Romantic Literature

Introduction to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

QUIZ

How romantic are you?

Question 1

I tend to make decisions based on…a. what my heart tells me.b. logic and reason.

Question 2

I often find myself daydreaming and using my imagination.

a. Trueb. False

Question 3

When I need time to myself, I prefer toa. people watch, maybe at a

coffee shop or other public place.b. go for a walk in the woods or

find a place to sit outside.

Question 4

I would rather spend an afternoona. teaching someone new

information or skills.b. learning new information or

skills.

Question 5

I would rathera. spend time doing my own thingb. spend time with a group.

Question 6

I feel more refreshed after an afternoon

a. hanging out with friendsb. hiking or spending time outside

Question 7

I believe that ___ is the most impressive.

a. the wisdom of the pastb. the progress of the future

Question 8

The answers to many of life’s problems can be found

a. in nature.b. in friends and family.c. in television programs.d. in spirituality or my religion.e. in my own imagination.f. in the future of science and

medicine.

Tally your answers!

Question 1: Question 3:A = 3 A = 1B = 1 B = 3

Question 2: Question 4:A = 2 A = 2B = 1 B = 1

Question 5: Question 7:A = 2 A = 3B = 1 B = 1

Question 6: Question 8:A = 1 A, D, E = 3B = 2 B, C = 2

F = 1

So, how romantic ARE you?17 – 20 points

Bring on Keats! Shelley! Byron! More Wordsworth,

please! And can we study them outside, under the

flowering trees?

12 – 16 pointsI wouldn’t mind reading some of the romantics,

but I’d also be happy to hang out with friends afterwards. I need my social time.

8 – 11 pointsCan we just skip all this and stick to the facts?

Characteristics of Romanticism• Originated late 18th

century– Peak: 1800-1850– Frankenstein, 1818

• An artistic and literary movement.

• Intuition over Intellect• Imagination• Emphasis on Nature• Individual, inner life

Romantic Art

Identify the characteristics in the art….

Fishermen at Sea, by JMW Turner, 1794

Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog, by Caspar David Friedrich,

1818

Abbey in an Oak Forest, by Caspar David Friedrich,

1810

The Gothic• Setting in a castle• An atmosphere of mystery

and suspense• Omens, visions• Supernatural or otherwise

inexplicable events• High, overwrought emotion• Women in distress• Gloom and horror• Footsteps approaching• Lights in abandoned rooms• Characters trapped in a room• Ruins of buildings• Thunder & lightening, rain• Sights, moans, howls, screams• Creaking doors and floors• Gusts of wind blowing out

lights• Howling wolves/dogs• Crazed laughter

Birth of Frankenstein• 1816 ghost

storytelling contest.• Lord Byron, Mary,

Percy (lover)• Inspired by a dream• Scientific

experiments– Restoring life to dead– Drowning victims– 1800, James Blundell

• Blood transfusions

– 1790s, Luigi Galvani• Electrostatic machine

Frame Narrative• A story within a story.

– Sometimes within yet another story!• Often, different individual tells story of each frame.

In Frankenstein…• Structure is symbolic

• Thematic search in the story for something deep, dark, and secret at the heart of the narrative.

• Like peeling off layers of an onion to get to the core• Represents psychoanalytic process

• Uncovering the unconscious motives that are masked by a narrative told by the conscious mind.

Frame Narratives in Frankenstein• Robert Walton sister, Margaret• Victor Walton

– Monster Victor– Family Monster

Letters 1-4• Robert Walton (explorer) Margaret (sister)Letter 1-trying to find North Pole-achieve something greatLetters 2-3-lonely, lacks friendsLetter 4-spots sled guided by huge creature-spots another sled with starving man-takes man in and hears his story

Romantic Poetry

• Read the following Wordsworth poems:– “Composed upon Westminster Bridge” (560)– “The World is Too Much with Us” (562)

• Write a brief summary for each poem.• Create a double-entry journal with two

entries (4 total) for each of the following:– 2 entries that show the tone of each poem– 2 entries that show elements of

Romanticism • (one from the first poem and one from the second)