Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/5-1-1-mary-shelley

[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) › Mary Shelley

# Mary Shelley

English Lit: AQA GCSE Frankenstein, topic 5.1.1

## Early Life of Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley was born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin on August 30th, 1797.

### Mary's mother

![Mary's mother](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Mary_Wollstonecraft_by_John_Opie_%28c._1797%29.jpg)

- Mary's parents were both well-known radicals of the time. 
- Mary’s mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was a writer and pioneer feminist. She wrote the proto-feminist tract _‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman’ (1792)_, which drew attention to women’s second-class status in the society of the time.

### Mary's father

![Mary's father](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/eea6e5fe-031d-4e75-9c7d-f0f9c5d32440/bible-cross-.jpg)

- Wollstonecraft died shortly after Mary was born, meaning the child was left in the care of her father, William Godwin.
- He was an ex-minister of religion turned atheist.
- He was also a philosopher, an anarchist (someone who wants there to be no authority), and a novelist. 
- Although Godwin appeared to be emotionally distant, Mary adored him.

### Radical ideas

![Radical ideas](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/4bb85d4e-93e7-41b0-b936-5b20a407be71/romeoAndJulietQuotes.jpg)

- Godwin brought Mary up amidst his radical ideas.
- Mary benefitted greatly from his library and his cultural and political connections.
  - She met important figures such as Lord Byron and Percy Shelley.

### Percy Shelley

![Percy Shelley](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/memory-location-images/Lake%20Como,%20Italy-min.jpg)

- At the age of sixteen, Mary met the young poet Percy Shelley and fell in love with him, despite the fact he was already married. 
  - Their relationship enraged their parents. 
- The couple ran away together and spent time in France, Switzerland and Germany.

### Tragedy

![Tragedy](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/24113e5c-ace1-4e49-a776-ea09d223ddbc/wedding-vows.jpg)

- Sad events happened in 1816:
  - Mary’s half-sister killed herself.
  - So did Percy’s wife Harriet, who was pregnant with his child. - Despite these circumstances, Mary and Percy were soon married.

## Later Life of Mary Shelley

Mary’s maternal life and later life was filled with tragedy.

### Maternal tragedy

![Maternal tragedy](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/21e740a4-9281-4588-bd55-9df4d9dc8066/baby-2387661_1920.jpg)

- In 1815, Mary and Percy’s first child was born prematurely and died.
- In 1818, their one-year-old daughter Clara died of dysentery (infection of the intestines).
- In 1819, their three-year-old son William died of malaria.

### Further deaths and Mary's isolation

![Further deaths and Mary's isolation](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/ba7bcc40-d12b-44b3-9244-fbb34b86b7e7/water-drowning-girl-.jpg)

- In 1822, Percy Shelley drowned off the shore of Tuscany. 
- When Lord Byron died in 1824, Mary was left alone and isolated.

### Devotion

![Devotion](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/4f30056e-a649-4336-ab08-8f618b345d9f/writing-.jpg)

- Mary devoted herself to bringing up her only surviving child, Percy Florence Shelley, to writing novels and journal articles, and editing the poetry of her husband.

### Death

![Death](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/631331f4-8b91-428c-80c7-d962f66887a8/cemetery-morbid-death-die-.jpg)

- Mary Shelley died in London in February 1851 at the age of fifty-three.

## The Writing of ‘Frankenstein’

_‘Frankenstein’_ was finished in May 1817 and published less than a year later, in January 1818. The novel was a great success.

### Lake Geneva

![Lake Geneva](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/memory-location-images/Lake%20Ritoti,%20New%20Zealand-min.jpg)

- In May 1816, Mary and Percy set out on another Continental trip, taking with them their son William and Mary’s step-sister Claire. 
- They joined Lord Byron in the Villa Diodati on the shore of the Lake Geneva, where Byron had set up home.

### Ghost stories

![Ghost stories](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/ca01d70a-67fc-41db-94a2-bab0a324be98/rain-stoppers-1461288_1920.jpg)

- During a period of heavy rain, the group was kept inside, and they entertained themselves by reading German ghost stories.
- Lord Byron came up with the idea that all of them should write their own ghost story, and they all attempted the task.

### _‘Frankenstein’_

![_‘Frankenstein’_](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/ecb126b8-0793-487f-8687-cb2c7d340634/sad.jpg)

- Initially, Mary could not come up with an idea. But after days of thinking about it, inspiration eventually arrived in a dream, and this is what became the story of _‘Frankenstein’_.

### Mary and Percy

![Mary and Percy](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/ee44f0a1-01ec-416e-8c42-1cff26f95cd8/book-bible-.jpg)

- Mary and Percy’s relationship was not only romantic, but also literary: 
  - Percy edited the manuscript for _‘Frankenstein’_, making insertions of his own.
 - It is believed that he also wrote the preface for the novel under Mary’s name.

## Test yourself on Mary Shelley

- Who was Mary Shelley's mother?
- Where did Mary and Percy run away to?
- When was Mary Shelley born?
- Tragedies in Mary's Life
- Which is NOT a way one of Mary's children died?

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/8cdf14b1-4ce2-4099-98dc-f9c7835917f9/section/4ccd4832-af99-43d2-9e20-42f1f56a5997/session)

- Previous topic: [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)
- Next topic: [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)

## 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)