Frankenstein, Vol 2, Chpts. 1-4

Pre-writing practice

Is Victor's thirst for knowledge an honorable pursuit? Why or why not?
How is Victor a sympathetic character?
In what ways does Victor's guilt affect his health? What is Shelley's purpose in this recurring plot device?

1. Check books and vocab

2. Review vocab and architecture

Discussion questions

1. At the close of chapter 1, in what ways has Victor changed? How does Shelley use Victor's fascination with nature to remind us of his actions against nature?

2. Close reading: p. 100 ("The ascent is precipitous, ...) — how does the tone express Victor's remorse for his actions?

3. "You accuse me of murder, and yet you would, with satisfied conscience, destroy your own creature. Oh, praise the eternal justice of man!" (103). Victor believes in an eye-for-an-eye. Is that justice or revenge?

4. How does the tone and language change from chapter 3 to chapter 4? What does this reveal about the creature's development?

NOTE: track the language of the creature. Pay close attention to when it is overtly negative and overtly positive. What's the correlation between his language and his sense of self? And the correlation between nature and Victor's sense of self.