Frankenstein

## Discussion Questions: *Frankenstein* by Mary Shelley As you think about the novel, consider these questions and be ready to back up your answers with evidence from the text. 1. **Ambition & Responsibility:** Victor Frankenstein chases his scientific dreams without thinking about the fallout. When does ambition become a virtue, and when does it turn dangerous? Who is more morally responsible for the chaos in the novel — Victor or the Creature? 2. **Monstrosity & Humanity:** The Creature looks grotesque but shows deep emotional understanding and a longing for connection. What does the novel reveal about what truly defines a "monster"? How does society's judgment of appearance influence identity? 3. **Isolation & Belonging:** Both Victor and the Creature experience deep isolation. How does loneliness motivate each character's choices? What does Shelley suggest about the human need for companionship and community? 4. **The Ethics of Creation:** Victor abandons his creation right after giving it life. What responsibilities, if any, does a creator have toward their creation? How could this question be relevant today (e.g., in discussions about artificial intelligence or genetic engineering)? 5. **Nature vs. Nurture:** The Creature starts out innocent but turns violent after being rejected for years. Does the novel imply that people are more influenced by their inherent nature, or by their surroundings and experiences? Use specific scenes to support your response. 6. **Narrative Framing:** *Frankenstein* features multiple nested narrators (Walton, Victor, the Creature). How does this layered storytelling impact your trust in each narrator? Which perspective do you find most trustworthy, and why?

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## Discussion Questions: *Frankenstein* by Mary Shelley Consider these questions as you reflect on the novel. Be ready to back up your answers with evidence from the text. 1. **Ambition & Responsibility:** Victor Frankenstein pursues his scientific ambitions with great fervor, yet he avoids taking responsibility for what he has created. To what extent is Victor morally responsible for the chaos that ensues? At what point does ambition cross into recklessness? 2. **Monstrosity & Humanity:** The Creature shows empathy, a wish for connection, and an ability to learn—qualities we typically associate with being human. What does the novel imply about what really makes someone a "monster"? Is monstrosity determined by looks, actions, or circumstances? 3. **Isolation & Belonging:** Both Victor and the Creature experience deep isolation. How does the novel use their similar feelings of loneliness to comment on our inherent need for community and acceptance? 4. **The Prometheus Myth:** The novel's subtitle is *The Modern Prometheus*. In what ways does Victor resemble the mythological Prometheus? What caution might Shelley be conveying about the repercussions of “stealing fire,” whether that fire is literal or metaphorical? 5. **Nature vs. Nurture:** The Creature isn't born violent; he becomes that way after facing consistent rejection. Does the novel ultimately suggest that environment has a greater impact on character than innate nature? What evidence supports or challenges this perspective? 6. **Gender & Voice:** The female characters in the novel (Elizabeth, Justine, Safie's mother) are mostly passive or silenced. What might Shelley—who was a woman writing in a male-dominated literary world—be conveying about the roles and destinies of women in society? 7. **Creator & Creation:** The dynamic between Victor and his Creature mirrors the relationship between God and humanity (as depicted in John Milton's *Paradise Lost*, which the Creature reads). How does this parallel influence your understanding of each character's grievances and responsibilities?

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## Discussion Questions: *Frankenstein* by Mary Shelley Consider these questions as you reflect on the novel. Be ready to back up your responses with evidence from the text. 1. **Ambition & Responsibility:** Victor Frankenstein pursues his scientific ambitions with fervor but turns away from his creation the moment it comes to life. What does the novel suggest about the link between ambition and moral responsibility? Where does Victor truly fail — in creating the creature, or in abandoning it? 2. **Monstrosity:** Who, in your opinion, is the real "monster" in the story — Victor or his creature? How does Shelley use the creature's perspective to challenge our notions of what makes someone monstrous? 3. **Isolation & Belonging:** Both Victor and the creature experience deep isolation. How does each character's loneliness influence their actions? What does the novel suggest about the human desire for connection and community? 4. **Nature vs. Nurture:** The creature starts off innocent but is molded by rejection and cruelty. To what extent does Shelley argue that environment and experience — rather than innate nature — shape a person's character and behavior? 5. **The Prometheus Myth:** The novel's subtitle is *The Modern Prometheus*. In what ways does Victor reflect the mythological Prometheus? What caution might Shelley be offering about the risks of "stealing fire" — whether literally or metaphorically? 6. **Gender & Voice:** Female characters in the novel (Elizabeth, Justine, Caroline) are mostly passive and silenced. What might Shelley, as a woman writing in the early 19th century, be conveying about the roles assigned to women in society and storytelling? 7. **Science & Ethics:** Written at the beginning of modern science, *Frankenstein* raises questions that are still relevant today. How does the novel relate to current discussions about genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, or other emerging technologies? Are there boundaries to what science *should* pursue, even if it *can*?

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