Form

Q: Framed Narrative and Epistolary Form

_‘Frankenstein’_ is written as a framed narrative, which can be described as a Chinese box narrative. It is also an example of epistolary form (novels told through other documents.)

Test yourself on Form

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Framed Narrative and Epistolary Form

‘Frankenstein’ is written as a framed narrative, which can be described as a Chinese box narrative. It is also an example of epistolary form (novels told through other documents.)

Multi-narrative

The main narrative voice is Victor’s, and he relays what the Monster said to him when they met.
However, both of these narratives are actually told through Walton in his letters to his sister, Margaret Saville, and so each narrative is encapsulated within another.

Epistolary form

Epistolary form is a literary form which was popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
It is when novels are told through the medium of other documents, such as letters or journals.

Shelley's use

Although 'Frankenstein' is not a pure example of this form, Shelley makes use of it in the novel.
- She begins and ends with Walton’s letters to his sister, and includes various letters written between other characters.

Purpose?

The inclusion of these letters can be seen to add a sense of authenticity to the narrative, particularly with Walton’s letters, in which he claims to have witnessed the events he describes first hand.

Key Quotations: Form

‘Frankenstein’ is written as a framed narrative, which can be described as a Chinese box narrative. It is also an example of epistolary form (novels told through other documents.)

Authenticity

Walton is clearly convinced of the truth of Victor's tale, which, in turn, encourages the reader to be.
Shelley furthers this effect by having Walton claim to have read Victor's evidence, thereby adding authenticity to the narrative.

(Walton, in continuation)

“His tale is connected, and told with an appearance of the simplest truth; yet I own to you that the letters of Felix and Safie, which he showed me, and the apparition of the monster seen from our ship, brought to me a greater conviction of the truth of his narrative than his asseverations, however earnest and connected. Such a monster has then really existence! I cannot doubt it; yet I am lost in surprise and admiration.”

Further evidence

Walton refers to his own process of writing down Victor's narrative, which again encourages the reader to view it as more authentic.
Shelley suggests that Victor has edited the notes himself, thereby allowing it to seem as if Victor's narrative has gone through a real editing process, making it more accurate and closer to the real truth.

Dishonesty

Ironically, the fact that Victor desires to check Walton's notes could imply that he goes on to doctor the narrative: after all, the majority of this tale is told from the point of view of one of the participants.

(Walton, in continuation)

“Frankenstein discovered that I made notes concerning his history: he asked to see them, and then himself corrected and augmented them in many places; but principally in giving the life and spirit to the conversations he held with his enemy."
"'Since you have preserved my narration," said he, "I would not that a mutilated one should go down to posterity.'”