Why is Walton going to the North Pole? How do his motives compare
with those of the mariners in Coleridge's poem?
39:
Why does Victor decide to tell Walton his story?
44:
Is Elizabeth really intended to be a present for Victor? Explain.
(See also 49).
52:
When Victor says, "I was required to exchange chimeras of boundless
grandeur for realities of little worth" (52), what does he mean?
58:
What appears to be Victor's main motivation at this point?
Why does Victor refer to his laboratory as a "workshop of filthy creation"
(58)?
61:
Explain the significance of the dream Victor has on the night of his
"success."
74-75:
Describe the MOOD Shelley develops in her description of the SETTING
of Geneva.
75:
Why does Victor decide not to tell anyone about the creature?
How does he compare to the Ancient Mariner at this point? (See also 79)
76:
Why does Victor call the creature "my own vampire, my own spirit released
from the grave"(76)? What does that mean?
80:
How strong is the case against Justine?
81:
How well does Justine defend herself in the face of the evidence against
her?
83-84:
Has Justine killed William? Why does she confess?
Other Discussion Questions: 41:
Victor says that "the circumstances of his [father's] marriage illustrate
his [father's] character" (41). What exactly is illustrated about
Alphonse's character in this part of the story?
43:
How exactly does Elizabeth Lavenza become Victor's "sister"?
46:
What is Natural Philosophy?
Why does Victor get into Agrippa?
50:
Explain: "The time at length arrives, when grief is rather an
indulgence than a necessity" (50).
53:
What are keys and chords? Are these appropriate metaphors here?
56:
When Victor says, "To examine the causes of life, we must first have
recourse to death"(56), what does he mean?
57:
Explain: "Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my
example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge" (57).
59:
Explain: "A human being in perfection ought always to preserve
a calm and peaceful mind, and never allow passion or a transitory desire
to disturb his tranquility" (59).
61:
Explain: "It became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived"
(61).
64:
What is the nature of Victor's illness?
66:
Why is Elizabeth discussing the different class distinctions in Geneva,
France, and England?
68:
Why does it fatigue Victor, even after several months of recovery time,
to write a letter?
69:
Why does Clerval want to become a master of oriental languages?
74:
Why is Victor so anxious about returning home?
75:
When Victor says, "The mere presence of the idea was an irresistible
proof of the fact"(75), what is he referring to? What does he mean?
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