Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/4-1-3-literary-legend [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) › Literary Legend # Literary Legend English Lit: Edexcel A Level Frankenstein, topic 4.1.3 ## Literary Legend The tale of how Mary’s idea for _Frankenstein_ originated has gone down in literary history and boasts an impressive cast of poets, authors and even a doctor. The tale takes place in, none other than, Geneva. ### Rainy day ![Rainy day](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/chemistry/10.1.1%20Potable%20water/rain-122691_640-min.jpg) - In 1816, on a rainy afternoon in a house on the shores of Lake Geneva, Mary and Percy Shelley, Lord Byron and his doctor, John Polidori, were finding an activity to keep them amused while they sheltered from the terrible weather outside. - They decided to have a ghost story competition, seeing who could write the scariest story. ### A dream ![A dream](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-10/7b7712cb-0272-48db-8e21-a621f08e393a/frankenstein-.jpg) - It is rumoured that Mary had a dream about ‘a pale student of the unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together’ and was inspired to write _Frankenstein_. ## Two Versions of the Novel After Percy’s death, Shelley published a revised version of the novel with some intrinsic changes. ### Revisions ![Revisions](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-03/fa268923-d034-4b20-aa46-131698e80bd0/-book-.jpg) - In 1818, Shelley published the novel with a preface from her husband Percy, which is why many believed he had written the novel. - In 1831, after Percy’s death, Shelley published a revised version, including a written explanation by Shelley as to why she wrote it. - There are some intrinsic changes made. ### Elizabeth Lavenza ![Elizabeth Lavenza](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/2a7e997d-f7a8-46ca-9c91-b166b34330ea/shutterstock_133378736.jpg) - The character of Elizabeth Lavenza changes from a cousin of Victor’s in the 1818 version to an orphan in the 1831 version. - Even though it is not unlawful for cousins to marry one another, Shelley probably made the change because of critical comments about the novel. She probably wanted to make the character of Caroline Frankenstein even more virtuous in her compassion towards the young girl. ### Galvanism ![Galvanism](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/physics/4.2.1%20Electric%20Charge/electricity-min.jpg) - In the 1831 version, Shelley adds reference to Galvanism in Chapter 2 after the __"blasted stump"__ observation. - This makes a link between electricity and the suggested ways that the Monster is created, though it is never explained fully how he is brought to life. ### Moral content ![Moral content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-01/4ea09a5f-0dfa-4586-aa44-6fa2b0cef77a/tarot-card-wheel-fortune-luck-chance-guess-fate-.jpg) - The 1818 version presented Victor as a victim of fate, whereas the 1831 version made subtle changes to be more critical of Victor’s decisions. He does not fully accept blame for his responsibilities and actions. - Again, this could be due to critical comments aimed at the moral content of the novel. ## Test yourself on Literary Legend - What was _Frankenstein_ borne out of? - How is Victor presented in the 1831 version vs the 1818 version? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/4583c87b-4827-4c40-99da-9787f8aac5c0/section/fa013a90-e00f-49d0-b2b1-cda6a3cd3a7b/session) - Previous topic: [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) - Next topic: [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) ## 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)