Context
- The Cultural Historical Context of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Mary Shelley conceived her creature at the height of the literary and philosophical period called Romanticism. The forces that marked this period were the many changes that were being carried out, such as political (French and American revolutions), economic (from rural to urban economy and the beginnings of the industrial revolution), scientific (discoveries in medicine, neurology, electricity, and chemistry), and social (growing importance of education of the masses).
Gastaldi, S. (n.d.). The Cultural Historical Context of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein - Atmostfear Entertainment. Www.atmostfear-Entertainment.com. https://www.atmostfear-entertainment.com/literature/books/cultural-historical-context-mary-shelley-frankenstein/
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - Context and Background
Influenced and educated by her parents, Frankenstein’s author, Mary Shelley, grew up in a world of radical artists and writers. Her immortal novel explores various themes of early 19th century Romanticism. This clip looks at Mary Shelley’s background and major influences on her thinking and writing, giving students of English literature a broader understanding of the nature and significance of this notable work.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein - Context and Background. (2019). ClickView. https://www.clickview.net/primary/videos/5790748/context-and-background
The real experiments that inspired Frankenstein - YouTube
Vox. (2019). The real experiments that inspired Frankenstein. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ex7f7KVl3I
‘Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley: context and summary
This video covers the novel's context as well as a summary of the plot. Make sure you come back for part two – which summarises the novel’s main characters, themes and symbols.
First Rate Tutors. (2019, March 14). “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley: context and summary (1/2) *REVISION GUIDE* | Narrator: Barbara Njau. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46yEY0HvJpw&t=58s
Characterisation
- 'Frankenstein' Characters - Descriptions and AnalysisIn Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, characters must reckon with the conflict between personal glory and human connection. Through the story of an alienated monster and his ambitious creator, Shelley raises themes such as familial loss, the search for belonging, and the cost of ambition. Other characters serve to reinforce the importance of community.
https://www.facebook.com/thoughtcodotcom. (2019). Frankenstein Characters: Descriptions and Analysis. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/frankenstein-characters-4580219 - Characters in Frankenstein
Characters in Frankenstein | Romantic Circles. (n.d.). Romantic-Circles.org. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://romantic-circles.org/Editions/Article/characters-frankenstein - Frankenstein - Characters - Cliff's NotesA quick simple summary of the characters and their roles.
Frankenstein — Characters — CliffsNotes. (n.d.). Www.cliffsnotes.com. https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/frankenstein/characters
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein - Frankenstein and the Monster
When Victor Frankenstein created his monster he never named it, yet its complex personality and struggle for identity and acceptance provides a profound insight to the human condition. This clip examines the troubled relationship between Frankenstein and the monster, and the role of other characters in the novel, including William, Dr Clerval, Elizabeth, and Captain Walton.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein - Frankenstein and the Monster. (n.d.). ClickView. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://clickv.ie/w/wfEy
Writing Style
- Exploring Literary Techniques and Symbolism in Mary Shelley’s FrankensteinExploring Literary Techniques and Symbolism in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. (2023, Aug 11). Retrieved from https://edusson.com/examples/exploring-literary-techniques-and-symbolism-in-mary-shelley-s-frankenstein
- Frankenstein - Literary DevicesLiterary devices. (n.d.). Weebly. https://franklystein.weebly.com/literary-devices.html
- Frankenstein, or, the Modern PrometheusMary Shelley skillfully employs various literary devices such as symbolism, foreshadowing, and allusion to create a hauntingly beautiful tale of horror and despair that continues to captivate readers even after two centuries.”
Literary devices in Frankenstein, or, the modern Prometheus (2023, April 13). LitDevices.com. https://litdevices.com/literature/frankenstein-or-the-modern-prometheus/
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - Writing Style
In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley employs writing styles reflective of early 19th century literature. This clip explores a range of those styles, including using a series of letters to develop a narrative, structuring a narrative concentrically, and the inclusion of Gothic elements like horror, suspense, and poetic descriptions of wild, remote settings.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein - Writing Style. (2019). ClickView. https://www.clickview.net/primary/videos/5793833/writing-style
Themes
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - The Pursuit of Knowledge
Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein delves into a range of themes, which were particularly popular among 19th century Romantics, and which have been perennial favourites of numerous writers since. This clip highlights some of those themes, including the pursuit of knowledge and the responsibility involved with acquiring it, what makes us human, and the power of nature.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein - The Pursuit of Knowledge. (2019). ClickView. https://www.clickview.net/primary/videos/5791033/the-pursuit-of-knowledge
Legacy
- Frankenstein Reflects the Hopes and Fears of Every Scientific Erarankenstein is one of the most extraordinary achievements in English literature. It’s not flawlessly written, the construction is sometimes awkward—yet it is a profound and unsettling vision, deeply informed about the science and philosophy of its day.
Ball, P. (2017, April 20). “Frankenstein” Reflects the Hopes and Fears of Every Scientific Era. The Atlantic; The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/04/franken-science/523560/ - Frankenstein - The Afterlife of Shelley's CircleWhat makes a monster? What is it like living on the margins of society? Is technology inherently good or bad? These questions guided Mary Shelley 200 years ago as she wrote her classic novel Frankenstein — they remain just as relevant today. The second edition of Biblion explores the connections between Shelley’s time and our own, showing how the classics resonate throughout society and the breadth of NYPL’s offerings.
Biblion: FRANKENSTEIN | Home. (n.d.). Wayback.archive-It.org. https://wayback.archive-it.org/11788/20200107165019/http://exhibitions.nypl.org/biblion/outsiders/