the links at the top of this page take you to archive.org for a free copy of the novel frankenstein; to a documentary on mary shelley as a prophet of science fiction; to articles on galvanism, the scientific basis for the creation of the creature, and to a y/a novel in mary's voice on how she created frankenstein entitled mary's monster.
|
Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void, but out of chaos . - Mary Shelley |
How did Mary come to write such a violent, strange story as the novel Frankenstein?
A SERIES OF NIGHTMARES AND A GHOST STORY CONTEST LAUNCHED FRANKENSTEIN, THE FIRST SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL, FRANKENSTEIN IS CONSIDERED AN EXAMPLE OF GOTHICISM AS WELL AS DARK ROMANTICISM IN THE STYLE OF EDGAR ALLAN POE. FRANKENSTEIN IS THE RESULT OF TWO DREAMS AND ONE BIZARRE INCIDENT: 1) MARY DREAMS HER DECEASED INFANT CHILD CAME BACK TO LIFE AFTER SHE WARMED THE BABY BY A FIRE 2) WHEN PERCY'S EX WIFE DIES AT 21, HER FAMILY ATTEMPTS TO RE-START HER HEART WITH AN ELECTRIC BATTERY AFTER READING OF EXPERIMENTS WITH GALVANISM 3) MARY DREAMS CHAPTER FIVE OF FRANKENSTEIN AFTER SHE'S CHALLENGED TO WRITE A GHOST STORY AND CHOOSES TO GO TO SLEEP INSTEAD. MARY'S LAST NOVEL, ENTITLED THE LAST MAN, WAS ALSO A SCI-FI NOVEL BUT SET IN 2073. |
Terms to Know:
Frame Story -- story within a story within a story.
Jigsaw Storytelling -- a story told out of time order
Alchemy-- the earliest form of chemistry; the goal was turning base metals into gold
Natural Philosophy-- early name for science
Philosopher's Stone -- a stone with magical properties; if discovered, some believed it would change base metals to gold or hold the secret to immortality
Galvanism -- the earliest science of reanimation through electricity
Prometheus -- mythical Titan who stole fire from the gods for man; punished by having an eagle eat his liver only to have it grow back daily so it can be eaten again
Elixir of Life -- chemical substance sought; if discovered, it was thought the liquid would reanimate the dead or serve as secret to immortality
Gothicism -- literature characterized by settings in graveyards, old abandoned monasteries and castles, with elements of the supernatural
dark Romanticism -- literature featuring the imagination and the dark side of the supernatural
Frame Story -- story within a story within a story.
Jigsaw Storytelling -- a story told out of time order
Alchemy-- the earliest form of chemistry; the goal was turning base metals into gold
Natural Philosophy-- early name for science
Philosopher's Stone -- a stone with magical properties; if discovered, some believed it would change base metals to gold or hold the secret to immortality
Galvanism -- the earliest science of reanimation through electricity
Prometheus -- mythical Titan who stole fire from the gods for man; punished by having an eagle eat his liver only to have it grow back daily so it can be eaten again
Elixir of Life -- chemical substance sought; if discovered, it was thought the liquid would reanimate the dead or serve as secret to immortality
Gothicism -- literature characterized by settings in graveyards, old abandoned monasteries and castles, with elements of the supernatural
dark Romanticism -- literature featuring the imagination and the dark side of the supernatural