10March2016

Objective: Robert Walton is an adventurer who has always heard stories of the North Pole and he wants to see it for himself. On his journey, Robert Walton meets Victor Frankenstein, a man of his own class who has a wild story to tell. Robert Walton communicates this information, as well as Victor’s story, to his sister through letters. The objective of this lesson will be to discuss setting.

1. Why is Walton going to the North Pole? 

Walton said he wanted to see a place that was full of "eternal light," Walton also said that it was a place of beauty and delight.

2. Why would Shelley choose such a remote area for the setting of her novel? 

Mary Shelley chose Europe, in the Arctic Ocean, to be the setting of the book in the beginning because it would give it some drama and start off with a bang. 

3. How does this remote setting reflect the themes introduced in this first part of the novel? 

Some themes in the beginning of Frankenstein are: dangerous knowledge, good nature, and letters. The setting helps these themes become themes in the first part of the novel; dangerous knowledge means that Victor pushes himself and others to the brink to reach the North Pole. Good nature is a a theme because romanticism is involved and begins to take over. Letters start the novel because Frankenstein develops into the monster he is. 

4. What does Victor’s sudden appearance on an ice flow suggest about his situation and the story he plans to tell? 
Victor's sudden appearance of an ice flow suggests that his situation is very dangerous and not a smart idea. The story he plans to tell is a good one. He plans to tell a story of him as a child growing up in Geneva. He said how he got a sister who was adopted so he could marry her later on. Victor also figured out how to make a deceased body come to life after 5 years of college.

5. How does Shelley telling the reader about Walton’s hearing wild stories about the North Pole foreshadow the type of story Frankenstein will tell?
Frankenstein will tells stories about him becoming a monster and what he used to be. His curiosity and interest in science lead him to tell stories about it.

6. In a detailed paragraph, formulate an argument for or against Robert Walton completing his planned trip to the North Pole, citing reasons why this trip might be too dangerous or too exciting to miss. 
At the time of the novel, the North Pole was even more dangerous than it is now. There are more technological advances than there were at the time so it is much less dangerous today. It also had not been explored much in the early 19th century. He did not know what was there or what he was getting himself into, there was a lot of danger because he could have died easily. The ice, climate, and food were a major issue in the North Pole.

7. Research information on the North Pole as it would have been available during the novel’s setting. Use your research information to identify the dangers of traveling in that area and offer possible explanations for Victor’s situation and/or dangers Walton might face traveling in the area. Write a detailed paragraph explaining what you learned.
The arctic had been explored by many, such as the Vikings, bu the first to reach the North Pole in 1827, This means that the North Pole was undiscovered and research made it mysterious and dangerous. Many expositions failed because they could not get past the ice. Victor and Walton had a very rough trip going to the North Pole and went in blind, not knowing what was there in terms of animals and predators.

8. Write a few detailed paragraphs that discuss how the setting of the North Pole illustrates the theme of loneliness in this early section of the novel.
The North Pole relates to this novel and its theme "loneliness' becuase in the North Pole, it never gets over zero degrees, so it is freezing there almost all throughout the year. It is always snowing in the North Pole. 

In the North Pole, it relates to loneliness because there is hardly sunshine; therefore, many people do not enjoy staying in the cold temperatures for long periods of time. As a result, not many people live there or visit at all.