Romantic Fiction
The Rise of Gothic Fiction
As Romanticism established itself as a literary movement in Britain, a subgenre of the novel form naturally developed alongside it and came to be known as gothic fiction. Embracing supernatural elements and an emphasis on emotion typical of Romantic literature, gothic novels initiated a new tradition of spinning tales of thrilling horror and revealing the darker side of humanity. In this interactivity, you will explore the meaning of the term gothic and the rise of gothic fiction. Click the player button to begin.
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Elements of Gothic Fiction
Gothic fiction shares a lot in common with British literature of Romanticism in general. The settings are more likely to take place in a faraway location rather than London. The heroes are not perfect or even admirable. There is a focus on emotion, and the supernatural plays a prominent role in the plot. Before you begin reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, take a moment to explore elements that are characteristic of gothic fiction. As you read Frankenstein, see how many gothic elements you can identify in the novel. Click the player button to begin.
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Mary Shelley
Among England's most progressive philosophers during the late 18th century were Mary Wollstonecraft and her husband, William Godwin. In 1797, the couple had their first child together, a daughter named Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin. Unfortunately, Mary's mother passed away shortly after her birth, leaving her father to raise her and her older half-sister Fanny, the first child of Mary Wollstonecraft. When her father remarried, Mary's stepmother brought to the family her own daughter named Claire Clairmont.
As the daughter of great thinkers, Mary received an advanced education for a girl of her time and was exposed to radical ideas. She would eventually be known as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley after marrying the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. The couple traveled extensively throughout Europe together, often in th company of Claire. In 1816, they joined the poet Lord Byron near the scenic Lake Geneva in Switzerland for a summer of boating, writing, and discussing philosophy. It was during this time that Mary began writing her most famous novel, Frankenstein. Ever since its initial publication in 1818, Frankenstein has never been out of print.
The Shelleys had four children together, although only one of them survived to adulthood. In 1822, Mary also lost her husband when Percy drowned in a boating accident off the coast of Italy. After Percy's death, Mary labored to support her family through her writing. She was courted by various suitors but never remarried, instead settling in with her son and daughter-in-law in 1848. Suffering from severe headaches and bouts of paralysis, she passed away in 1851 from a suspected brain tumor.
Background to Frankenstein
The story of Frankenstein explores the dangers of pushing the limits of science and nature to create new life before considering the consequences and responsibilities inherent of such a daring pursuit. The rich complexity of Mary Shelley's story is a reflection of both her personal life experiences and the changing world around her. In this interactivity, click each of the tabs to learn background information behind the novel. Click the player button to begin.
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Exploring Frankenstein
A Note on Editions
Original inside cover art of the 1831 edition
Mary Shelley produced two versions of her novel Frankenstein. The first edition was published in 1818. Many novels during this time were published in individual installments called volumes, and Shelley's Frankenstein was published in three volumes. Modern reprints of the 1818 edition often section the text into these three parts, each volume restarting the numbering of its chapters.
The later 1831 edition was published as a single, complete book. The text did not restart the numbering of its chapters, so the final chapter is labeled as Chapter 24. If you turn to the end of the novel and see that the last chapter is called Chapter 24, then you are most likely reading the 1831 version of Frankenstein.
Shelley made some revisions to her 1831 edition that are, in her words, "principally those of style." Most students traditionally read and study the 1831 edition, although some advocate that the 1818 edition most closely captures the original spirit of the story. The most dedicated scholars may read both and compare the two.
No matter which edition you read, Shelley would certainly approve of your exploration of her famous story, for she offered it to her readers by saying "I bid my hideous progeny go forth and prosper." As you read the novel, keep the characteristics of gothic fiction in mind and try to identify the most prominent themes of the story and how they apply to society today.
Frankenstein Part 1
True to the epistolary form, the novel begins with four letters by the character Robert Walton to his sister Margaret. Walton is on a quest to achieve fame and celebrity in a voyage by ship to the North Pole. In his letters, Walton recounts how he comes to meet the protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, who begins sharing his tale in Chapter 1.
Access and read Volume I (1818), or Chapters 1–8 (1831), of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. As you read the opening chapters, think about how Walton's ambitions compare to Frankenstein's. What lesson do you predict Frankenstein is trying to impart to Walton?
Already in Part 1 of the story, there is ample danger, emotion, and horror. Now that you have read the first part of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, take a moment to check your understanding of the novel. In this interactivity, you will have a chance to check your knowledge about the key plot points of Part 1 before continuing to Part 2 of the story. Click the player button to begin.
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Frankenstein Part 2
Victor Frankenstein has made a terrible mistake. In his ambitious drive to attain the power of creation, he has inadvertently created a "monster," and the deadly consequences threaten to destroy everything he holds dear in life. Already, two innocent lives are lost, and Victor knows that he is the one responsible. Unable to reveal the truth to anyone, he sets out for the seclusion of the valley in an attempt to alleviate his grief and shame in private. However, now is the time for Victor to confront his creation face to face and answer to most disagreeable request.
Access and read Volume II (1818), or Chapters 9–17 (1831), of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. As you read second part of the novel, reflect on the roles that the creature and Victor play in the loss of innocent lives. As the creature's father, does Victor hold any responsibility toward his creation? Is the creature justified in asking Victor to help ensure his happiness? As you finish Part 2, think about how you would respond to the creature's request and why.
The complexity of Frankenstein is highlighted by the differing points of view in the story. The novel opens with Walton's voyage, soon focuses on Victor's tale, and then turns to the creature's personal story. Now that you have read the second part of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, take a moment to check your understanding of the novel up to this point. In this interactivity, you will have a chance to check your knowledge about the key plot points of Part 2 before continuing to Part 3 of the story. Click the player button to begin.
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Frankenstein Part 3
In the words of the creature to Victor: "I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind?" After hearing the creature's harrowing story of cruelty and rejection, Victor cannot help but feel pangs of sympathy and compassion, yet the creature's request of another mate seems too unbearable and horrific to accept. Hoping to end the carnage of the creature's wrath, Victor reluctantly agrees to create life once more.
Access and read Volume III (1818), or Chapters 18–24 (1831), of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. As you read the third and final part of the novel, consider whether you agree with Victor's decisions. Do you think he is the victim of fate, or is he responsible for his suffering and the suffering of others?
How do you feel about the novel's ending? Do its themes still resonate with society today? Now that you have read the third and final part of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, take a moment to check your understanding of the novel. In this interactivity, you will have a chance to check your knowledge about the key plot points of the third part of the novel. Click the player button to begin.
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Gothic Fiction Review
Now that you have explored the elements of gothic fiction and read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, it is time to review your knowledge and practice what you have learned. In this non-graded activity, you will apply your knowledge of the gothic fiction as well as some of the themes from the novel. Click the player button to get started.