Extended writing task:
Read the following extract from Chapter 10 and then answer the question that follows. In this extract,
Victor speaks to the creature for the first time.
‘Abhorred monster! Fiend that thou art! The tortures of hell are too mild a vengeance for thy
crimes. Wretched devil! You reproach me with your creation, come on, then, that I may
extinguish the spark which I so negligently bestowed.’
My rage was without bounds; I sprang on him, impelled by all the feelings which can arm one
being against the existence of another.
He easily eluded me and said,
‘Be calm! I entreat you to hear me before you give vent to your hatred on my devoted head.
Have I not suffered enough, that you seek to increase my misery? Life, although it may only be
an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it. Remember, thou hast made me
more powerful than thyself; my height is superior to thine, my joints more supple. But I will
not be tempted to set myself in opposition to thee. I am thy creature, and I will be even mild
and docile to my natural lord and king if thou wilt also perform thy part, the which thou owest
me. Oh, Frankenstein, be not equitable to every other and trample upon me alone, to whom
thy justice, and even thy clemency and affection, is most due. Remember that I am thy
creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy
for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was
benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous.’
‘Begone! I will not hear you. There can be no community between you and me; we are
enemies. Begone, or let us try our strength in a fight, in which one must fall.’
‘How can I move thee? Will no entreaties cause thee to turn a favourable eye upon thy
creature, who implores thy goodness and compassion? Believe me, Frankenstein, I was
benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone? You,
my creator, abhor me; what hope can I gather from your fellow creatures, who owe me
nothing? They spurn and hate me. The desert mountains and dreary glaciers are my refuge. I
have wandered here many days; the caves of ice, which I only do not fear, are a dwelling to
me, and the only one which man does not grudge. These bleak skies I hail, for they are kinder
to me than your fellow beings. If the multitude of mankind knew of my existence, they would
do as you do, and arm themselves for my destruction. Shall I not then hate them who abhor
me? I will keep no terms with my enemies. I am miserable, and they shall share my
wretchedness. Yet it is in your power to recompense me, and deliver them from an evil which
it only remains for you to make so great, that not only you and your family, but thousands of
others, shall be swallowed up in the whirlwinds of its rage. Let your compassion be moved, and
do not disdain me. Listen to my tale; when you have heard that, abandon or commiserate me,
as you shall judge that I deserve…’
Starting with this extract, write about how Shelley presents the importance of parental love.
Write about:
● how Shelley presents the importance of parental love in this extract
● how Shelley presents the importance of parental love in the novel as a whole.
, Parental love = the love and affection a parent shows their child.
Importance – something which is significant and required.
Plan:
Idea 1:
What is Shelley’s agenda (main idea) with regards to the importance of parental love within the extract?
Shelley believes that parental love is important because a parent’s attitude towards their children shapes and
changes them.
What quotation would you use to support your idea?
“I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend.”
How would you explode that quotation to show the importance of parental love within the extract? Dig into your
quotation at least three times. See if you can find a connecting quotation from the extract.
Noun
Adjective
He is evil because of his
- collects wood for the DeLacey family
loneliness - a lack of parental
- he was kind at first even though his love
‘hideous appearance
No parents to love and nurture
- saves a girl from drowning but gets shot - him - lonely - miserable - evil
misunderstood due to his appearance
“I was benevolent and good; misery
made me a fiend.”
Loneliness
can lead to
The use juxtaposition corruption
shows that the creature’s Creator is
is not entirely evil, responsible
because he was kind at
Read the following extract from Chapter 10 and then answer the question that follows. In this extract,
Victor speaks to the creature for the first time.
‘Abhorred monster! Fiend that thou art! The tortures of hell are too mild a vengeance for thy
crimes. Wretched devil! You reproach me with your creation, come on, then, that I may
extinguish the spark which I so negligently bestowed.’
My rage was without bounds; I sprang on him, impelled by all the feelings which can arm one
being against the existence of another.
He easily eluded me and said,
‘Be calm! I entreat you to hear me before you give vent to your hatred on my devoted head.
Have I not suffered enough, that you seek to increase my misery? Life, although it may only be
an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it. Remember, thou hast made me
more powerful than thyself; my height is superior to thine, my joints more supple. But I will
not be tempted to set myself in opposition to thee. I am thy creature, and I will be even mild
and docile to my natural lord and king if thou wilt also perform thy part, the which thou owest
me. Oh, Frankenstein, be not equitable to every other and trample upon me alone, to whom
thy justice, and even thy clemency and affection, is most due. Remember that I am thy
creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy
for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was
benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous.’
‘Begone! I will not hear you. There can be no community between you and me; we are
enemies. Begone, or let us try our strength in a fight, in which one must fall.’
‘How can I move thee? Will no entreaties cause thee to turn a favourable eye upon thy
creature, who implores thy goodness and compassion? Believe me, Frankenstein, I was
benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone? You,
my creator, abhor me; what hope can I gather from your fellow creatures, who owe me
nothing? They spurn and hate me. The desert mountains and dreary glaciers are my refuge. I
have wandered here many days; the caves of ice, which I only do not fear, are a dwelling to
me, and the only one which man does not grudge. These bleak skies I hail, for they are kinder
to me than your fellow beings. If the multitude of mankind knew of my existence, they would
do as you do, and arm themselves for my destruction. Shall I not then hate them who abhor
me? I will keep no terms with my enemies. I am miserable, and they shall share my
wretchedness. Yet it is in your power to recompense me, and deliver them from an evil which
it only remains for you to make so great, that not only you and your family, but thousands of
others, shall be swallowed up in the whirlwinds of its rage. Let your compassion be moved, and
do not disdain me. Listen to my tale; when you have heard that, abandon or commiserate me,
as you shall judge that I deserve…’
Starting with this extract, write about how Shelley presents the importance of parental love.
Write about:
● how Shelley presents the importance of parental love in this extract
● how Shelley presents the importance of parental love in the novel as a whole.
, Parental love = the love and affection a parent shows their child.
Importance – something which is significant and required.
Plan:
Idea 1:
What is Shelley’s agenda (main idea) with regards to the importance of parental love within the extract?
Shelley believes that parental love is important because a parent’s attitude towards their children shapes and
changes them.
What quotation would you use to support your idea?
“I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend.”
How would you explode that quotation to show the importance of parental love within the extract? Dig into your
quotation at least three times. See if you can find a connecting quotation from the extract.
Noun
Adjective
He is evil because of his
- collects wood for the DeLacey family
loneliness - a lack of parental
- he was kind at first even though his love
‘hideous appearance
No parents to love and nurture
- saves a girl from drowning but gets shot - him - lonely - miserable - evil
misunderstood due to his appearance
“I was benevolent and good; misery
made me a fiend.”
Loneliness
can lead to
The use juxtaposition corruption
shows that the creature’s Creator is
is not entirely evil, responsible
because he was kind at
