"Frankenstein"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the Gothic novel era between 1764 to 1834 and in particular how many typical elements of the Gothic novel appear in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," including graveyards, murders, elaborate Continental settings and young innocent women who become victims. It looks at how "Frankenstein" took the Gothic novel to new heights, exploring and stretching the elements of mood and engaging the reader with exquisite descriptions. It examines how Shelley was able to create very precise moods among her readers as well as an element of suspense by creating elaborate descriptions of scenery and weather and by also using situations and emotions in opposition to each other.

From the Paper:

"Darkness also plays an important role in setting the mood for Frankenstein. The dark scenes involving the laboratory and the graveyards successfully create suspense. For instance, as Victor describes how he studied death, he mentions that "darkness had no effect upon my fancy, and a churchyard was to me merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of life" and how he spent "days and nights in vaults and charnel-houses" (Shelley 36). In addition, the reader can easily envision the night Victor brings the creature to life when he says, "It was on a dreary night in November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils . . . it was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes. . ." "

More papers on "Frankenstein":

• Essay # 137670 : "Frankenstein and Power"
• Analytical Essay # 135003 : "Monster in Shelley's "Frankenstein"
• Analytical Essay # 134991 : "Analysis of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein"
• Comparison Essay # 71164 : "Frankenstein" and "The Birthmark"

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