Why does Elizabeth regret "that she had not the same opportunities of
enlarging her experience, and cultivating her understanding" (125)?
129:
What does he mean, "In Clerval I saw the image of my former self" (129)?
134:
Explain what Victor means when he says that he was "hardly thanked for
the pittance of food and clothes which I gave, so much does suffering blunt
even the coarsest sensations of men" (134).
136:
Explain: "Future ages might curse me as their pest" (136).
Compare with Victor's related statement about future generations on page
37.
Why does he destroy the female creature? Were you surprised that he
did? Why or Why not?
157:
Explain: "As if possessed by magical powers, the creature blinded me
to his real intentions" (157).
164:
Does the magistrate believe Victor's story? Why do you say so?
181:
Explain Victor's final words to Walton.
182:
Why does Walton call on the creature to stay?
183:
Explain: "I was the slave, not the master of an impulse, which I detested,
yet could not disobey!" (183). How well could this quote apply to
Victor, as well?
186:
Do you think the creature is really going to kill himself? Explain.
Other Discussion Questions:
122:
Why does Victor take "refuge in the most perfect solitude" (122)?
123:
When, discussing his engagement to Elizabeth, Victor says, "My future
hopes and prospects are entirely bound up in the expectation of our union"
(123), does he mean it? Explain.
How old is Victor at this point? Why would his be an "early marriage"
(123)?
When Victor says, "I was bound by a solemn promise" (123), to whom does
he mean? Elizabeth? The Creature?
Why is Victor "delighted with the idea of spending a year or two. .
. in absence from my family" (123)? Hasn't he just returned to them?
127:
What does Victor mean when he says that Clerval was "a being formed
in the 'very poetry of nature'" (127)?
128:
Why does Victor go to London?
131:
What does he mean, "I am a blasted tree" (131)? (cf. 26, 69, 181)
132:
When Victor says, "I was guiltless, but I had drawn down a horrible
curse upon my head, as mortal as that of a curse" (132), what does he mean?
Is this assertion consistent with his earlier discussions?
137:
Explain what the creature means: "You are my creator, but I am your
master--obey!" (137).
138:
Explain: "I shall be with you on your wedding day" (138). What does
Victor think it means?
140:
Explain: "I almost felt as if I had mangled the living flesh of a human
being" (140).
143:
Compare the accusation of Victor for Clerval's murder with Justine's
for William's.
145:
Explain: "Her countenance expressed all those bad qualities which often
characterize that class" (145).
149:
Why is Victor acquitted? Who "proves" his innocence?
152:
Explain Victor's discussion about "sacrificing" the human race.
155:
Why will Victor tell Elizabeth everything the day after they
get married?
154,155,156:
Why does Victor keep quoting the monster's threat?
158:
Why doesn't Victor describe the actual wedding ceremony?
160:
Explain: "This night, and all will be safe; but this night is dreadful,
very dreadful" (160). Does Victor know/care how this probably sounds
to his bride on their wedding night?
Why does this guy keep fainting?
161:
Why does no one accuse him of this murder, when he is supposed
to be the only one there?
162:
Explain: "Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden
change" (162). How does this compare with Victor's discussion of his response
to his mother's death (28)?
163:
When Victor says, "Cursed, cursed be the fiend that brought misery on
his grey hairs!" (163), whom is he cursing?
167:
Who provides the food to Victor as he pursues the creature? See
also 168.
168:
Why does the creature leave marks on the trees?
Why is the creature headed to the frozen North?
172:
Why does Victor ask Walton to get his revenge for him if he dies?
173:
Why does Victor correct Walton's notes?
179:
Why does Walton decide to return south? Why does he call this
decision an "injustice"? Does Victor agree with his decision?
180:
What, according to Victor, was his duty to his creature? Why couldn't
he fulfill it?
184:
Why, according to the creature, is he worse off than Satan?
Explain: "For whilst I destroyed his hopes, I did not satisfy my own
desires" (184).
Go
to Vol. 1 Q's
