How Is Gothic Illustrated in Frankenstein Up to Chapter 11

How is the gothic illustrated in Frankenstein up to chapter 11? The gothic genre has many defining qualities and features, and as a gothic novel, Frankenstein (or the Modern Prometheus) exhibits some of these traits. However, due to the time period in which it was written by Mary Shelley there are also many features of Romanticism apparent in the novel, such as the emphasis on the beauty and restorative powers of nature in chapters 8 and 9. Therefore it is questionable which aspects of the Gothic genre are to be found within Frankenstein. An immediate and notable feature of the gothic genre is the aspect of using multiple writers, or narrators. This is shown through the epistolary form at the start of the novel, and gives the audience†¦show more content†¦This is useful as it helps illustrate how the creation of the monster has consumed and isolated Victor Frankenstein. An important feature of gothic is the horror and terror seen within the text. The two were differentiated by Anne Radcliffe who suggests that terror relies on subtle sugg estion which results in the creation of tension and fear, whilst horror is direct and explicit and causes instant fear. A good example of terror is an example of the pathetic fallacy used at the start of chapter 5, during the creation of the monster. It is described as a ‘dreary night of November’ and that the ‘rain pattered dismally against the panes’. This slowly builds tension and helps portray a sense of foreboding. Examples of horror include the ‘yellow eye’ of the monster as it infers decay and the ‘grave worms crawling in the folds of the flannel’ in Victor’s dream about his mother. These features of gothic would have been especially effective on a Victorian audience, as they were not often confronted with this sort of imagery, whereas it can be argued overexposure has caused modern audiences to be less sensitive, or desensitized, to this kind of content. Separate from geography and location is nature in general, a ve ry important aspect of gothic. As it has already beenShow MoreRelatedReview of Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Essay1515 Words   |  7 PagesReview of Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelley and published in 1818. The story tells the tale of Victor Frankenstein who creates a creature out of different body parts. Somehow, the creature, who was createdRead MoreFrankenstein by Mary Shelley Essay3112 Words   |  13 PagesFrankenstein by Mary Shelley FRANKENSTEIN ‘Frankenstein is full of ideas and warnings which are relevant to a modern audience.’ -Discuss the enduring appeal of the novel. Introduction: Despite being over a century old, Mary Shelleys Frankenstein has continued to hold public interest for nearly two hundred years. The novel was published 1818 and is one of the most acclaimed gothic stories in the history of literature. It has remained a firm