Mary Shelley was barely an adult when she began writing Frankenstein, which has become a literary classic, not only because it influenced many subsequent novels that dealt with science and the supernatural, but also because it has endured with such vigor today.
The tale of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a rich tapestry of ideas, almost impossible to judge without deep reflection. Published to mixed reviews in 1818, the book became a literary classic that still resonates today.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein falls under two different genres of literature: Gothic novel and science fiction. As a Gothic novel, Frankenstein embodies many of the setting and plot elements associated with the genre.
Frankenstein exemplifies many of the values associated with Romanticism, an artistic movement that began in Western Europe during the late 1700s through the mid-1800s.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; or, the modern Prometheus (1818) is an example of a classic novel presenting complex scenarios that could be used to stimulate discussion.
Everything you need to know to read "Frankenstein" - Iseult Gillespie
What era is Frankenstein written in?
Frankenstein was first written in 1816, which was at the end of the Enlightenment when Romanticism was at its peak. The two published editions come from 1818 and 1831 respectively.
Frankenstein has become a classic not only because of its of pioneering theme of reanimating the dead, but also because of the interactions between its two main characters: the young scientist Victor Frankenstein and the creature that he creates, who remains nameless throughout the novel.
Frankenstein is a Romantic work in that it shows the harm of science and the struggles of the Creature against a society that fears and shuns him. Victor himself is a warning against science without checks, of ambition getting in the way of common sense.
Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus is most frequently read and interpreted as a Gothic horror on the dangers of the unbridled optimism of science. Gothic horror is a subset of romanticism as a genre that thrives on the excitement and terror of the mystery of nature and the supernatural.
Possibly one of the most famous books to come out of the Victorian era, it is a well-loved tale that follows the story of scientist, Victor Frankenstein, and his creation.
Classic literature is timeless and well-written. Sophocles, Homer, Ovid, and Virgil are all writers whose works are considered classical literature. Jane Austen, Sandra Cisneros, Charles Dickens, and J.D. Salinger are all writers whose works can be considered classic literature.
A classic brilliantly articulates universal themes – like love, morality, death, adversity – and offers revelatory insight and clarity to readers of any era. It always feels fresh. A classic novel might be subversive in some way that makes it particularly significant or memorable.
How is Frankenstein a classic example of Gothic literature?
Mary Shelley uses many gothic elements in Frankenstein. She incorporates the destruction of family via revenge and the blurring of the line between life and death. She also ties in secrets threatening to be revealed and horror elements such as corpses, reanimation, and dark scientific experiments.
Why is Frankenstein an example of Romantic literature?
Victor Frankenstein represents Romanticism because he is a warning against scientific pursuit without thought. Romanticism was a reaction to the Industrial Revolution, and Victor created something without considering the consequences of his actions.
Frankenstein is an 1818 novel by Mary Shelley that was republished in 1831 in a more widely read edition. It is often considered to be the first science fiction novel because of how it combines real scientific research with some speculative elements. The novel also has elements of the horror and gothic genres.
"Frankenstein; or The Modern Prometheus" by Mary Shelley is a novel that explores themes of isolation, the power of nature, and the ethical implications of scientific advancements.
Since Shelley created the catalyst for the science fiction genre, without Frankenstein, we wouldn't have many of the great stories we do today such as H.G. Well's The Time Machine and Frank Herbert's Dune. These stories, much like Frankenstein, rely on science as the literary tool which moves the story along.
Why was Frankenstein so controversial when it was published?
Analyzing the novel as a product of early nineteenth century scientific debate shows how both the 1818 and 1831 editions of the novel were influenced by radical science, and knowing this context reveals how Frankenstein can be a cautionary tale against unchecked scientific progress.
Mary Shelley's original novel never gives the monster a name, although when speaking to his creator, Victor Frankenstein, the monster does say "I ought to be thy Adam" (in reference to the first man created in the Bible).
Although Shelley began writing poems while at Eton, some of which were published in 1810 in Original Poetry; by Victor and Cazire and some of which were not published until the 1960s as The Esdaile Notebook, it was perhaps inevitable that his first publication should have been a Gothic novel, Zastrozzi (1810).
Frankenstein is a Gothic novel in that it employs mystery, secrecy, and unsettling psychology to tell the story of Victor Frankenstein's doomed monster.
