Frankenstein

Learning Objectives:

• To analyse the narrative techniques used by the author to affect the reader;• To read a model answer and agree on Success Criteria.• To write my own response to the text (assessed)

Reading Level:

Where am I? Where do I want to be? What do I need to do to get there?

How the author influences how we feel… Some narrative techniques

Questions / exclamations / incomplete sentences to reflect the tumult (chaos) in his mind – shows he is trying to make sense of the situation.

Long sentence to create a shock revelation at the end.

Contrasting beautiful and ugly features to echo his own chaotic and contrasting feelings about the creature. Vocabulary contrasts life and death.

Unreliable narrator – careful selection of words and facts to gain sympathy.

(Underline relevant evidence)

Carefully selected descriptive details to create a gloomy mood, full of impending horror.

(underline relevant details)

Paragraph structure – reflection followed by action.

It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils. With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs.

Carefully selected descriptive details to create a gloomy mood, full of impending horror.

Long sentence to create a shock revelation at the end.

How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips.

Questions / exclamations / incomplete sentences to reflect the tumult (chaos) in his mind – shows he is trying to make sense of the situation.

Contrasting beautiful and ugly features to echo his own chaotic and contrasting feelings about the creature. Vocabulary contrasts life and death.

[…] I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart. Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room and continued a long time traversing my bed-chamber, unable to compose my mind to sleep.

Unreliable narrator – careful selection of words and facts to gain sympathy.

Paragraph structure – reflection followed by action.

Paragraphs 4-5

Long sentence to create a shock revelation at the end.

Change of sentence structure / change of pace (long to short or short to long)

Narrator’s choice of words to gain sympathy

Extremely long sentence – list of actions to reveal a state of panic – no time to think.

Unreliable narrator – careful selection of words and facts to gain sympathy.

(Underline relevant evidence)

Descriptive details to show how he feels.

At length lassitude succeeded to the tumult I had before endured, and I threw myself on the bed in my clothes, endeavouring to seek a few moments of forgetfulness. But it was in vain; I slept, indeed, but I was disturbed by the wildest dreams. […] I started from my sleep with horror; a cold dew covered my forehead, my teeth chattered, and every limb became convulsed; when, by the dim and yellow light of the moon, as it forced its way through the window shutters, I beheld the wretch --the miserable monster whom I had created. He held up the curtain of the bed; and his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me. His jaws opened, and he muttered some inarticulate sounds, while a grin wrinkled his cheeks.

He might have spoken, but I did not hear; one hand was stretched out, seemingly to detain me, but I escaped and rushed downstairs. I took refuge in the courtyard belonging to the house which I inhabited, where I remained during the rest of the night, walking up and down in the greatest agitation, listening attentively, catching and fearing each sound as if it were to announce the approach of the demoniacal corpse to which I had so miserably given life.

Long sentence to create a shock revelation at the end.

Descriptive details to show how he feels.

Extremely long sentence – list of actions to reveal a state of panic – no time to think.

Narrator’s choice of words to gain sympathy

Change of sentence structure / change of pace (long to short or short to long)

Narrator’s choice of words to gain sympathy

• So, how does the author make me feel during the extract?

• How does she do it?

Mindmap in your books

How we feel about…

FrankensteinThe creature

The incident

AF5: Can I explain why writers choose to use particular words and sentences?

A Model Question and Answer

In the whole text, how does the writer’s use of language show that Dr Frankenstein’s dreams have been shattered?

You should comment on how the writer:– sets the scene;– describes the creature;– shows Dr Frankenstein’s reactions.

The November night is described in the opening sentence as ‘dreary’. This creates a bleak atmosphere from the outset. The writer darkens the mood further with details like, ‘the rain pattered dismally’. On top of this, we are told that there is very little light. All of this descriptive detail creates a sense of foreboding – we get the sense that things are sure to go wrong.

In the second paragraph, the birth of the creature is described as a ‘catastrophe’ which suggests that the narrator’s dreams are completely shattered. He conveys his horror with exclamations like ‘Great God!’ His description of the monster allows us to see why he feels such revulsion: it has thin ‘yellow skin’ which makes it appear sickly. There are fine features, like pearly teeth, but these only form a ‘horrid contrast’ with the ‘watery eyes’, the ‘shrivelled complexion and black lips.’

In the final paragraph, Frankenstein reflects on how his whole life over the past two years has been devoted to the creation of his dream: ‘For this I deprived myself of rest and health.’ This creates a sense of great loss. All he now feels is ‘breathless horror and disgust’. ‘Breathless’ creates the impression that Frankenstein is overpowered by the strength of these emotions. He rushes from the room, unable to face his creation a moment longer.

Point

Ev

Ex

Your assessment

How does the author make you feel in the extract (last 2 paragraphs) and how does she achieve it?

Phrases to use to improve attainment:This suggests…This creates the impression…This makes the reader feel…This emphasises…This shows…This indicates…

Success Criteria

What are they?