Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-1-1-letters-i-iv [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [GCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse.md) › [English Lit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature.md) › [AQA](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa.md) › [English Lit: AQA GCSE Frankenstein](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein.md) › Letters I-IV # Letters I-IV English Lit: AQA GCSE Frankenstein, topic 1.1.1 ## Letter I, Volume I Captain Robert Walton writes to his sister, Margaret Saville in England, from St. Petersburg, detailing his feelings about his upcoming expedition to the North Pole and his confidence in its success. ### Ambition ![Ambition](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/a836f77f-1773-41f6-be8c-2813cf8ef85e/Ambition-Mountain-Goal.jpg) - Walton is highly ambitious. - He desires to discover previously untapped regions and passages, or the __'secret of the magnet'__. - He believes his endeavours will help __'all mankind'__. - Walton describes the hardships of his preparation and sees this as proof that he deserves to succeed. ### Parallels with Victor ![Parallels with Victor](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/5736febf-7154-4e41-860f-eeef7ac1809d/train-parallels-.jpg) - Shelley uses Walton's ambition and desire to be a pioneer to introduce the debate about the healthiness of human desire to cross boundaries. - Shelley draws a parallel between Walton and Victor Frankenstein's ambition, even before Victor is introduced into the narrative. ## Letters II and III, Volume I Walton keeps his sister updated on his progress with the voyage and his feelings about both the crew and the upcoming dangers. ### Letter II ![Letter II](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/a954a570-223f-4a21-8fcd-c3854718b3ff/shutterstock_71160832.jpg) - Walton tells his sister of his success in getting a ship and crew, but also of the bad weather delaying his journey. - Walton says his spirits have been low because he lacks a friend and no one in his crew has as __'cultivated'__ a mind as he does. ### Letter III ![Letter III](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/bb5044ef-4da8-4069-a94b-cd3f9d202358/ship-ice-.jpg) - Walton writes back, this time in __'good spirits'__ and commending his men for being __'bold'__. - Meanwhile, the ship is passing dangerous floating sheets of ice, so Walton promises his sister he will avoid unnecessary danger. ## Letter IV, Volume I Walton writes about a strange encounter. Through fog and ice, Walton and his men witness a huge man pulled by dogsled and later discover another man, cold and weak, whom they bring aboard the ship. ### Walton and the rescued man ![Walton and the rescued man](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/biology/4.1.1%20Photosynthesis/life-saver-ring-1612456_640-min.jpg) - The crew care for the man, who is very interested in Walton's sighting of the other man on the sledge. - Walton admires the man for his cultivation and eloquence and tells him about his ambitions. - Walton says he would give his life to pursue his aims and the man responds with a __'paroxysm of grief'__. ### The man's story ![The man's story](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/381cf159-993e-4b54-8aad-62fa08244ff3/shutterstock_541114138.jpg) - The man vows to tell the story of his own pursuit of __'knowledge and wisdom'__ and hopes Walton will take an __'apt moral'__ from it. ### Introducing Victor ![Introducing Victor](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/672c2e00-a039-45e3-bd22-b81da870a051/victorian-man-sinister.jpg) - By including this introduction to Victor Frankenstein's story, Shelley creates a narrative frame showing the reader that what follows is a cautionary tale. ## Test yourself on Letters I-IV - Who is Captain Robert Walton writing to in Letter I? - Who does Walton believe his endeavours will help in Letter I? - In which letter does Walton write in __'good spirits'__ ? - What is pulling the huge man, whom Walton and his men see through fog and ice? - Who does Shelley introduce into the story in Letter IV? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/8cdf14b1-4ce2-4099-98dc-f9c7835917f9/section/5c9fe280-d3c9-4321-8e0d-ef15c692e9eb/session) - Next topic: [1.1.2 Chapters 1-3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-1-2-chapters-1-3.md) ## English Lit: AQA GCSE Frankenstein contents ### 1 Plot Summaries - 1.1 Volume I - [1.1.1 Letters I-IV](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-1-1-letters-i-iv.md) - [1.1.2 Chapters 1-3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-1-2-chapters-1-3.md) - [1.1.3 Chapters 4-6](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-1-3-chapters-4-6.md) - [1.1.4 Chapters 7-8](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-1-4-chapters-7-8.md) - [1.1.5 End of Topic Test - Volume I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-1-5-end-of-topic-test-volume-i.md) - 1.2 Volume II - [1.2.1 Chapters 1-3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-2-1-chapters-1-3.md) - [1.2.2 Chapters 4-6](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-2-2-chapters-4-6.md) - [1.2.3 Chapters 7-9](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-2-3-chapters-7-9.md) - [1.2.4 End of Topic Test - Volume II](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-2-4-end-of-topic-test-volume-ii.md) - 1.3 Volume III - [1.3.1 Chapters 1-3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-3-1-chapters-1-3.md) - [1.3.2 Chapters 4-6](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-3-2-chapters-4-6.md) - [1.3.3 Chapter 7 & Walton in Continuation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-3-3-chapter-7-and-walton-in-continuation.md) - [1.3.4 End of Topic Test - Volume III](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-3-4-end-of-topic-test-volume-iii.md) ### 2 Characters - 2.1 Victor Frankenstein - [2.1.1 Role](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-1-1-role.md) - [2.1.2 Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-1-2-quotations.md) - [2.1.3 End of Topic Test - Victor Frankenstein](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-1-3-end-of-topic-test-victor-frankenstein.md) - 2.2 The Monster - [2.2.1 Role](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-2-1-role.md) - [2.2.2 Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-2-2-quotations.md) - [2.2.3 End of Topic Test - The Monster](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-2-3-end-of-topic-test-the-monster.md) - [2.2.4 Grade 9 - The Monster Question & Extract](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-2-4-grade-9-the-monster-question-and-extract.md) - 2.3 Other Characters - [2.3.1 Robert Walton](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-3-1-robert-walton.md) - [2.3.2 Elizabeth Lavenza](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-3-2-elizabeth-lavenza.md) - [2.3.3 Alphonse Frankenstein](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-3-3-alphonse-frankenstein.md) - [2.3.4 Henry Clerval](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-3-4-henry-clerval.md) - [2.3.5 Justine Moritz](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-3-5-justine-moritz.md) - [2.3.6 The De Laceys](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-3-6-the-de-laceys.md) - [2.3.7 End of Topic Test - Walton, Elizabeth & Alphonse](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-3-7-end-of-topic-test-walton-elizabeth-and-alphonse.md) - [2.3.8 End of Topic Test - Henry, Justine & the De Laceys](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-3-8-end-of-topic-test-henry-justine-and-the-de-laceys.md) ### 3 Key Themes - 3.1 Ambition & Pursuit of Knowledge - [3.1.1 Presentation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-1-1-presentation.md) - [3.1.2 Key Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-1-2-key-quotations.md) - 3.2 Prejudice - [3.2.1 Presentation & Key Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-2-1-presentation-and-key-quotations.md) - 3.3 Justice - [3.3.1 Presentation & Key Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-3-1-presentation-and-key-quotations.md) - [3.3.2 End of Topic Test - Ambition, Prejudice & Justice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-3-2-end-of-topic-test-ambition-prejudice-and-justice.md) - 3.4 Companionship & Family - [3.4.1 Presentation & Key Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-4-1-presentation-and-key-quotations.md) - 3.5 Revenge - [3.5.1 Presentation & Key Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-5-1-presentation-and-key-quotations.md) - 3.6 Monstrosity - [3.6.1 Presentation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-6-1-presentation.md) - [3.6.2 Key Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-6-2-key-quotations.md) - 3.7 Gender - [3.7.1 Presentation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-7-1-presentation.md) - [3.7.2 Key Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-7-2-key-quotations.md) - [3.7.3 Key Themes - Companionship, Revenge & More](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-7-3-key-themes-companionship-revenge-and-more.md) ### 4 Authorial Method - 4.1 Genre & Intertextuality - [4.1.1 Genre](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-1-1-genre.md) - [4.1.2 Intertextuality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-1-2-intertextuality.md) - [4.1.3 End of Topic Test - Genre & Intertextuality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-1-3-end-of-topic-test-genre-and-intertextuality.md) - 4.2 Form & Structure - [4.2.1 Form](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-2-1-form.md) - [4.2.2 Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-2-2-structure.md) - 4.3 Settings & Symbolism - [4.3.1 Settings](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-3-1-settings.md) - [4.3.2 Symbolism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-3-2-symbolism.md) - 4.4 Imagery & Doubling - [4.4.1 Imagery](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-4-1-imagery.md) - [4.4.2 Doubling](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-4-2-doubling.md) - [4.4.3 End of Topic Test - Structure, Settings & More](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-4-3-end-of-topic-test-structure-settings-and-more.md) ### 5 Context - 5.1 Context - [5.1.1 Mary Shelley](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/5-1-1-mary-shelley.md) - [5.1.2 Time of Writing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/5-1-2-time-of-writing.md) - [5.1.3 End of Topic Test - Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/5-1-3-end-of-topic-test-context.md) ### 6 Recap: Main Quotes - 6.1 Characters Quotes - [6.1.1 Victor Frankenstein](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-1-1-victor-frankenstein.md) - [6.1.2 Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-1-2-quotations.md) - [6.1.3 Robert Walton](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-1-3-robert-walton.md) - [6.1.4 Elizabeth Lavenza](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-1-4-elizabeth-lavenza.md) - [6.1.5 Alphonse Frankenstein](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-1-5-alphonse-frankenstein.md) - [6.1.6 Henry Clerval](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-1-6-henry-clerval.md) - [6.1.7 Justine Moritz](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-1-7-justine-moritz.md) - [6.1.8 The De Laceys](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-1-8-the-de-laceys.md) - 6.2 Text Structure - Quotes - [6.2.1 Ambition & Pursuit of Knowledge](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-2-1-ambition-and-pursuit-of-knowledge.md) - [6.2.2 Prejudice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-2-2-prejudice.md) - [6.2.3 Justice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-2-3-justice.md) - [6.2.4 Companionship & Family](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-2-4-companionship-and-family.md) - [6.2.5 Revenge](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-2-5-revenge.md) - [6.2.6 Monstrosity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-2-6-monstrosity.md) - [6.2.7 Gender](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-2-7-gender.md)