Final Essay

Early in the novel, Mary Shelley has the character of Walton make a reference to the poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.”

Write a comparison paper between the poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and the novel Frankenstein ◦ Think about the main character in each: What is their “sin” and what happens to those around

them?

What is the goal of both the Mariner and Victor in telling their stories?

One of the topics brought up constantly in discussion is the idea of who holds responsibility for what happens in the course of the novel.

Write an analysis of who is ultimately responsible for all the tragedies that happen in Frankenstein, Victor or the Creature. ◦ What are the responsibilities of a parent towards their child?

◦ What responsibilities does Victor have towards the Creature? (I.E. he should have been a good father; he should have taught the Creature)

◦ How much responsibility does the Creature have for his actions?

We talked about the basic stages of intellectual (cognitive) development based upon Piaget’s theory.

Analyze the development of the Creature into the being that we see as the reader. ◦ What stages does he go through based on your

understanding of his actions? What evidence is there of his development?

◦ Does the character truly become a rounded, well-developed person?

We have talked about the changes in science and where early medicine started. As a class we have touched upon the ethical questions related to the development of science

Is there a point where the advancement of science, medicine, and/or technology goes too far? What is that point and where can the line be drawn? What happens when mankind tries to play God? ◦ Use Victor’s creation of his Creature as an example.

Last year we studied the myth of Prometheus in regards to Fahrenheit 451. Mary Shelly subtitled her novel, Frankenstein: A Modern Prometheus

Explain why Shelly would subtitle her novel, A Modern Prometheus ◦ How does Victor resemble Prometheus? Why or

why not? ◦ Is Victor a defender of mankind? (Is he fighting

against God for the good of mankind?

Basic “outline” of writing

Statement: whatever you are arguing

Support: evidence that backs up your statement ◦ Examples from book

◦ Quotes from book WITH explanation

◦ Detailed explanations

Jumping into the topic ◦ Need to introduce & lead in

Transitions

Focus ◦ Stay on topic you are writing about

◦ DO NOT RETELL THE BOOK

Keeping people straight ◦ Victor Frankenstein / Frankenstein = the scientists

◦ the Creature = his creation

Note on capitalization ◦ Since the Creature is never given a name, it is

proper to capitalize Creature when using that in place of a name

“when the Creature…”

1st Person V. Third Person ◦ First person is BANNED

I Us You We Our My

◦ Third Person

“We would not have” = “The modern world would not have”

“You start to develop…” = “In this stage children start to develop…”

Empty phrases ◦ “Way back when”

◦ “Back in the day”

◦ “Now-a-days” – this is the proper form by the way

Questions ◦ Do not ask questions in papers

◦ Reword to be statements – that makes the writing strongert