Week 8: Frankenstein: Chapter 5 analysis peer review, ambiguity and the unreliable narrator
Mr. Hendrick
Mr. Hendrick
Mr. Hendrick
Mr. Hendrick
Atlanta Jade Taguiang
Georgia Barton-Daly
Alexandra Paz
Nicola San Lorenzo
A02.3 A02.3
In chapter 5, Mary Shelly evidently expresses
her novelty by the wide selection of contrasting and consist use of linguistic
devices. The choice of language plays a momentous role throughout the novel, specifically
to chapter 5 as it is effectively portrayed to explore profoundly on the topic
Gothic Genre, this is pacifically designed to unearth deeper issues within the
story, and for example she endures the question of what it is to be human. Mary Shelly strong language is heavily influenced by her own personal
opinions and the selection of language portrayed in “Frankenstein” evidently
shows manipulative skills towards reader
and challenges the role of God, Mary
Shelly bombards the reader with of horrific images to convey Victor state of mind and madness this is
underlined by the repetitive use of fractured syntax that is used to portray a sense of anxiety and unease, an alternative
example of how Mary Shelly uses language to successfully convey Victor insanity
is by presenting linguistic devices such as binary opposition, “his hair was
lustrous black”, “his teeth was of pearly whiteness” and “straight black lips” the reference of binary opposition has a vast
impact as it threatens Victorian readers because the monster is being described
as if it is human, this has a horrid disparity on the reader as it also
includes a distinctive contrast as it refers to lips as straight and black
which immediately creates an illusion of death and anemic, the instantly explains
and clarifies that the monster was created out of decay and destruction, suggesting
the peak of elation with a mixture of disappointment. Another linguistic example of a how Mary Shelly investigates the
notion of typical gothic genre is how Shelly present the introduction of the
chapter, “It was a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of
my toils” the use of pathetic fallacy suggest that something horrific and unexpected
will occur later on in the story, as a reader the portrayal of the atmosphere such as “dreary” implies the night is lonesome
and demoralizing, this forms feelings such as suspense and anxiety.
Eugenie Abena Tete-Donkor
Kishma Daniel
How does Mary Shelley use language to create effect in chapter 5?
Mary Shelley explores a variety of language to create an atmosphere of horror and gloom in chapter 5 of ‘Frankenstein’. The use of language shifts Victor’s initial hypotheses of making new life into that of reality without full control or understanding into the depth of what he has done leaving him to deal with the consequences. This could be seen as a way to make other scientists aware of what could happen if they tried to interfere with nature almost like a warning.
The chapter starts straight away with the sense of Gothic imagery; it is a ‘dreary night’. This is a stereotypical way to set the scene of a horror as it brings across darkness and terror of the unknown. It almost gives the reader a sense of knowing something bad is going to happen, but doesn't give away too much as into what that something is. Mary Shelley then explores the use of long sentences. This could represent Victors mind as you can see that he can barely contain and control is excitement.
The uses of rhetorical question “How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavored to form?”, directly confronts the reader , it evokes a sense of madness and desperation almost as if he is looking to us for an answer to his new founded problem.
In the second group of chapter 5 Shelley exaggerates Victor’s strong obsession with creating new life that at the time he didn’t stop to think about the consequences of what he was doing. He didn’t think about how risky it was and was it worth doing. The “creation of the monster” could be seen as Gods punishment for Victor for messing with nature. When Frankenstein has a dream he see’s Elizabeth, as he is about to kiss her she turns into a dead corpse. The use of negative description to describe the scene after that could be Victor’s initial fear of death. Dreams are known as the connection to the human subconscious, and the dreamer’s deepest desires going back to their childhood. This conveys the significance of dreams in this chapter as Mary Shelley came up with Frankenstein in her dreams. When the monster comes in the room to go to Frankenstein he reaches out to him. This could come across as ambiguous because you are not sure as to whether the monster wants to reach out to Frankenstein in a loving way as a ‘son’ to a father or in a way that would hurt him.
Taslima Begum
Elaine Espinosa
Mr. Hendrick
Well, there is not that much wrong with that sentence, but a more concise one would be better. Something like...
In this chapter, Shelley explores the potentially disastrous consequences of playing with nature.
Mr. Hendrick
However some of your phrasing needs work. for example this phrase is a little bit 'GCSE':
This helps the scene to create suspense and to engage the audience with dramatic tension.
Can you think of a better way to phrase this?
Mr. Hendrick
Also dont use the colloquial word 'vibe' in a formal essay.
Mr. Hendrick
Mr. Hendrick
You need better analytical phrases for this kind of analysis. Try to collect some examples of better analytical phrases.
Mr. Hendrick
Mary Shelly bombards the reader with of horrific images to convey Victor state of mind and madness this is underlined by the repetitive use of fractured syntax that is used to portray a sense of anxiety and unease, an alternative example of how Mary Shelly uses language to successfully convey Victor insanity is by presenting linguistic devices such as binary opposition, “his hair was lustrous black”, “his teeth was of pearly whiteness” and “straight black lips” the reference of binary opposition has a vast impact as it threatens Victorian readers because the monster is being described as if it is human, this has a horrid disparity on the reader as it also includes a distinctive contrast as it refers to lips as straight and black which immediately creates an illusion of death and anemic, the instantly explains and clarifies that the monster was created out of decay and destruction, suggesting the peak of elation with a mixture of disappointment.
Mr. Hendrick
Mr. Hendrick
There is a lot of mistakes like this. How could these sentences be improved?
it the choice of the word ‘desired’ is significant because it highlights..
Mary Shelley uses fragmented syntax ‘Beautiful!—Great God!’ this is represents victor’s state of mind and how he has become mad obsessed and unstable
There is some good work here, but the writing is too messy. Go through the essay again and 'correct' it yourself now to see how it can be improved.
Abdul Hafiz
How does Mary Shelley use language to create effect in chapter 5?
and resentfulness portrayed by the monster which was created with
plenitude amount of passion and enthusiasm. “How can I describe my
emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with
symbolises his passion for his work, it shows a binary opposition as
he had “infinite pains and care” for the monster which he was to
create and “infuse a spark to something lifeless”. The binary
opposition foreshadows that something negative is inevitable as the
care is opposed by infinite pain. When victor had reached his goal,
Mary Shelley emphasises how dreadful and terrific the situation had
become by repeatedly alliterating Victors shock and despair towards
his creation. “Beautiful. Beautiful—Great God” Victors desperation is
shown as he resorts to his god and religion for help, this symbolises
how horrific this experience was, it directly presents to the reader
what evil, monstrous and hell risen of a “spark” he had created.
Shelley symbolises lack of hope from the candle light in victors room.
'My candle light nearly burnt out'. This represents how victors dreams
and wishes had nearly faded out similarly to the light of the candle,
he hope had nearly extinguished just as the candle was about to. It
seems that he is in a hopeless place regretting what he had created,
symbolising the imagery of the candle, readers will picture the nearly
burnt out candle showing them how horrified victor is, how it
represents the feelings victor is going through.
Victors dream symbolises how dreadful, wretched and twisted the
situation had become.'saw Elizabeth, in the bloom of health, walking
in the streets of Ingolstadt. Delighted and surprised, I embraced her;
but as I imprinted the first kiss on her lips, they became livid with
the hue of death; her features appeared to change, and I thought that
I held the corpse of my dead mother in my arms; a shroud enveloped her
form, and I saw the grave-worms crawling in the folds of the
flannel'.This symmetrically symbolises the exact situation victor is
in, victor had positively been working on his creation like how he
embraced Elizabeth in his dream, however it had turned into his
mother, ' her features changed' just like the dreams, the hopes and
ambition of victors work had changed altogether providing the reader
with a horrific image of all hope lost.