Frankenstein: Slave

       In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Victor becomes a slave to his work.  This is a common theme with an underlying theme that Victor never asked "should I be doing this"?  Because Victor becomes a slave to his work, the role of creator and master is also flipped.  The creature has control of Victor's life.  Also Victor became so engrossed with his original attempts and creating let his physical and mental health decline.  This was probably a factor in him becoming ill after the monster was originally created.  Victor focuses on whether he can create life or not.  He never thinks about whether he "should" be creating life.  The creature even says, " 'Slave, I before reasoned with you, but you have proved yourself unworthy of my condescension.  Remember that I have power; you believe yourself miserable, but I can make you so wretched that the light of day will be hateful to you.  You are my creator, but I am you master--obey'!"  (Shelley, 122).  The creature has to tell Victor that he has been engrossed in his work and that it is not always the bright side.

Frankenstein: Health

       In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Victor's health is very fragile.  He has very varying times of healthiness and sickness.  One psychological aspect of Victor's illnesses stem from seeing the creature.  When he first creates the creature he becomes sick and when he sees the creature again while creating the female he becomes sick.  Victor has a very fragile psychological side. He is easily distraught and caused to become very sick.  Once he saw the hand marks on Henry Clerval's neck he knew who the killer was and then he became ill once again.  Victor says, " 'The human frame could no longer support the agonies that I endured, and I was carried out of the room in strong convulsions'," (Shelley, 129).  This is Victor admitting his fragile health state.  This theme of mental health is carried throughout the book by Victor becoming sick at very shocking moments.

Frankenstein: Characters/Frame Stories

       In Frankenstein Mary Shelley uses the characterization of some characters to tell the story of others.  The use of Safie's background helps explain why the creature has so much hope in the possibility of the cottagers accepting him and how he became so literate and articulate.  Safie's background frame story also explains why she is at the cottage.  Because Felix saves Safie's father, her father promises Safie to Felix.  This is why Safie eventually comes to the cottage.  Because she cannot speak the language, Felix and his sister and father teach Safie how to speak French and write.  This is why the creature learned to talk.  Also since the family was accepting someone different from themselves, the creature felt hope that they might accept him too, since he is so different.  " 'My days were spent in close attention, that I might more speedily master the language; and I may boast that I improved more rapidly than the Arabian...' " (Shelley, 84).  The monster was describing his learning experiences to Victor in this scene.  He was able to learn because of Safie coming.  Shelley gives the reader this information through Safie and the DeLacey's frame story.

Frankenstein: Parallelism of Victor and Creature's Lives

       In Shelley's novel Frankenstein, Victor and the creature have very parallel lives and emotions.  When Victor became sick the first time in the late fall and winter of the first year of the creature's life, the creature was struggling to find shelter and food.  While the creature is making plans to talk to the cottagers and when he is learning a great deal, Victor is recovering from his illness and getting his life back together.  He tries to go back home but is unable to do so because of the weather.  At the same time the creature is getting ready to talk to the cottagers and then he does and his plan fails.  Both characters experience excitement  and happiness at the same time.  " '...he dashed me to the ground and struck me violently with a stick.  I could have torn him limb from limb, as the lion rends the antelope.  But my heart sunk within me as with bitter sickness, and I refrained'," (Shelley, 97).  This quote is the creature describing what happened when the cottagers started attacking.  The creature is in distress because he was rejected once again.  He feels lonely and upset.  Victor also feels lonely and upset because he cannot see his family.

Frankenstein: Knowledge

       In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, knowledge has a significant role in not only the development of characters but also thematic topics as well.  The creature learns all he knows from books and through observing the cottagers.  Through this type of learning he learns how to read, write, and speak the language.  Although the more the creature knows the more miserable he becomes.  He learns how different he is from humans and the more he then hates his life.  He eventually learns that humanity cannot love him.  " '...but I was wretched, helpless, and alone.  Many Times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition; for often, like him, when I viewed the bliss of my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me'," (Shelley, 92).  This was said by the creature when he was still observing the cottagers and learning through books.  The more he learned about the cottagers and about humanity, the more he hated himself and wanted to be human.  The knowledge the creature attains makes him very unhappy with his life.

Frankenstein: Imagery

        Mary Shelley actively uses imagery throughout her well-known novel Frankenstein.  She uses imagery to make the reader see exactly what she meant for them to imagine.  Shelley uses imagery to her advantage when describing new areas and scenes and when describing the creation of the monster.  One spot in particular where Shelley uses imagery is when Frankenstein reaches a new area on his journey.  He describes it as this, "The abrupt sides of vast mountains were before me; the icy wall of the glacier overhung me; a few shattered pines were scattered around; and the solemn silence of this glorious presence-chamber of imperial Nature was broken only by the brawling waves or the fall of some vast fragment..." (Shelley, 66).  This vivid imagery paints a distinct picture for the reader.  It helps the reader see the mountains and valleys through Frankenstein's eyes and experience what he did.

Frankenstein: Diction

       Mary Shelley uses a definite type of diction in her novel Frankenstein.  She uses a high level of vocabulary and is subtle when revealing new items of information.  She uses the language of her time, and the time the story was written.  This language is very formal, although her novel is still easily understood.  The monster especially communicates in heightened language.  He does this more so than some of the other characters.  The monster talks as if from another time.  " 'Thus I relieve thee, my creator,' he said, and placed his hated hands before my eyes, which I flung from me with violence; 'this I take from thee a sight which you abhor'," (Shelley, 70).  The creature talks in a more formal language than Frankenstein and seems to have learned this speech from reading Shakespeare or other literary works.  Shelley uses this diction to describe in detail the scenes.

Frankenstein: Text vs. Folklore

       Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has influenced many scary stories, movies, books, and ideas with her novel.  There are many myths about the creature Frankenstein created.  Probably the biggest is the thought that Frankenstein was the monster's name.  Frankenstein was actually the creator's name.  Many people believe that the monster was green, had scars and stitches, had a square head, had bolts coming out of his head, and had some human characteristics.  In reality Frankenstein described the monster as, "...yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of pearly whiteness...his shriveled complexion and straight black lips," (Shelley,35).  This excerpt describes the physical aspects of the monster.  Another folklore aspect of the monster is that he had no emotions; in the original story he had very human emotions and desires, such as companionship and acceptance.  In the movies the creator is depicted as an evil scientist who screams "It's alive!" at the creation of the monster.  In the original, Frankenstein is appalled and disgusted with his creation and fears anyone finding out.  Mary Shelley's novel influenced many different mediums.

Frankenstein: Frame Stories

       In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the use of various literary techniques is a very prominent feature throughout the novel.  One very influencing technique is the use of frame stories.  Shelley specifically uses this with three characters to separate their lives and tales.  Frankenstein tells his story to Walton creating a story within the situation of Frankenstein being on Walton's ship.  Frankenstein says, "...that he would commence his narrative the next day..." (Shelley, 13).  He thus tells Walton the stories of his misfortunes.  Later in the novel the creature tells his life story, so far, to Frankenstein.  He does this so Frankenstein may choose whether to kill the creature or to do his duty for him as his creator.  Shelley uses frame stories to further enhance her writing.

Frankenstein: Knowledge(Theme)

       In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, she uses several different topics as themes to characterize the characters and help explain why they do certain things.  One significant topic she uses is that of knowledge.  The acquiring of knowledge is the main connection between the main characters in the novel.  Those characters thus far being Victor Frankenstein, the creature, and Robert Walton.  They all search and long for knowledge.  Robert Walton searches for the knowledge of the workings of the compass and a safe passage to the North Pole.  Frankenstein searched for the knowledge of the secret of life.  "A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me," (Shelley, 32).  Frankenstein confided this to Walton when telling the story of his fate.  The Creature itself is learning how to be more human-like.  It is teaching itself how to talk and behave like a human.  There is an arcing of the thirst for knowledge throughout the novel thus-far.

"APO 96225" by Larry Rottman: Irony

       In Larry Rottman's "APO 96225" he uses irony as the main literary tool in the poem.  At first the mother understands that everything is not great in her son's life and begs him to tell her the truth.  After he tells her the truth the father tells him not to tell his mother things that would upset her.  The letter that upset the man's mother said this, " 'Today I killed a man.  Yesterday, I helped drop napalm on women and children," (Rottman, 846).  The mother getting upset exemplifies the fact that sometimes ignorance is bliss.  Sometimes it is better to not know the truth than to find out how horrible it is.  This irony is used to show the man's loneliness and his lack of support.  It also shows american viewpoint on the Vietnam war.  This viewpoint was that it was unnecessary and that the troops should be brought back home.  

"Much Madness is divinest Sense" by Emily Dickinson: Paradox

       In the poem, "Much Madness is divinest Sense" by Emily Dickinson,  there is a large paradox.  This paradox is stated at the beginning of the poem, but it takes over the entirety of the poem.  The "discerning Eye" (Dickinson, 830) is the person who is intelligent and who pays close attention to details.  This type of person sees insanity as good sense.  But the speaker says that the majority believes that good sense is insane and unattainable.  Dickinson juxtaposes these two ideas to make a point and to tell the reader what she thinks.  Dickinson agrees with the first statement.  She puts emphasis on this paradox throughout the poem and especially the importance of the first statement.  Dickinson says the majority believes the latter statement.  She also juxtaposes assent and demur at the end of the poem.

"I felt a Funeral, in my Brain" by Emily Dickinson: Questions 2&3/Symbolism

       In Emily Dickinson's poem, "I felt a Funeral, in my Brain", the speaker uses symbolism to convey his or her feelings.  The speaker uses the aspects of a funeral and burial to help convey his or her emotions.  In the first stanza the people are coming or arriving at the speaker's funeral.  The second stanza symbolizes the service and the solemn tone of it.  The third stanza represents the pall bearers leading the casket out of the church or area.  In the fourth stanza the funeral procession bells ring and the casket is taken to another place.  In the last stanza the casket is lowered into the ground.  This can be deciphered by looking at the line "And I dropped down, and down-- And I hit a World, at every plunge..." (Dickinson, 776).  In the first three stanzas the speaker is most likely in a casket in a funeral home or church, imaginatively.

"Miss Brill" by Katherine Mansfield: Question 7/Characterization

       In Katherine Mansfield's short story "Miss Brill", the main character's, Miss Brill's, fur plays a significant role in the characterization of Miss Brill herself.  She talks to the fur and treats it as if it is human or an alive pet.  The fur seems to be her closest and dearest friend.  This causes the reader to believe that Miss Brill is actually very lonely.  She seems to have a very close connection and attachment to the fur, similar to this line, " She could have taken it off and laid it on her lap and stroked it," (Mansfield).  This intimates a very close bond between Miss Brill and the fur.  The meaning of the final sentence, "But when she put the lid on she thought she heard something crying," (Mansfield, 186) shows that Miss Brill truly believes that the fur is alive and has human qualities.  This makes her a very lonely person, if the only friend she really has is her fur.

"Bartleby, the Scrivener" by Herman Melville: Theme

       In Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener" the main theme is the effect of doing what is easiest.  Bartleby certainly does this by just responding, " 'I would prefer not to...' " (Melville, 650).   A number of reasons are possible for this ridiculous response.  Whether he is depressed, has O.C.D., or has autism, Bartleby certainly takes the easy way out when it comes to his work.  He simply refuses to do what he is told because that is the easier than actually doing it.  The lawyer then does the easier thing by leaving Bartleby alone and not pursuing him further.  Bartleby's preference for taking the easy way out illuminates the lawyer's silent preference for doing things the easy way.  In turn, the story is not about Bartleby, it is actually about the lawyer.  This is because the lawyer, who is also the narrator, realizes his own laziness through his experiences with Bartleby.  The theme of this story is the laziness or preference of doing things the easy way.