Literary Devices In Frankenstein

The novel Frankenstein is also considered the modern Prometheus. This novel got this title because of the story line that is followed. This story line is similar in many aspects as the myth of Prometheus. Shelley’s writing is evident in the romantic period as this novel falls into the gothic novel category. The revolution in America and France helped develop a culture of fear which then would be represented in gothic literature. This new category of novel was popular therefore, Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein to display the evolution of science in that time. Throughout the novel, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley there are many themes and literary devices that are evident. One main literary device is “framing” which sets up a major ground of the

Petersburg, Russia. He wrote this letter to his sister Mrs. Saville, who is in England. Walton is on a passage to go through the Arctic Ocean to the North Pacific Ocean using the seas of the North Pole, he states, “I feel a cold northern breeze play upon my cheeks, which braces my nerves, and fills me with delight.” (Shelley 5). As Walton is travelling through the seas of the North Pole, he finds the weather to decline as it becomes extra cold, especially compared to what he was used to in England. With this freezing whether, he says that he will not be setting sail to continue his expedition until June of the next year when the polar ices have thawed. He then travels to Archangel, Russia to hire a ship which will continue this expedition. But, he concludes with telling his sister to not wait for him to show up, he says, “If I succeed, many, many months, perhaps years, will pass before you and I may meet. If I fail, you will see me again soon, or never.” (8). This explanation proves that he wants to succeed with his expedition but he might expect the worse as he could fail. This letter is the first letter of four to his sister Mrs. Saville who he hopes to see

These letters are formatted to help set up information so the reader has some knowledge before jumping right into the novel. The first letter uses the technique of “framing.” This is a way that writers use to frame a major theme in the novel. This technique eases the reader into the novel and gives a subplot giving the main story more texture. This framing technique helps the story become more compelling because Walton will eventually see the monster. This technique is again used at the ending of this novel but most evident in the first four letters. The first letter of the novel helps explain what is to happen throughout the happen. This happens by aiding the reader by explaining what has happened before the novel actually starts. This letter helps with the fact that the story line begins before the novel actually begins. This is evident in the way that Walton goes on saying, “I arrived here yesterday; and my first task is to assure my dear sister of my welfare,” (5). This statement is expressed before he goes on to say even where he is, so this shows that there was a before story line before the novel