An epistle is a letter. Shelley chooses to introduce her novel through a series of letters from Robert Walton to his sister. What was your initial reaction to the novel beginning this way? Why would Shelley choose to tell her story through this lens? Think about the different narrators in the story--we are being told the story by Walton in his letters, who is retelling the story that Victor Frankenstein first told him. How does this affect the story? How would the novel be different if it had been told through someone else's point of view?
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Responses should be at least 200 words each.
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*and remember, this is a blog--write with good English and use your inner intellectual, but speak casually!
Austin Koch - Question 1 Frankenstein
ReplyDeleteFrankenstein is told is a very unique way indeed. As I read through the book, I thought it made it a little more interesting and more fun to read since it was in letters. The way the story is written through the letters almost makes it seem even more realistic because of the reality of the protagonists sharing their thoughts with one another. I believe Shelley told the story this way because it is more unique, interesting, and allows it to make an easier picture in your mind about the monster you hear about throughout the story. Frankenstein’s story is told through the written letters by Walton to his sister. This book is also a bit confusing due to it basically being a story within a story within a story. Walton is telling everyone his story from his point of view, while Victor’s is told being how he created the monster, and so on, and then the monster’s story is also told within this story. Although it is mostly told through Walton’s point of view. This novel would be a lot more boring if it was told through someone else’s eyes. Walton’s letters make it what it is.
My initial reaction the the novel starting this way was confusion because of how many point of views their were. But as i read on it became more interesting. I believe Shelley told it this way to make the reader more interesting and to keep the story more in depth of the story which is Frankenstein. Since the story is told by so many point of views it affects the story in a big way. The story would be so different if Walton didnt tell his sister Margaret Saville. If the story was told through someone else then the true story of Fankenstein would be a mistery.
ReplyDeleteI was a little confused at first because I was having a hard time figuring out what was going during the first two letters. But after I started to understand things I thought it was a good way to write the book. I think Shelley decided to write the book this way because it was different. If it was written through Victor Frankenstein's point of view you wouldn't have known as much detail. Plus with the addition of Walden I feel it gives the reader more to think about, not only are thinking about the story of the monster, but also what Walden's actions after he hears the story will be considering it will have such an impact on his view of things.
ReplyDeletei was very confused. At first i thought it wasn't part of the book, that it was just letters Mary Shelley put in there about the book. So i at first skipped them<but the book wasn't making sense so i got an audio book to read a log with and it started with the letters so i released it was the book. The audio book was very helpful in that and that it kept me focused and i didn't get bored or destraced as easily. After finishing the letters it took me a bit to understand that the narrator had switched from Walden to Victor. Having Walden and Victor both as narrators was confusing a few times but, i believe it added something to the book being able to hear two peoples thoughts.
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