Frankenstein (Chapters 1-8)

Chapter One:

• Victor seems to have come from a happy, wealthy family background... 'one of the most distinguished'. Seems to respect his father very highly and what he has acheived? Maybe Victor's ambition stems from wanting to be as successful as his father?
• Gothic nature introduced- Death. (Caroline's father).
• His family adopted Elizabeth and introduces the idea of making somebody to fit their surrondings as she was from a poor family. 'Noble Savage'?
• Possession as a theme? Describes Elizabeth as being like a 'favourite animal'.
• Victor's favourite books aren't founded on scientific evidence, so aren't respected in the scientific world. 'sad trash'. But sparks the start of his dream to create life. 'My dreams were therefore undisturbed by reality'.
• Introduced to Henry Clerval.

Chapter Two:

• Victor is sent to university- parents encouraged him.
• Victor's mother dies, yet another death so soon in the novel.
• 'we could not tear ourselves away from each other'- Victor shows how he desperately wanted to remain with his family and friends (companionship).

Chapter Three:

• Victor's fascination with human form (or any animal's structure). Seems a bit obsessive over his dream of creating life. 'I was thus engaged, heart and soul, in one pursuit'.
• Grim tone, as Victor goes to 'charnel houses' and the thoughts of using dead matter to construct this creation. 'dissecting room... slaughter-house'.
• His enthusiasm and obsession in his creation made him 'like a hurricane'. Destructive element of his nature implied?
• Loss of morality? Tortures living animals to help his work progress. 'tortured the living animal to animate the lifeles clay'.
• Even Victor seems to understand how his creation is grim. 'filthy creation'. 'turn with loathing from my occupation'. He is controlled by his ambition and enthusiasm, despite appearing to dislike what his is doing.

Chapter Four:

• 'dreary night of November'. Weather foreshadowing how things are to turn out? Gothic element.
• 'anxiety that almost amounted to agony'. Victor has now taken a complete turn aound from his rational self earlier on in the novel. He now seems scared.
• Terrifying description of the creature. 'horror and disgust'. After all his work, is scared and disgusted by the outcome.
• Dream about Elizabeth and his dead mother suggests his mind is not settled? Insanity? Gothic element of nightmares and dreams.
• Pity for the creature, as he tries to smile at Victor, but in Victor's mental state, he completely misinterprets the smile.
• 'nervous fever'- Victor is now suffering for his work.

Chapter Five:

• Elizabeth writes letters to Victor, she clearly cares for him. Taking on a motherly role?
• Introduced to Justine- she was taken from her home as well, and it didn't end well!
• Mention of William makes his death even more tragic- he is portrayed as angellic.
• Ends chapter on a happy note- is this to last? 'unbridled joy and hilarity'.

Chapter Six:

• Shock for the reader in that William is dead! Terrible crime, as he was only a child. 'that sweet child, whose smiles delighted and warmed my heart'. Death again touches Victor.
• Elizabeth feels guilt- she feels she is responsible for his death.
• Victor find comfort in nature. '...the calm and heavenly scene restored me'. Romantic element, use of emblematic language.
• More emblematic language- 'noble war in the sky'. Symbolic language.
• References to hell (Gothic element). 'daemon'.
• 'I resolved to remain silent'. Fear of the consequences he should face if anybody found out about him being responsible for the creature.

Chapter Seven:

• Victors shows he knows he is responsible. 'the result of my curiosity and lawless devices would cause the death of two of my fellow-beings'.
• Use of emotive language shows the extent of the guilt Victor is feeling. 'the fangs of remose tore at my bosom'
• Foreshadowing. 'these are not your last tears! Again you shall raise the funeral wail!' More misery to come!