BEDOK SOUTH SECONDARY SCHOOL SECONDARY ONE LITERATURE (2024)
Lesson 1: Introduction to Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley & adapted by Philip Pullman
A. Reading and studying the play
§ Try to engage and respond personally to the characters, ideas and story –
not just for your enjoyment, but also because it helps you develop your own
independent ideas and thoughts about Frankenstein.
§ Talk about and discuss what you have read in class; put forward your own
viewpoint and note it down. Take down the viewpoint discussed in class and
match the evidence to it.
§ Focus on the key elements of the story; make notes, mind-maps about
characters and their motivations; follow the plot of the story as it progresses
(what do you think it is about?); discuss the main theme with your teacher in
class and pick out the language that impresses you or makes an impact.
B. What do you know about Frankenstein?
KWL Activity
K W L
What do you know about What do you want to What you have learnt about
Frankenstein know about Frankenstein?
Frankenstein? (to be done after the lesson)
C. Summary of Frankenstein
• Frankenstein is about a ______________________ Victor Frankenstein who succeeds
in giving life to a being of his own creation.
• However, this is not the perfect specimen he imagines that it will be, but rather a
hideous creature who is ____________ by Victor and mankind in general.
• The ____________ feels alienated and seeks its _____________ through murder and
terror.
D. The Genre
(i) The Gothic
a. Setting in isolated locations
b. Omens & ___________
c. ______________ or otherwise inexplicable events
d. Women in distress
e. Women ___________ by a powerful, tyrannical male
f. Gloom & ___________
g. __________ & suspense
(ii) Science- fiction
a. Features ________________or scientific discoveries not available at
that time
b. Deals with the topics of morality and ethics, and the ________________
if technology were to overrule morality
E. Setting
I. Science in that time
a. During Mary Shelley’s time, ______________ were fascinated by the line
between life and death.
b. Experimented with other organisms
c. Performed human _______________ studies
d. Performed __________________ using electricity to restore __________
to the recently dead.
II. Places
a. Arctic
b. _________________ – Germany
c. Forest
d. ______________ - Switzerland
F. Characters
I. List of Characters
1. Captain Walton-Arctic explorer 7. Felix-fiery young man-political refugee
2. Frankenstein-idealistic scientist 8. Agathe-blind, political refugee
3. Clerval-friend of Frankenstein 9. Ghost of William
4. Landlady 10. The Monster’s Bride
5. Elizabeth 11. Servant- male
6. The Monster
I. Frankenstein
• Idealistic ____________ who wants to achieve something great and good
• Wants fame
• Not able to reconcile with the ______________ nature of the Monster
• Denies the Monster & does not sympathize with him
• Dies trying to destroy his own _____________
II. Monster
• A reflection of how Frankenstein has not achieved what he set out to do – to
create something great and _________
• Sees Frankenstein as a father figure but was denied
• Wants love and _______________
• Becomes a monstrous creation of ___________
• Kills everyone Frankenstein loves
• Thwarts Frankenstein’s plans
• Antagonizes Frankenstein
Who do you prefer? Why?
