Monday, August 30, 2010

Frankenstein: The Letters

1. Let's learn a new sentence pattern! You love the semi-colon!
2. Check books
3. Check and review vocab
4. Some background.
  • Who was Mary Shelley? What is this Frankenstein we speak of?
  • Some major themes we'll see: fate vs free will, personal responsibility, loneliness, nature, family,  knowledge (it's power and the acquisition of), and science. This is not an all-inclusive list, but these ideas will pop up quite often.
  • What is epistemology? How does it play a role in the text thus far? In the future?

Discussion questions: use text evidence to support your claims

1. What is Walton's attitude toward his quest?
2. Why do you think Walton feels lonely even though he is on board a ship with a full crew?
3. Why do you think Walton is attracted to the stranger?
4. What details suggest that both Walton and the stranger are willing to make big sacrifices in the search for knowledge?
5. How are these two men alike? different?
6. Why do you think Shelley chose to lead into the stranger's story by starting with a frame story about Robert?

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