15th March 2018

Timeline – Frankstein

The Letters 

Robert Walton captained the ship

  • “a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye. This expedition has been the favourite dream of my early years.”

Sailed into the arctic

  • “I am going to unexplored regions to ‘the land of mist and snow.”

Stuck on ice + saw gigantic figure on sled

  • “a being which had the shape of a man, but apparently of gigantic stature.”

Pick up ill man

  • “you may conceive my astonishment on hearing such a question addressed to me from a man on the brink of destruction…”

Walton and Frankenstein develop friendship

  • “My affection for my guest increases every day. He excites at once my admiration and my pity to an astonishing degree.”

Story 

Dr Frankenstein is a child, Geneva is his home

  • “I am by birth a Genevese, and my family is one of the most distinguished of that republic”

We are told about his family

  • “… my father had filled several public situations with honor and reputation.” “ Caroline  became his wife.”
  •  ” I, their eldest child, was born at Naples, and as an infant accompanied them in their rambles. I remained for several years their only child.”
  • “…this child was thin and very fair. Her hair was the brightest living gold, and despite the poverty of her clothing, seemed to set a crown of distinction on her head. Her brow was clear and ample, her blue eyes cloudless, and her lips and the molding of her face so expressive of sensibility and sweetness that none could behold her without looking on her as of a distinct species, a being heaven-sent, and bearing a celestial stamp in all her features.”
  • “On the birth of a second son, my junior by seven years, my parents gave up entirely their wandering life and fixed themselves in their native country.”

Travels to Ingolstadt university

  • When I had attained the age of seventeen my parents resolved that I should become a student at the university of Ingolstadt.

Elizabeth (sister) gets ill, mother gets ill. Mother dies

  • “Elizabeth was saved, but the consequences of this imprudence were fatal to her preserver.”

Initially disappointed by university

  • “Have you,’ he said, ‘really spent your time in studying such nonsense?”

Chemistry teacher inspires Frankenstein, showing him that science isn’t all nonsense

  • “They ascend into the heavens; they have discovered how the blood circulates, and the nature of the air we breathe. They have acquired new and almost unlimited powers.”
  • “‘I am happy,’ said M. Waldman, ‘to have gained a disciple; and if your application equals your ability, I have no doubt of your success.

Tells us he has a secret

  • “I see by your eagerness and the wonder and hope which your eyes express, my friend, that you expect to be informed of the secret with which I am acquainted.”
  • “I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs.”

Monster goes missing 

Victor Frankstein gets sick

Brother is murdered 

  • “William is dead!—that sweet child, whose smiles de- lighted and warmed my heart, who was so gentle, yet so gay! Victor, he is murdered!”

Goes home

Monster ends up in hometown 

  • A flash of light- ning illuminated the object, and discovered its shape plainly to me; its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspect, more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly informed me that it was the wretch, the lthy daemon, to whom I had given life. What did he there? Could he be (I shuddered at the conception) the murderer of my brother? No sooner did that idea cross my imagination, than I be- came convinced of its truth; my teeth chattered, and I was forced to lean against a tree for support. e gure passed me quickly, and I lost it in the gloom.

Murder trial 

Justine dies

  • “And on the morrow Justine died.”

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