WJEC AS English Literature Frankenstein

1. In Frankenstein
Louise Armstrong
Welcome

2.  1. Lecture on Romanticism,
gothic genre & the universal in
Frankenstein.
 2. Writing articles.
 3. ALZ group work producing
leaflets.

3.  One essay of 1500 words.
 The prose study requires you to write about
TWO texts, one chosen for detailed study
(Frankenstein) and one chosen for wider
reader. (Core and partner texts)
 Essay goes in coursework folder with creative
writing & commentary.

4.  Understand the significance and influence of
the contexts in which literary texts are written
and received.
 You need to discuss major influences from
the time the novel was written.
 You need to understand what we think about
those ideas when reading the book today.

5.  Printed on each side of the page.
 Have 2 columns per side.
 Be well laid out and easy to read.
 You may use graphics and layout to
illustrate your meaning, but the focus
should be on the written content of
your leaflets.

6. A Movement Across the Arts

7. The era of Romanticism began in
the 1700s and lasted into the mid
nineteenth century.
Can be viewed as a backlash
against the classical (or Neo-
classical) period.

8. Neoclassical Art Romantic Art

9. Romanticism refers to a movement in art, literature, and music
during the 19th century.
Romanticism is characterized by the 5 “I”s
1. Imagination - Imagination was emphasised over ‘reason’.
2. Intuition - Romantics placed value on feeling, emotion and
instincts.
3. Idealism: the concept that we can make the world a better
place.
4. Inspiration: the Romantic artist, musician, or writer, is an
‘inspired creator’ rather than a ‘technical’ master’.
5. Individuality: during this time period, Women’s Rights and
Abolitionism were taking root as major movements.

11. 1. Imagination - Imagination was emphasised over ‘reason’.
2. Intuition - Romantics placed value on feeling, emotion and
instincts.
3. Idealism: the concept that we can make the world a better
place.
4. Inspiration: the Romantic artist, musician, or writer, is an
‘inspired creator’ rather than a ‘technical’ master’.
5. Individuality: during this time period, Women’s Rights and
Abolitionism were taking root as major movements.

12.  5 ‘i’s and relevance (or not) to
Frankenstein.

14. A02: demonstrate detailed critical understanding
in analysing the ways in which structure, form
and language shape meaning in literary texts.

15. Frankenstein was
influenced by the
Romantic movement
(A04), and
belongs specifically to
the gothic genre
(A02).

16. Gothic is related to the name
Goth, a Germanic tribe. The
word Gothic, was first recorded
in 1611 in a reference to the
language of the Goths. It’s
meaning extended to
"Germanic," "medieval, not
classical," "barbarous," and
also an architectural style that
was not Greek or Roman.
Novels filled with scenes of terror
and gloom in a medieval
setting acquired the subgenre
name gothic.

17. Picasso, Pablo. Woman Playing the Mandolin (1909) State Museum of New Western Art, Moscow, 1931.

18.  There is a sense of the division between
our physical existence and the forces of
the infinite.
 And a wish to transcend earthly human
limitations and reach the divine.

19.  Gothic cathedrals reach
to the sky as if the
builders were trying to
touch the heavens.
 Carvings depict
humanity in conflict
with supernatural
forces—demons,
angels, gargoyles, and
monsters.

20.  Gothic literature focuses on the grotesque and
the unknown aspects of the infinite universe and
within the human soul.
 Horror is created by portraying human
individuals in conflict between opposing forces
in the world and in themselves.
 The gothic theme of the struggle between good
and evil in the human soul is a prominent theme
in Frankenstein.

21. Signs/Omens:
Reveal the
intervention of
cosmic forces and
often represent
psychological or
spiritual conflict

22. Supernatural/Gothic Literary Terminology
A motif is a repeated theme, image, or literary device.
Pathetic fallacy, when the weather/outside events
shadow/mimic the character’s life and feelings.
Foreshadowing, when a hint of forthcoming events is
given.

23.  http://www.youtub
e.com/watch?v=u1
W4TNBSc1w&featur
e=related
 4-minute English
Teacher Guy
 Identify Gothic
themes, motifs &
literary techniques
in Frankenstein.

24. A01: creative, informed and relevant response to literary
texts, using appropriate terminology and concepts
and coherent, accurate written expression.

25. Dreams express the
dark, unconscious
depths of the
psyche that are
repressed by
reason.
Freud

26.  heimlich, first definition = I, a: belonging to
the house; friendly; familiar; I, b: tame (as in
animals); I, c: intimate, comfortable; i.e:
secure, dometic(ated), hospitable.
 heimlich, second definition = concealed,
secret, withheld from sight and from others;
secretive, deceitful = private.
 When the familiar becomes frightening.

27. Freud –
2 concepts &
relevance

28. 1. Archetypes
2. The Shadow

29.  The Anima
 The Animus
 The Self
 The Shadow

30.  In Jungian psychology, the shadow is a part of the
unconscious mind consisting of repressed
weaknesses, shortcomings, and instincts.
 Mostly we deny it in ourselves and project it onto
others.
 It can also have a life of its own, as the Other.
 Our shadow may appear in dreams, hallucinations
and musings, often as something or someone who
is bad, fearsome or despicable in some way.
 It may also take over direct physical action when
the person is confused, dazed or drugged.

31.  Family archetypes
◦ The father: Stern, powerful, controlling
◦ The mother: Feeding, nurturing, soothing
 Story archetypes
◦ The hero: Rescuer, champion
◦ The maiden: Purity, desire
◦ The wise old man: Knowledge, guidance
◦ The magician: Mysterious, powerful
◦ The earth mother: Nature
◦ The witch or sorceress: Dangerous
◦ The trickster: Deceiving, hidden

32. Jung - 2 ideas & relevance

33. A03: explore connections and comparisons
between different literary texts, informed by
interpretations of other readers.

34.  http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=zRK052gDf
xA&feature=related
 3.30 English Teacher
Guy

35.  Thoughts on
Frankenstein's
subtitle of ‘The
Modern
Prometheus.’

36. A second self or alternate
identity, sometimes, but
not always, a physical
twin. The Doppelganger
can be in demonic form
or be a second
personality within.
Gothic doppelgangers
often haunt and threaten
the rational psyche of the
victim to whom they
become attached.

37. The double motif involves characters
who represent opposing forces in
human nature.
For example, Dr. Jekyll and his evil
double Mr. Hyde represent the battle
between the rational, intellectual self
(Jekyll) and the irrational, bestial self
(Hyde).
Double characters are often paired in
common relationships, such as twins,
siblings, husband/wife, parent/child,
hero/villain, creator/creature, etc.

38.  Doppelganger/double motif and relation to
Jung’s shadow.

39.  The search for forbidden knowledge or power
leads the protagonist to a fall:
 Eve
 Prometheus
 Dorian Gray
 Darth Vader
 Jurassic Park
 Faust
 The protagonist is isolated from others by the
fall and either becomes a monster or
confronts a monster who is the shadow self.
JUNG

40. The Mad Scientist Motif
Forbidden knowledge/power is often the Gothic
protagonist’s goal.
The gothic "hero" questions the universe’s
ambiguous nature and tries to comprehend and
control supernatural powers.
He tries to overcome human limitations and make
himself into a "god."

41.  Does the theme of the search for forbidden
knowledge apply to Frankenstein?
 How does that relate to Romanticism?

43.  Identify archetypal themes within
Frankenstein and discuss modern
representations of those themes.

44.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8V2g1_4
D2k&feature=related

45. 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmAWO
q9RdsM&feature=fvw 7.5 mins
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02k-
tKa2R4M&NR=1 7.5 mins
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVX2gT
44DgU&feature=related 7
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFhpDV
U_9Gc&feature=related 6.5