Frankenstein Presentation: Analysis Chapters 7-8-9 with Diction and Imagery

INTRODUCTION:

Frankenstein is a novel written on 1816 by Mary Shelly when she was 18 years old. Frankenstein is one of the most popular horror stories and is also considered to be one of the earliest examples of science fiction.

Frankenstein is also called the Modern Prometheus. Prometheus was a God that took away fire from Gods, to give it to humans. In Frankenstein, the protagonist competes in power with God, giving life to his creation. Frankenstein is called Modern Prometheus because both vied with God; one, bringing fire, and the other giving life.

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Mary Shelley was inspired by a lot of things, such as:

-the electric was being discovered.

-scientists believe that they can create life and change nature.

-a dream that she saw, a vision.

Also she got a scientific background from:

-Luigi Galvani (Italian scientist, specialist of the static electricity)
-Giovani Aldani (nephew of Galvani)
-Andrew Ure (Scotish scientist)
-Konrad Dippel (German scientist)

Imagery:

            Is when we read, we get images in our mind.  So the author will use certain techniques to call up pictures in your mind. An image, then, is a picture or impression in the mind created by words. Certain figures of speech are used to help create these pictures. These are:
-Simile: where two things are compared.

-Metaphor: comparison between different things by saying that something is something else.
-Personification: when an object or thing is alive and has human qualities.

Diction:

            To study a writer’s diction is to study his choice of words. A writer will choose a certain word or combination of words because:
-it has the exact meaning required
-it describes an event or situation
-it contains the right image for his purpose

-it has the appropriate sound or rhythm

Analysis Chapters 7-8-9

CHAPTER 7:

             On their return to the university, Victor finds a letter from his father telling him that his youngest brother, William, has been murdered. Saddened, Victor departs immediately for Geneva. As he walks near the spot where his brother’s body was found, he founds the monster lurking and becomes convinced that his creation is responsible for killing William. The next day, when he returns home, Victor learns that Justine has been accused of the murder because after the discovery of the body, a servant had found in Justine’s pocket a picture of William´s mother last seen in William’s possession. Victor proclaims Justine’s innocence, but the evidence against her seems irrefutable, and Victor refuses to explain himself for fear that he will be labeled insane.

Diction: in this chapter, to show the sadness caused by the death of William, the author used many different words and sentences referring the melancholy in the atmosphere.

Examples:

1) The anguish that was visible.

2) The cruel, miserable dead of her youngest darling.

3) Tears also gushed from the eyes of Clerval.

4) My journey was very melancholy.

Also there are other words during this chapter that demonstrate the sadness and the melancholy: unhappy, grief, fear, wretch, misery, horror, terrible, disaster.

Also we have examples that demonstrate the choice of words of the author:

1) It was already dusk (the author used the word dusk instead of dark, because dusk means partial darkness but dark means totally darkness)

2) I was destined to become the most wretched of human beings. (Here we think that the author did a choice of words unconsciously because she could also use the synonym miserable.)

Imagery: Mary Shelly use descriptive words for readers to get sad and dark images in their minds:

1) Could hardly see the dark mountains

2) It was completely dark

3) While I watched the tempest so beautiful get terrific.

Also, to get images in our mind, some author uses similes, metaphors or personification. Mary Shelley, in this chapter use a personification:
1) Dear mountains! My own beautiful lake!                                                                          

CHAPTER 8:

              Justine confesses to the crime, but she confesses a lie and tells Elizabeth and Victor that she is innocent. They remain convinced of her innocence, but Justine is soon executed. Victor becomes consumed with guilt, knowing that the monster he created have caused the deaths of two members of his family.

Diction: In this chapter, to show the injustice felt by Victor, Elizabeth, and Justine; and the guilt felt by Victor; the author used many words and combination of words that demonstrate this:

1) Rise, my poor girl.

2) I am truly miserable.

3) Where I could conceal the horrid anguish that possessed me. 

4) I cannot live in this world of misery.

Also we have an example that demonstrates the choice of words of the author:

1) But do not mourn, dear girl. (In this sentence we think that the author made an unconsciously choose of words, because she could use cry or weep)

Imagery:  in this chapter the author uses two rhetorical devices to make us get images:

1) Personification: The fangs of remorse tore my bosom.

2) Metaphor: The daemon, who had murdered my brother… (Here we get an image of the monster as an ugly and evil creation).

CHAPTER 9

              After Justine’s execution, Victor becomes extremely melancholy. He considers suicide but restrains himself. Alphonse, hoping to cheer up his son, takes his children on an excursion to the family home at Belrive. From there, Victor went alone toward the valley of Chamounix (a valley that he visited frequently during his boyhood). The beautiful scenery of the valley cheers him somewhat, but his desperation came again rapidly.

Diction: in this chapter, Mary Shelly chooses many words and sentences that demonstrate the desperation and the guilty of Victor:

1) I was seized by remorse and the sense of guilt, which hurried me away to a hell of intense tortures, such as no language can describe.
2) Solitude was my only consolation.

3) I had an obscure feeling that all was not over.
Other words that demonstrate this during the chapter: agony, anguish, bitterness, unhappiness.

Also we have an example that demonstrates the choice of words of Mary Shelley.

1) I threw myself on the grass, weighed down by horror and despair. (We think that the author made an unconsciously choose of words, because she also could use the word terror or dread)

Imagery: Mary Shelly use descriptive words for readers to get images of the valley of Chamounix:

1) this valley is more wonderful and sublime, but not so beautiful and picturesque.

2) The high and snowy mountains…

Also in this chapter, the author uses a personification:
1) Our house was the house of mourning. (Here we imagine that in their house, all were sad and desponding by the horror of the recent events)

Summary of Last Monday Class

  On Monday class we started a new unit: Literature. We talked about styles of literature, that are such as styles of music; for example, on music you have reggaeton and pop, and on literature you have romanticism and gothic. We did an activity of gothic literature, we had to see pictures of castles, trees without leaves,etc. and listening terror music; and give an interpretation of what we saw.
  For my opinion, that was a good activity to introduce the new unit, Literature, and to understand the book, Frankenstein, we'll have to read.
  The most important thing of literature, is that when we read, we have to get images and sounds in our mind.