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Select a play you have read and write an essay in which you
explain the techniques a playwright uses to guide his audiences
responses to the central characters and the action. You might
consider the effect on the audience of things like setting, the use
of comparable and contrasting characters, and the characters
responses to each other. The literal meaning of the prompt is
asking what literary techniques enable the reader to understand the
central idea, actions, and characters of the novel without the use
of a single first person point of view or recurrent narrator.
Literal Meaning
Slide 3
1.The idea developed. 2.The central idea progressively
developed. 3.In Frankenstein, the central idea is progressively
developed through the use of literary techniques. 4.In
Frankenstein, the central idea, man is inherently good and made
evil by the persecutions of other men, is progressively developed
through the use of literary techniques. 5.In Frankenstein, the
central idea, man is inherently good and made evil by the
persecutions of other men, is progressively developed through the
use of literary techniques as contrasting points of view belonging
to the three main characters are angled towards the same idea. 6.In
Frankenstein, the central idea, man is inherently good and made
evil by the persecutions of other men, is progressively developed
through the use of literary techniques as contrasting points of
view belonging to the three main characters are angled towards the
same idea, which is accomplished by a setting that correlates to
the emotions of the individual whose point of view was expressed by
metonymy, contrasting personalities of Walton, the creature, and
Frankenstein leading to internal conflicts developing the
characters, and the interactions between the characters displaying
their individual opinions and actions as response. Thesis
BEFOREAFTER
Slide 4
The prompt relates to Frankenstein due to the alternating
points of view between Captain Walton, Victor Frankenstein, and the
creature. Through Waltons letters to his sister, Margaret,
Frankenstein tells his story regarding the creature. In
Frankensteins story, the creature shares his own story, and at the
end of the novel, Frankenstein finishes his story and dies allowing
the creature to speak to Walton. All three points of view interact
and switch throughout the novel. Relation of the Prompt to the
Novel
Slide 5
Walton in continuation You have read this strange and terrific
story, Margaret; and do you not feel your blood congeal with
horror, like that which even now curdles mine? (Shelley 155). This
marked the end of Victors tale and returned to the point of view
introduced at the beginning of the novel, Captain Robert Walton. At
the beginning of the novel, Waltons point of view angled towards
Margaret allowing for the reader to feel addressed and connect with
Walton which led into his connection with Frankenstein. When he
speaks with the creature, an outside point of view is seen
regarding the Frankenstein v. creature conflict, so in one
consideration, Waltons point of view represents that of anyone
external to the conflict. Captain Waltons Letters
Slide 6
You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once didI do not know
that the relation of my disasters will be useful to you; yet, when
I reflect that you are pursuing the same course, exposing yourself
to the same dangers which have rendered me what I am, I imagine
that you may deduce an apt moral from my tale (Shelley 13).
Frankenstein, identifying with Walton, warns the captain of the
consequences he may face in his pursuit of knowledge. Shelley uses
the point of view of Frankenstein as a cautionary tale towards
those who seek to disregard the boundaries of nature. Frankensteins
Tale (Story within a Letter)
Slide 7
The being finished speaking, and fixed his looks upon me in the
expectation of a reply (Shelley 104). At this point in the novel,
the creature has completed his tale and has requested for another
like himself. The point of view of Victor is returned to the
reader. The creatures point of view provides the transition from
good to evil and the emotions connected with the actions that led
to the transition. At the end of the novel, he displays his true
feelings regarding Frankenstein, his symbolic father, when his
character is fully developed. The Creatures Story (Story within a
Story within a Letter) (Pie-ception)
Slide 8
But I consented to listen, and seating myself by the fire which
my odious companion had lighted, he thus began his tale (Shelley
70). After being confronted by the creature for the first time,
Victor feels obliged to listen as the creature begins to tell the
story of his life since his unhappy creation. This is the
introduction of the third point of view in the novel, the
creatures, as well as Victors first encounter with the creature
since his abandonment. Significant Moment
Slide 9
His voice seemed suffocated; and my first impulses, which had
suggested to me the duty of obeying the dying request of my friend,
in destroying his enemy, were now suspended by a mixture of
curiosity and compassion (Shelley 163). At this point, even after
listening to Frankenstein describe the creature as a murderous
monster, Walton feels compassion for the creature upon witnessing
the creature express remorse for his horrific actions. Significant
Moment
Slide 10
I began to reflect on the best means of securing him; and for
this purpose, about a month after my release, I repaired to a
criminal judge in the town, and told him that I had an acquisition
to make; that I knew the destroyer of my family; and that I
required him to exert his whole authority for the apprehension of
the murder(Shelley 147). Parallelism occurs in the repetition of
the word I followed by a verb, included in I began, I repaired, I
had, I knew, and I required. This quote occurs almost immediately
after Frankensteins wedding night when Elizabeth is killed. Shelley
used parallelism in this part of the novel to depict a dramatic
change in Frankensteins outlook on the creature. She does this to
show how quickly Frankenstein turns to evil and murderer mimicking
the behavior of the creature showing that the two are not so
different. Parallelism on a large scale can be seen through
comparing the pursuit of knowledge by the three main points of
view. Despite the fact that each point of view is unique and
follows a different path throughout the novel, all of them begin
with an interest in pursuing knowledge, and each one ends with a
realization that such pursuits may prove harmful. Parallelism
Slide 11
What did their tears imply? Did they really express
pain?(Shelly 77). In the quote, the creature asks himself questions
quietly after discovering the people who live next by. He wonders
to himself why they might be crying and what they may be going
through. The questions the creature asks himself about the
residents of the cottage show that he has the capabilities of
sympathizing with others. This alters the readers response to the
creature by revealing the creatures sentiment. As the novel
progresses and the creature has more questions, the reader, in
turn, sees the creature in a more positive light as the writer
intended. Rhetorical Question
Slide 12
Light and fire is used a symbol for knowledge and the pursuit
of knowledge. All three point of views use fire in a description of
their pursuit of knowledge, and they speak of it in a positive
manner, as fire can bring light. However, Frankenstein and the
creature fail to realize the negative effects of fire, while Walton
is the only one who learns to control his actions. Walton: What may
not be expected in a country of eternal light? Frankenstein: until
from the midst of this darkness a sudden light broke in upon me a
light so brilliant and wondrous, yet so simple The creature: I
found a fire which had been left by some wandering beggars, and was
overcome with delight at the warmth I experienced from it. In my
joy I thrust my hand into the live embers, but quickly drew it out
again with a cry of pain. Symbolism
Slide 13
But now, when I appeared almost within grasp of my foe, my
hopes were suddenly extinguishedThe wind arose; the sea roared;
and, as with the mighty shock of an earthquake, it split, and
cracked with a tremendous and overwhelming sound. The work was soon
finishedI was left driftingthus preparing for me a hideous death
(Shelley 154). This moment of the novel is ironic because it seems
that fate stands in the way between Frankenstein as he, finally,
tries to rid the world of the monster he created. Throughout the
novel, Frankenstein fell ill multiple times, usually when he feels
guilty or responsible for some tragedy, but he recovered every time
to only suffer more, but when he finally decided to do something
about his creation, he failed, this time resulting in death. Cosmic
Irony