family

3.4.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.5Revenge

3.5.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.6Monstrosity

3.6.1Presentation

3.6.2Key Quotations

3.7Gender

3.7.1Presentation

3.7.2Key Quotations

3.7.3Key Themes - Companionship, Revenge & More

4Authorial Method

4.1Genre & Intertextuality

4.1.1Genre

4.1.2Intertextuality

4.1.3End of Topic Test - Genre & Intertextuality

4.2Form & Structure

4.2.1Form

4.2.2Structure

4.3Settings & Symbolism

4.3.1Settings

4.3.2Symbolism

4.4Imagery & Doubling

4.4.1Imagery

4.4.2Doubling

4.4.3End of Topic Test - Structure, Settings & More

5Context

5.1Context

5.1.1Mary Shelley

5.1.2Time of Writing

5.1.3End of Topic Test - Context

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