Year 8 - English
Exploring the character of Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'
A monster within: reading and writing Gothic fiction
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils explore the Gothic. They start by learning what the Gothic is, before reading extracts from 'Frankenstein' and 'Jane Eyre', practising descriptive writing and reading 'The Tell-Tale Heart'. They finally learn how to write opinion articles and then write their own.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how Mary Shelley presents Frankenstein as a hubristic character by looking at selected extracts from the novel 'Frankenstein'.
Key Notes
- Victor Frankenstein is portrayed as a highly hubristic and arrogant character who plays God.
- Victor relentlessly pursues knowledge to its limits, to the detriment of his own sanity, and the lives of others.
- Shelley uses hyperbolic language to characterise Frankenstein as hubristic.
- Frankenstein regrets his hubris and ambition, acknowledging that it has destroyed him physically and mentally.
- Shelley warns us of the corruptive nature of ambition, especially when pursued by those without respect for boundaries.
Vocabulary To Learn
- hubris: excessive pride or arrogance
- playing God: taking control of decisions or interventions that should be reserved for God
- hyperbolic language: language that exaggerates
- to corrupt: has the power to make people behave immorally or wickedly
- to pursue: to try and obtain something - to chase after something
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils do not appreciate the extent of Frankenstein's immorality.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Victor Frankenstein is portrayed as a highly hubristic and arrogant character who plays God. Victor relentlessly pursues knowledge to its limits, to the detriment of his own sanity, and the lives of others.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'hubris'
excessive pride or arrogance.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils do not appreciate the extent of Frankenstein's immorality. Correction: In pursuit of knowledge, Frankenstein broke natural and political laws. He robbed graves and tortured live animals to achieve his ambition.
More Lessons In This Unit
- 'Frankenstein' and the Gothic context Study Guide
- A written analysis of 'Frankenstein' Study Guide
- A written analysis of 'The Tell-Tale Heart' Study Guide
- An introduction to 'Jane Eyre': Analysing an unseen extract Study Guide
- Analysing effective opinion articles Study Guide
- Analysing the atmosphere at Thornfield Hall in 'Jane Eyre' Study Guide
- Context for Gothic literature: science and religion in the 19th century Study Guide
- Editing descriptive writing based on 'A monster within' Study Guide
- Frankenstein's reaction to his creation Study Guide
- Frankenstein's regret and the scientific revolution Study Guide
- Identifying features of the Gothic genre in the plot of 'Frankenstein' Study Guide
- Improving your opinion article on Gothic literature Study Guide
- Lowood Institution: Gothic settings in 'Jane Eyre' Study Guide
- Organising our gothic writing to build tension Study Guide
- Planning a cohesive argument about 'The Tell-Tale Heart' Study Guide
- Planning a Gothic description inspired by 'A monster within' Study Guide
- Planning a written analysis of 'Frankenstein' Study Guide
- Planning an opinion article about Gothic literature Study Guide
- Reading 'The Tell-Tale Heart' Study Guide
- Reading an extract from 'Frankenstein': A fateful night Study Guide
- Reading an extract from Charlotte Brontë's 'Jane Eyre' Study Guide
- Regret in Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' Study Guide
- Symbolism in 'The Tell-Tale Heart' Study Guide
- The creation of suspense in 'The Tell-Tale Heart' Study Guide
- The structure of an opinion article Study Guide
- Using 'Jane Eyre' to inspire our use of gothic vocabulary Study Guide
- Using description in functional writing Study Guide
- Using figurative language to create a gothic atmosphere Study Guide
- Using semantic fields to create a gothic atmosphere Study Guide
- Writing a gothic description Study Guide
- Writing an opinion article on Gothic literature Study Guide
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