Shelley's Central Themes
 

Based on your reading, class lectures and discussions, and the answers to study questions etc., list four or five main themes covered in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.  State each as a "claim" or "reason": a declarative assertion of truth.

 

For each of these, describe how it is represented: cite specific significant examples for each: who, what, where, when etc. and/or what specific symbolism does Shelley use to convey the theme? (cite pages, quotes etc.)

Compare: Whale's Central Themes
 

In comparison to Bride of Frankenstein, for each of the above, discuss:

 

a) Whether or not this theme is covered in Whale's film.

 

b) If so, how it is represented: cite significant examples: who, what, where, when etc.

 

c) If so, how is it treated and or represented similarly or differently?

Contrast: Whale's Changes to the Dramatic Elements

 

Now list and describe significant additional changes to plot, character, theme etc that Whale introduces.

Evaluate The Differences

 

Keeping in mind that the film was produced for a 1935 movie theater audience, for each of these changes, discuss:

 

a) Whether the change improved or detracted from Shelley's original vision and work

 

b) How the change perhaps altered your own or the current pop culture understanding of the Frankenstein myth.  What elements of Whale's film are missing in Shelley's novel but common in our common retelling of this myth?

Final Evaluation

 

Considering the massive impact this myth -- mostly based on Whale's revisions -- has had on our cultural perceptions and conceptions, how would you revise this myth in a film to either:

 

a) More closely represent Shelley's original vision?

 

b) More closely represent your own vision of these moral issues?