Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/1-1-1-narrative-structure [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [A Level](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level.md) › [English Lit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature.md) › [Edexcel](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel.md) › [English Lit: Edexcel A Level Frankenstein](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein.md) › Narrative Structure # Narrative Structure English Lit: Edexcel A Level Frankenstein, topic 1.1.1 ## Mise-en-Abyme The story is written in a mise-en-abyme (story within a story) structure, with three main narrators. ### Types of narrator ![Types of narrator](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-10/62f31093-6b96-445a-b262-a4139808d346/once-upon-a-time-story-writing-.jpg) - The story starts with Walton, who is the framing narrator, or extra-diegetic, as he is on the outside of the main story. - Victor Frankenstein is the intra-diegetic narrator, meaning he tells the main story that the reader is engaged with. ### Types of narrator cont. ![Types of narrator cont.](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-10/3e6109c5-60b6-4941-ac60-a337b933d592/frankenstein-monster-.jpg) - The creature is a meta-diegetic narrator, with his story sitting inside Victor’s, at the heart of the novel. - It could be argued that by placing the creature at the centre of the novel, Shelley could be referring to the ‘monster’ that is inside all humans and she definitely creates a sense of sympathy for its plight after its rejection by the eponymous doctor. ### Publication ![Publication](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-06/2eb4aa45-a450-4cd1-bdfc-b48f19760c26/3-three-number-.jpg) - With these three main narrators, it is clear that each is unreliable. Perhaps this is what Shelley wanted the reader to consider? - As a female writer, she published her 1818 first edition anonymously, with her husband Percy Shelley writing the introduction. ### ‘Authorised’ perspectives ![‘Authorised’ perspectives](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/92163fcb-a87e-4327-a0c8-26f164ae84ae/male-female-symbol-sex.jpg) - Having three male voices narrate (if we classify the creature as male) could be a satirical attack on ‘authorised’ perspectives, as all narrators give a different and biased perspective of the story, with each character displaying particular personal flaws. ### Republication ![Republication](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/01a4f99f-9fcc-4b34-8592-30619503b1ed/library-book-emboss-.jpg) - It was only in 1831 that Shelley wrote her own introduction to a revised version of the text, acknowledging that she wrote the novel and making slight changes to the justifications of Victor's actions. - This was 9 years after her husband died in a boating accident. ## Epistolary Form The novel opens with Walton writing letters to his sister, using the epistolary form. ### Epistolary form ![Epistolary form](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/e3a65421-eda1-462e-b842-4fb6a88dce66/letter-mail-post.jpg) - The novel opens with Walton writing letters to his sister, using the epistolary form (letter writing) to frame Victor’s tale and outline his own journey to the North Pole, or as he puts it: __"unexplored regions, to the land of mist and snow."__ ### Foil character ![Foil character](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/04098ef2-4f10-4009-b0c9-dbd54037b7f0/old-letters-.jpg) - Walton acts as a foil character to Victor, as he never achieves the levels of discovery that Frankenstein does, being warned off by the story of misadventure and monomaniacal pursuit of knowledge. ### Verisimilitude ![Verisimilitude](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/a9e0b3a8-f84d-4915-b3f6-a2e8fdb79cc7/letter-written-.jpg) - The fact Shelley opens her novel with Walton’s letters adds a sense of verisimilitude (realism) to the novel. ### Doppelganger ![Doppelganger](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/c7b2bb77-284b-4afa-a02f-0bb3dcc59397/schizophrenia-duality-good-bad-evil-.jpg) - It also sets Walton up as a doppelganger (double) to Victor, allowing the reader to view their similarities and character flaws. ## Test yourself on Narrative Structure - Who is the intra-diegetic narrator? - Which of these are true of _Frankenstein_? - What does extra-diegetic mean when used of a novel? - What does verisimilitude mean? - In what way is Walton a foil to Victor? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/4583c87b-4827-4c40-99da-9787f8aac5c0/section/4f1e692d-ffe8-4a6d-96b4-9c49cedeaa87/session) - Next topic: [1.1.2 Narrative Distancing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/1-1-2-narrative-distancing.md) ## English Lit: Edexcel A Level Frankenstein contents ### 1 Narrative Structure - 1.1 Narrative Structure - [1.1.1 Narrative Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/1-1-1-narrative-structure.md) - [1.1.2 Narrative Distancing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/1-1-2-narrative-distancing.md) - [1.1.3 End of Topic Test - Narrative Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/1-1-3-end-of-topic-test-narrative-structure.md) ### 2 Character Summaries - 2.1 Walton & Frankenstein - [2.1.1 Walton](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-1-1-walton.md) - [2.1.2 Victor Frankenstein](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-1-2-victor-frankenstein.md) - [2.1.3 End of Topic Test - Walton & Frankenstein](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-1-3-end-of-topic-test-walton-and-frankenstein.md) - 2.2 The Monster - [2.2.1 The Monster](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-2-1-the-monster.md) - [2.2.2 The Monster 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-2-2-the-monster-2.md) - [2.2.3 End of Topic Test - The Monster](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-2-3-end-of-topic-test-the-monster.md) - 2.3 Elizabeth, Justine & Henry - [2.3.1 Elizabeth Lavenza](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-3-1-elizabeth-lavenza.md) - [2.3.2 Justine Moritz](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-3-2-justine-moritz.md) - [2.3.3 Henry Clerval](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-3-3-henry-clerval.md) - [2.3.4 End of Topic Test - Elizabeth, Justine & Henry](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-3-4-end-of-topic-test-elizabeth-justine-and-henry.md) - 2.4 Families & Other Characters - [2.4.1 The Frankenstein Family](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-4-1-the-frankenstein-family.md) - [2.4.2 The De Lacey Family](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-4-2-the-de-lacey-family.md) - [2.4.3 Other Characters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-4-3-other-characters.md) - [2.4.4 End of Topic Test - Families & Other Characters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-4-4-end-of-topic-test-families-and-other-characters.md) ### 3 Intertextuality & Allusions - 3.1 Intertextual References - [3.1.1 The Modern Prometheus](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-1-1-the-modern-prometheus.md) - [3.1.2 The Rime of the Ancient Mariner](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-1-2-the-rime-of-the-ancient-mariner.md) - [3.1.3 The Bible](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-1-3-the-bible.md) - [3.1.4 Mutability & Tintern Abbey](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-1-4-mutability-and-tintern-abbey.md) - [3.1.5 End of Topic Test - Intertextual References](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-1-5-end-of-topic-test-intertextual-references.md) - 3.2 Philosophical & Scientific Theories - [3.2.1 Edmund Burke](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-2-1-edmund-burke.md) - [3.2.2 Thomas Paine](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-2-2-thomas-paine.md) - [3.2.3 John Locke](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-2-3-john-locke.md) - [3.2.4 Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-2-4-jean-jacques-rousseau.md) - [3.2.5 Historical Figures](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-2-5-historical-figures.md) - [3.2.6 End of Topic Test - Philosophy & Science Theories](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-2-6-end-of-topic-test-philosophy-and-science-theories.md) ### 4 Biographic Context - 4.1 Biographic Context - [4.1.1 Shelley's Parents](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/4-1-1-shelleys-parents.md) - [4.1.2 Loss & Maternal Anxiety](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/4-1-2-loss-and-maternal-anxiety.md) - [4.1.3 Literary Legend](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/4-1-3-literary-legend.md) - [4.1.4 End of Topic Test - Biographical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/4-1-4-end-of-topic-test-biographical-context.md) ### 5 Chapter Summaries - 5.1 Letters - [5.1.1 Letters 1 & 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-1-1-letters-1-and-2.md) - [5.1.2 Letters 3 & 4](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-1-2-letters-3-and-4.md) - [5.1.3 End of Topic Test - Letters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-1-3-end-of-topic-test-letters.md) - 5.2 Chapters - [5.2.1 Chapters 1-2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-1-chapters-1-2.md) - [5.2.2 Chapters 3-4](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-2-chapters-3-4.md) - [5.2.3 Chapters 5-6](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-3-chapters-5-6.md) - [5.2.4 Chapters 7-9](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-4-chapters-7-9.md) - [5.2.5 Chapters 10-11](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-5-chapters-10-11.md) - [5.2.6 Chapters 12-15](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-6-chapters-12-15.md) - [5.2.7 Chapters 16-19](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-7-chapters-16-19.md) - [5.2.8 Chapters 20-23](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-8-chapters-20-23.md) - [5.2.9 Chapter 24 & Walton’s Last Letters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-9-chapter-24-and-waltons-last-letters.md) - [5.2.10 End of Topic Test - Chapters 1-6](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-10-end-of-topic-test-chapters-1-6.md) - [5.2.11 End of Topic Test - Chapters 7-15](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-11-end-of-topic-test-chapters-7-15.md) - [5.2.12 End of Topic Test - Chapters 16-23](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-12-end-of-topic-test-chapters-16-23.md) - [5.2.13 End of Topic Test - Chapter 24 & Walton's Letters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-13-end-of-topic-test-chapter-24-and-waltons-letters.md) ### 6 Key Themes - 6.1 Key Themes - [6.1.1 Curiosity & Knowledge](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/6-1-1-curiosity-and-knowledge.md) - [6.1.2 Science & Society](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/6-1-2-science-and-society.md) - [6.1.3 Loss & Companionship](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/6-1-3-loss-and-companionship.md) - [6.1.4 Connection to Nature](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/6-1-4-connection-to-nature.md) - [6.1.5 Injustice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/6-1-5-injustice.md) - 6.2 Key Locations - [6.2.1 Extreme Landscapes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/6-2-1-extreme-landscapes.md) - [6.2.2 Industrialised University Cities](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/6-2-2-industrialised-university-cities.md) - [6.2.3 End of Topic Test - Key Themes & Locations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/6-2-3-end-of-topic-test-key-themes-and-locations.md) ### 7 Recap: Main Quotes - 7.1 Characters Quotes - [7.1.1 Walton - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-1-1-walton-quotations.md) - [7.1.2 Victor Frankenstein - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-1-2-victor-frankenstein-quotations.md) - [7.1.3 The Monster - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-1-3-the-monster-quotations.md) - [7.1.4 The Educational Texts - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-1-4-the-educational-texts-quotations.md) - [7.1.5 Elizabeth Lavenza - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-1-5-elizabeth-lavenza-quotations.md) - [7.1.6 Justine Moritz - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-1-6-justine-moritz-quotations.md) - [7.1.7 Henry Clerval - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-1-7-henry-clerval-quotations.md) - [7.1.8 Alphonse Frankenstein - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-1-8-alphonse-frankenstein-quotations.md) - [7.1.9 The De Lacey Family - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-1-9-the-de-lacey-family-quotations.md) - 7.2 Quotes by Chapters - [7.2.1 Letters 1 & 2 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-2-1-letters-1-and-2-quotations.md) - [7.2.2 Letters 3 & 4 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-2-2-letters-3-and-4-quotations.md) - [7.2.3 Chapters 1-6 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-2-3-chapters-1-6-quotations.md) - [7.2.4 Chapters 7-13 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-2-4-chapters-7-13-quotations.md) - [7.2.5 Chapters 14-20 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-2-5-chapters-14-20-quotations.md) - [7.2.6 Chapters 21-24 & Waton's Last Letters - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-2-6-chapters-21-24-and-watons-last-letters-quotations.md)