'Frankenstein' and the Gothic context
I can recognise and explore Shelley’s use of Gothic conventions in ‘Frankenstein’.
'Frankenstein' and the Gothic context
I can recognise and explore Shelley’s use of Gothic conventions in ‘Frankenstein’.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Liminality describes the physical process of crossing across boundaries and borders.
- The Creature is a liminal creature because it is characterised as a living corpse.
- Victor has committed a moral transgression against nature, God and science in creating the Creature.
- Shelley uses the Gothic genre to explore the darker side of humanity and consuming ambition.
- Shelley arguably presents us with the idea that real monsters are not born, but shaped by society or those around them.
Keywords
Liminality - Liminality is the physical process of transitioning across boundaries and borders.
Transgression - A violation of a boundary, rule or law.
Vitality - The state of being strong and full of life.
To violate - To break or act against something.
Vengeance - When a person inflicts harm on another because they, themselves have been harmed by that person previously.
Common misconception
Students tend to think of humans as being good and monsters as being evil.
In this novel, the line between good and evil is blurred. Shelley forces us to question who the real monster is in the novel.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of serious crime
- Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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