Frankenstein Invades AP Literature
ap literature...where monsters are made...
Understandings
- When we don't take responsibility for our actions, we can impact others, possibly even on a global level.
- Victor's lack of compassion for his creation causes the monster to seek revenge and cuts it off from any love or compassion it might have felt.
- Scientific advancement can help us learn and prolong our lives, but when it clashes with moral issues and compromises our principles and our humanity, it is harmful.
- This novel offers no answer to the question of the relationship between creator and creation; it can be a seen as metaphor for man's relationship to God, in which case, God is indifferent at best and cruel at worst. The novel does serve as a springboard to discuss such issues.
- The relationship between nature and nurture is complex and remains the focus of debate as research shows both to be important in determining various aspects of humanity.
Essential Questions
- What consequences do we face when we don't take responsibility for our actions?
- How can scientific advancement and exploration be both good and bad?
- What is the relationship and responsibility between creator and creation?
- What is the relationship between nature and nurture? Which is more important?
- ™ What is the ethical relationship between creator and creation? ™
- How do writers structure their work to reflect their message? ™
- How is the feminist perspective demonstrated in Romanticism?
Expectations for your notes
Take some time to create your notes for Frankenstein. These notes must be consistent with discussions in class. You must include background and author details as well as literary details.
Other details to include in your notes throughout this unit of study:
- Title analysis—provide explanation of the title
- Major themes of the work—write themes in sentence form—Select 3 major themes.
- Provide plenty of support from the novel for each theme and explain how the support
develops this theme. Your support needs to come from the entire novel.
- Provide plenty of support from the novel for each theme and explain how the support
- Two Symbols—explain the meaning and relate it to meaning of the novel-provide support with the page numbers
- One Motif—explain the meaning and relate to the meaning novel/play-provide support with the page numbers
- One Allusion—Be able to discuss why the author has chosen this allusion-provide pages from novel
- Development of one main character—this is not merely a description—Your emphasis
is character development. This must be in outline/bullet form.- Be sure to cover the following:
- What is the character’s function or position in the story?
- Does the character change? If so, how and why? If not—discuss
- What motivates the character?
- What are conflicts and how do conflicts
develop the character? - How are the conflicts resolved?
- How does the character help to communicate the theme of the story?
- What other characters influence the character and how?
- Be sure to cover the following:
Styles of Notes
Type 1 annotations as you read
Type 1 Graphic Organizer
Dialectical Journal/ 2 Column Notes/Cornell Notes
- Left column contains important people, vocabulary, quotes
- Right column includes characterizations, definitions, commentary
Book Drum- an interactive companion for reading Frankenstein
Links to Resources
Link to Mary Shelley Biography
->E-text of Frankenstein (1818)
"Prometheus" by Lord Byron- read, annotate, type 1 notes- see what annotations are already available through the sight
->Commentary, Background and Allusions
->The Rime of the Ancient Mariner- as you read the poem, also read the highlighted annotations for each of the lines. Take type 1 notes
->The Victorian Web- a resource for your blogging!
->Disease and the Industrial Revolution
->BBC History-Victorian Medicine
->Public Health in the 19th Century
->List of Critical Essays *COMPREHENSIVE*
please click on Critical Commentary
Your INDEPENDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Your Responsibilities During This Unit
->keep to the Frankenstein reading schedule- see calendar
->complete the Frankenstein Study Guide Questions- see document in Schoology
->read through each of the resource links below***
->read a critical essay of your choice related to Mary Shelley and/or Frankenstein and write a Critical Essay Analysis- see requirements below***
->ONGOING- Vocabulary
Critical Analysis Essay
For guidance in writing a critical analysis essay, go HERE!
Assignment Description: For this assignment you are asked to complete a literary analysis on an Essential Question as it relates to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This question is one of your choice. Review the examples of Essential Questions as listed at the top of this document.
- You are to locate at least 3 sources on your topic. Half of your sources must be journal articles or books. You may use credible web sites as well as interviews.
- You are to write a 4 -6 page (1000-1500 words) critical analysis based on the sources you have selected.
- Papers should include relevant vocabulary and varying sentence structures as studied within this unit.
- Papers must comply with MLA (Modern Language Association) citation style throughout. Please explore Purdue University’s OWL website for style guidelines.
- Papers must be written in formal writing style.
- Print your paper PRIOR to coming to class.
- No late papers, please!
Due date: TBD