Frankenstein Reading Schedule

Frankenstein/Heart of Darkness Reading Schedule

Date Reading Assignment Due Other Assignments Due, In-Class Work Mon Novel/Author Intro(class) Cornell Notes of “Future...” Due; “Setting Essay” In-Class: Introduce novel and Romantic Period, ghost story “Future of Frankenstein” contest; 8 Themes Writing/Discussion Activity Explore Rousseau/Locke Tue Essay: “Prometheus” Letters 1-4 Discuss Letters, Essay 14pgs. Mon Ch. 1-4 20pgs. Journal: Is Ambition viewed as positive in our modern society?, Discuss ch. 1-4 Tues Essay: “Tampering in God’s Journal: God’s Domain; Discuss Essay Domain” Wed Ch. 5-7 20pgs. Journal:Science and Tecnology-The “Monsters” we have created, Discuss ch. 5-7, Th Ch. 8-10 16pgs. Journal: Milton’s Adam, Group work, typed paragraph for HWK Essay: “Milton’s Adam” Fri Ch. 11-14 20pgs. Journal: Love and Belonging, Discuss Essay, Mon Essay: “Abandonment” Journal: Abandonment Ch. 15-20 42pgs Discuss Novel Tue Ch. 21-24 33pgs Journal:What does the novel reveal about 8 themes?, Discuss Novel as a Whole Wed Essays: “Introduction” Introduce Heart of Darkness/Conrad, Discuss Essays Th Ch. 1 27pgs Journal, Map Activity, Quiz, Discuss Ch. 1 Fri Essay: “Racism in Heart” Discuss Essay; Introduce Persuasive Research Paper. Mon Ch. 2 22pgs Journal, Quiz, Discuss Ch. 2 Tues Ch. 3 21pgs Discuss Novel as a whole, themes Wed Essay: “Women of Heart” Essay: Introduce Comparison Essay, Discuss two Essays “Two Visions in Heart” Th Work on Frank/Heart Essay Fri Heart of Darkness/Frankenstein Comparison Setting Essay Due, WEEK 4 Begin Research Paper

Frankenstein: Suggested Discussion Topics

Volume One: Letters One through Four 1. Why do you think Robert Walton is so eager to visit such a hostile environment?

2. Discuss the similarities between Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein, the man he rescues. Why does Walton feel such compassion for Victor, a total stranger?

3. Why is Walton so impressed with the shipmaster’s actions regarding his fiancée?

4. What Romantic concepts do the characters of Victor and Walton illustrate?

Volume One: Chapters One and Two 1. Victor is deeply affected by Caroline’s death. Discuss Victor’s reaction to his mother’s death and the influence it has on his scientific studies.

2. Discuss Victor’s friendship with Henry Clerval and compare it to his father’s relationship with Beaufort.

3. What is “modern science” as explained by M. Waldman, and how does it differ from the theories of Agrippa and the other scientists Victor studies?

Volume One: Chapters Three, Four, and Five 1. Why do you think Victor created such a horrible-looking creature? Did he realize what he was doing? Explain your answer.

2. What are some of the characteristics of the Gothic novel, and how does Mary Shelley use them in these chapters?

3. Victor tells us that his friend Clerval’s imagination was “too vivid for the minutiae of science.” What does he mean by this?

Volume One: Chapters Six and Seven 1. After Justine is accused of William’s murder, why do you think Victor never tells anyone about the creature?

2. Explain why Justine confesses to the crime, even though she is innocent.

3. Discuss Victor’s experience with lightning and Shelley’s use of it when Victor sees the creature.

Volume Two: Chapters One and Two 1. The creature tells Frankenstein: “misery made me a fiend.” Do you think the creature’s unhappiness justifies his murderous behavior? Explain your answer using examples from the text.

2. Victor contemplates suicide while sailing on the lake, and again when climbing the mountain. Discuss the change in Victor’s personality from his university days.

Volume Two: Chapters Three, Four, and Five 1. Describe the creature’s feelings towards Victor when he first came to life. How do they differ from Victor’s first reaction to his creation?

2. Discuss the creature’s attitude towards knowledge. Why does learning new things excite him and at the same time cause him so much pain? 3. Explain how the creature feels towards the peasant family. Why do you think he is so moved by their gentleness and kindness?

Volume Two: Chapters Six, Seven, Eight, and Nine 1. Discuss the Romantic notion of good and evil. How does it relate to the creature’s actions so far?

2. Explain why the creature feels it is so important to come out of hiding and talk to the elder De Lacey.

3. Describe how the creature feels when he finds Victor’s journal in his pocket.

Volume Three: Chapters One and Two 1. Victor says of his father that “a more indulgent and less dictatorial parent did not exist upon earth.” Discuss Alphonse’s influence on Victor and Victor’s feelings towards his father.

2. Give some examples of the Romantic concept in Shelley’s use of physical locations. How does it help establish character and mood in the novel?

Volume Three: Chapters Three and Four 1. Discuss Victor’s reluctance to create the second creature. Why do you think he destroys it in front of the other creature?

2. What does the creature mean when he tells Victor, “I shall be with you on your wedding night”?

3. Compare Alphonse’s and Victor’s relationship to Victor’s relationship with the creature.

Volume Three: Chapters Five and Six 1. Compare the events that occur on Victor’s wedding night to the night when Victor destroyed the second creature.

2. Did it surprise you that the creature killed Elizabeth and not Victor? Explain your answer.

3. Why do you think Victor finally tells the magistrate about the creature?

Volume Three: Chapter Seven 1. When Victor is chasing him, why does the creature keep leaving clues to help Victor follow his trail?

2. Do you think Victor is right when he urges Walton to abandon his ambition? Explain your answer.

3. Is Victor justified in blaming himself for the deaths of Henry, Elizabeth, and his other family members? Explain your answer. 4. Discuss the creature’s final speech to Walton. How does he really feel about Victor? Is he sad or happy about his death?

5. Why do you think the creature wants to eliminate any evidence of his own existence?

Heart of Darkness: Suggested Discussion Topics

Section I 1. From the very opening on the Thames in Heart of Darkness, when day mixes with night, Conrad uses images of light and dark. Traditionally, light represents “good” and dark represents “bad.” Does Conrad use these interpretations in the same way? What do his constant references to light and dark suggest about Marlow’s story? Remember, Africa is the “dark continent,” where the black natives live.

2. Conrad alters his narration by making Marlow jump back and forth in time. Marlow mentions people and events we won’t know about until later. Cite examples when he does this, and explain how it affects the story. What advantages are there in breaking the sequence of events? Why does he tell us some things, while withholding others?

3. In a sense, two narrators speak—a nameless “I” and Charlie Marlow. The narrator introduces Marlow, then tells us some of his ideas. When Marlow speaks, we see everything from his perspective. Suppose someone else told Marlow’s story? Say, perhaps, the narrator or, possibly, one of the people Marlow meets along his journey. How would the story change? Would the information and details be different?

4. After taking the steamer captained by the Swede, Marlow sees the blacks for the first time. Why does the sight of them appall him? Why is he bothered by the way they are treated? No one else seems to be disturbed by their condition, so why is Marlow?

5. Section I contains a number of shorter episodes, as Marlow switches steamers and heads deeper into the jungle. What does he see and experience at each temporary stop over? Is there a progression as he moves from one boat to another? Does each stop affect Marlow’s attitude and opinion toward what he sees?

Section II 1. Marlow hears about Kurtz when other people talk about him. The accountant, brickmaker, manager, and the manager’s uncle speak of Kurtz to each other and/or Marlow. He pieces together their offhand remarks to form his opinion of Kurtz. From their references, characterize Kurtz. Is he admirable, a good ivory-agent, successful? Is it possible their positions influence their feelings toward Kurtz?

2. Marlow’s journey to Africa enables him to meet for the first time the natives, people unlike him in many ways. How does Marlow, as well as the other white men, contrast with the blacks? Focus not only on their physical differences, but their behavior and general way of life. Are they representative of their distinct cultures, since one group comes from “civilized” Europe and the other comes from the “dark” continent?

3. A few times during Section I, Marlow mentions how he anticipates meeting Kurtz. Why does Kurtz intrigue him? Has the gossip about Kurtz fueled his interest? Is there any logical reason why he becomes obsessed with meeting Kurtz, a white man like himself?

4. The conversation between Marlow and the manager in Section I, and the talk between the manager and his uncle at the beginning of Section II, establish the manager’s character. According to Marlow, he has no good qualities. Show how the manager is greedy, self-centered, and more of a hindrance to Marlow than a help. Remember, the manager envies Kurtz, a man Marlow longs to meet. Could this account for Marlow’s unflattering picture of him?

5. Conrad ends Section I between when the manager’s uncle arrives and the manager talks to his uncle about Kurtz. Section II ends right after the Russian greets Marlow and tells them preliminary information about himself and Kurtz. Why does Conrad end these sections here? Are they important breaks in the plot? Would Heart of Darkness have been different if Conrad had left the novella as one chapter, with no separate sections?

Section III 1. From what the Russian says, he worships Kurtz. He always praises him, even justifying Kurtz’s barbaric killings. Marlow admires Kurtz also. How, though, does their admiration for Kurtz differ? Is the Russian’s more exaggerated, and Marlow’s more controlled? Since the Russian already knows Kurtz and has spoken to him, and Marlow has not met Kurtz yet, can that influence their respective feelings?

2. There are many indications of Kurtz’s mental illness. The decapitated heads on poles outside his home, his “exterminate all the brutes” philosophy, and his obsessive quest for ivory show his “unsound method,” as the manager terms it. Is Kurtz mad, or has he simply adapted to a barbaric society? Is he just playing by the rules of the jungle, which differ from those of a civilized society?

3. Though seemingly minor, the three women are important to Marlow’s adventure. His aunt, Kurtz’s black mistress, and Kurtz’s Intended influence the story in various ways. Compare the three of them. What does each one represent? Include how they come from different parts of society with separate values and beliefs, especially Kurtz’s two loves.

4. Kurtz appears in Heart of Darkness for a very short time. He does and says little. Why then is he so important to the story? Why didn’t Conrad expand his actual role? Does his limited appearance detract from his importance?

5. Describe the three people who visit Marlow to get Kurtz’s papers after he returns to Europe from Africa. What do their positions and interest in Kurtz say about Kurtz’s reputation? Why is Marlow so reluctant about giving them Kurtz’s papers? What are his personal reasons for protecting them?

6. Besides Marlow and Kurtz, Conrad identifies all the characters who appear by description, not name. We see the chief accountant, the manager, the manager’s uncle, the helmsman, the Russian, etc. Why does Conrad use these vague references? By not giving them names, does he shift the emphasis away from them, even though they all contribute to Marlow’s journey? Is their function, as suggested through their title, more important than their name?