Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Introduction to this course on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. This section provides a little background to the novel with some biographical information on the author. A course outline briefly explains the modules within the course

Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel written by Mary Shelley and first published in 1818. Shelley is the daughter of celebrated authors William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft, and also the wife of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.  Legend has it that the novel is the product of a wager between Shelley, her future husband, Percy and Lord Byron who were travelling together in Europe in and around 1814. Byron suggested that, over a few days, each write a ghost story to amuse the other travelers. Mary Shelley incorporated much of her surroundings in the text - not only the alpine features of Switzerland, but also many conversations regarding galvanism, chemistry and elements of the occult she had been exposed to.  Shelley's narrative synthesises elements of the Romantic and epistolary traditions as well as Gothic tropes and, as Brian Aldiss has argued, may be seen as the progenitor of the science-fiction genre, inventing many devices unseen before her original story-telling technique. This course presents a complete overview of the novel. Slides are used to break the text into 29 distinct phases that follow the events of the Walton letters that bookend the novel as well as the 24 chapters between. Flash card spresent a visual accompaniment to introduce themes and relateable quotes from the text. Mind-map Quotes demonstrate how Shelley humanises her monster in the same way as Shakespeare makes Caliban an object of pity.  Major characters, again through use of a mind-map, are shown through a visual interrelationship.  Slides explore the major themes within the text. Finally, a timed quiz will test you on what you have learned.   

An extensive overview of the plot of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, these slides run through all 24 chapters as well as the other Walton letters that appear at the beginning and the end of the novel.

A slide show which presents an overview of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein in the 24 chapters, as well as the epistolary texts at the beginning and the end of the novel. This is a simple way to learn the events of the novel.

frankenstein plot summary mary shelley plot the modern prometheus plot

Collection of flash cards that helps to organise the major themes through associated quotes. An easy way to memorise key quotes. Credit to contributor Mahin004

Quotes from critics relating to key themes and characters

english literature ocr frankenstein

A fantastic mind map, detailing not only the major characters of Shelley's Frankenstein, but also their relationships with one-another. Credit to contributor Anna Sutton, this is a brilliant visual aid to the novel.

Slide show detailing the major themes in Shelley's Gothic novel. Nature, the Sublime, Coupling, Knowledge and Wisdom are discussed in relation to the text.

These slides provide a thematic overview of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. Themes such as secrecy, coupling, the sublime and knowledge v wisdom are briefly discussed.

frankenstein themes mary shelley themes coupling knowledge v wisdom frankenstein

Beautiful mind map with memorable quotes from the main characters of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Credit to contributor Michelle Lau

Frankenstein key quotes

frank key quotes

Is Frankenstein the doctor or the monster? Ingolstadt, Geneva or Orkney, which does Victor call home? Take this short quiz to test your knowledge of Shelley's masterpiece.

This quick-fire quiz will test your knowledge of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Is Frankenstein the monster or the doctor? Expect harder questions than this!

frankenstein quiz modern prometheus quiz shelley quiz