New
New
Year 8

Frankenstein's reaction to his creation

I can explain how Frankenstein reacts to his creation and consider how ethical his reaction is.

New
New
Year 8

Frankenstein's reaction to his creation

I can explain how Frankenstein reacts to his creation and consider how ethical his reaction is.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Frankenstein is disgusted and disappointed with his creation.
  2. Frankenstein’s hatred for his creation is based purely on the way he looks.
  3. Frankenstein repeatedly runs away from the Creature, thereby cruelly rejecting him.
  4. Arguably, Frankenstein’s treatment of the Creature is unethical and immoral.
  5. Frankenstein’s callous treatment of the Creature is a key motivator in the Creature’s subsequent violence in the novel.

Keywords

  • Ethical - If something is ethical, it is the moral, right thing to do.

  • Wretch - A wretch is a miserable being or a wicked being.

  • To repulse - To repulse is to make someone feel disgusted or horrified.

  • Perspective - The perspective is the viewpoint the narrative is told from.

  • To endure - If you cannot endure something, you cannot bear it.

Common misconception

Pupils forget that the description of the Creature is written from Frankenstein's perspective.

Shelley describes the Creature so horribly through the eyes of Frankenstein to show his disgust with his creation.

You could set students off to read the final few pages of the novel, where the Creature gives his version of events. This would show students the impact of one person's actions on another and illustrate how harmful Victor's initial reaction was.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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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6 Questions

Q1.
Which century was 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley published in?
16th century
17th century
18th century
Correct answer: 19th century
20th century
Q2.
Which three characters' perspectives do we hear in the novel, 'Frankenstein'?
Correct answer: Victor Frankenstein
Henry Clerval
Correct answer: The Creature
Correct answer: Robert Walton
Elizabeth Lavenza
Q3.
What is something 'supernatural'?
Something that originates directly from nature
Correct answer: A force or being that cannot be explained by the laws of nature
A force that cannot be controlled by a human being
A force of darkness that is unnatural
Q4.
In 'Frankenstein', what is Victor Frankenstein experimenting with when he brings his creation to life?
Metamorphosis
Blood transfusion
Spirituality
Correct answer: Galvanisation
Q5.
In 'Frankenstein', what is Frankenstein's Creature made from?
Parts of Victor himself
Donations from charitable supporters
Correct answer: Stolen body parts
Parts of wild animals
Laboratory-created cells
Q6.
If stealing is an unethical activity, what might 'unethical' mean?
Recommended
Moral
Enjoyable
Correct answer: Immoral
Profitable

6 Questions

Q1.
A person's perspective is their...
personality
background
Correct answer: viewpoint
ambition
Q2.
In 'Frankenstein', whose perspective is the animation of the monster narrated from?
Robert Walton's
The Creature's
Henry Clerval's
Anonymous third-person narrator
Correct answer: Victor Frankenstein's
Q3.
In 'Frankenstein', why is Victor so disgusted with his creation?
because it behaves aggressively towards him
because it resembles his late mother
Correct answer: because he finds it repulsive and hideous to look at
because it is a failed experiment
because it lacks intelligence and manners
Q4.
In 'Frankenstein', what does Shelley's use of the word "wretch" show us about Victor's feelings towards his creation?
his love and affection for it
Correct answer: his disgust and repulsion
his sympathy and care
his confusion and bewilderment
his indifference to it
Q5.
In 'Frankenstein', Shelley uses the colour black when describing the Creature. What does Shelley's use of the colour 'black' suggest about the Creature?
It suggests that the Creature is disturbed psychologically.
It suggests that the Creature is happy - like the sunshine.
Correct answer: It suggests that the Creature is decaying - like a living corpse.
It suggests that the Creature is full of life and vitality.
It suggests that the Creature is valuable.
Q6.
Which quotations from 'Frankenstein' suggest that the Creature is starved of vitality, like a living corpse?
"pearly whiteness"
Correct answer: "shrivelled complexion"
"straight lips"
"horrid contrast"
Correct answer: "watery eyes"