Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley.

What was Frankenstein originally called?

Mary Shelley's 1818 masterpiece Frankenstein was originally titled The Modern Prometheus, after the ancient Greek myth of Prometheus, who gave the sacred fire of Mount Olympus to mankind.

What is the title of the novel Frankenstein?

Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, Gothic horror novel by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley that was first published in 1818.

What was the original Frankenstein?

Frankenstein is a 1931 American pre-Code science fiction horror film directed by James Whale, produced by Carl Laemmle Jr., and adapted from a 1927 play by Peggy Webling, which in turn was based on Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.

Which is better Frankenstein 1818 or 1831?

Also in 2018, Eileen Hunt Botting noted that, '[d]espite the fact that Shelley was the sole editor of the 1831 edition, most scholars today consider the 1818 text to be the preferred version of the novel, because it is closest in time and milieu to the story that Shelley first conceived and wrote in the summer and ...

Frankenstein - Book Summary

Should I read Frankenstein 1818 and 1831?

Most famously, the original version published anonymously in 1818 was significantly revised by Mary Shelley and republished in 1831, along with her reflections about the dare that inspired her to write such a monstrous story. It's the 1831 version that is most commonly read today and that we're using in our programs.

Why is Frankenstein 1931 different from the book?

Many of these differences revolve around the portrayals of both the doctor and his creation, such as the monster receiving a murderer's brain and becoming a killer in the 1931 Frankenstein, while the book's version is thoughtful and can speak in the novel.

Why are there two versions of Frankenstein?

Mary Shelley's original version of Frankenstein was popular among her peers. But she wanted to respond to criticism, elevate the main character's thinking, and clarify the plot details. The versions differ by the introduction, expanded Victor's monologue, and the character's portrait.

Why did they change Frankenstein's name?

The leading character of Mary Shelley's book, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, was renamed Henry for the movie because it was decided Victor would sound too "severe" and "unfriendly" to American audiences at the time.

What did Frankenstein look like in the original book?

Shelley described Frankenstein's monster as an 8-foot-tall, hideously ugly creation, with translucent yellowish skin pulled so taut over the body that it “barely disguised the workings of the arteries and muscles underneath,” watery, glowing eyes, flowing black hair, black lips, and prominent white teeth.

Why is the novel titled Frankenstein?

(Note that the title of the novel refers to the obsessive scientist Victor Frankenstein who creates the “Creature” from stitched-together body parts. Dr. Frankenstein, now to be referred to as Victor, was so horrified at its appearance that he ran out of the room and never gave him a name.

What 3 books does Frankenstein read?

The monster reads Milton's Paradise Lost, portions of Plutarch's Lives, and Goethe's Sorrows of Young Werther.

What is the best version of the book Frankenstein?

In total, there are five significant versions of Frankenstein, but the 1831 edition was typically considered the authoritative edition due to Mary W. Shelley's significant revisions. Lately, interest has shifted to the 1818 edition largely due to Anne K.

Was the monster actually named Frankenstein?

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).

Who was the real monster in Frankenstein?

This “monster” is the supposed murdered of several characters throughout the book and is presumably the main antagonist. However, the actions of Victor Frankenstein suggest that the monster is in fact Victor himself.

Who wrote the original Frankenstein?

Early in the summer of 1817, Mary Shelley finished Frankenstein, which was published anonymously in January 1818. Reviewers and readers assumed that Percy Shelley was the author, since the book was published with his preface and dedicated to his political hero William Godwin.

Are there two versions of Frankenstein?

In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, we see two separate versions, with many big differences between the two. The first version was anonymously published in 1818 and the second was published under her name in 1831, when Mary Shelley made revisions to her work.

Does Frankenstein have another name?

Frankenstein. The monster … well he never really gets a name. The Monster is referred to in different ways throughout the book. The monster, the creature, fiend, demon, wretch…but never a name.

Why is Frankenstein's monster green?

Going green

Pierce's decision to paint Karloff's skin a greyish green was a conscious choice to play on these limitations, distinguishing the monster from the rest of the cast by giving him a skin color that would be captured as a ghostly white on film.

How does the original Frankenstein end?

At the end of Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein dies wishing that he could destroy the Monster he created. The Monster visits Frankenstein's body. He tells Walton that he regrets the murders he has committed and that he intends to commit suicide.

Why are there 3 narrators in Frankenstein?

Mary Shelley uses three primary narrators in Frankenstein in order to create a more complete narrative and show how the same events can be viewed differently by different people. Robert Walton, Victor Frankenstein, and the Monster are the main narrators.

What is the difference between Frankenstein and Frankenstein's monster?

Frankenstein is the name of the Doctor who created the monster. The monster does not have a name. It is simply called the creature. But over time, since Mary Shelley first published the novel in 1818, the monster has become confused with its creator.

What about the novel Frankenstein was so controversial?

The reader can find themes like the quest for knowledge or even a prejudice theme. The quest for knowledge was one of the most controversial themes because of the use of science being utilized for evil frightened people at the time.

Is Frankenstein 1931 accurate to the book?

Most Accurate: Frankenstein (1931)

Though Universal's original monster movie isn't as verbose or thought-provoking as his literary counterpart, he does bear similar features. Honestly, it's Karloff's performance that earns him a spot on the list.

What movie is closest to the book Frankenstein?

The 1931 movie and Boris Karloff's monster are perhaps the most famous depictions of Frankenstein, but the 1994 film, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, is most loyal to the source material.