Essay Instructions: Frankenstein essay
In 4-5 pages, in MLA format, present your own argument, analysis,
exploration of Frankenstein.(PLEASE, NO ONLINE RESOURCES, NO PLAGIARISM)) You will want to advance a thesis,
elaborate on that thesis with reasons and discussion, and support it
with specific textual evidence (quotes and summary) from the novel as
well as supporting quotes and analysis from scholarly articles. Be
sure to explain your evidence, applying your thesis and analysis to
it. Do not simply summarize the plot or describe the characters ?
instead, make an argument, offering an interpretation, explanation,
analysis, discussion, connection? that goes beyond the plot.
Issues you might consider include (but are not limited to):
Sex, procreation
Sexuality, desire
Parenthood, child-rearing
Maturation, growth
Responsibility, obligation, duty
Women, femininity
Men, masculinity
Love
Marriage, commitment, partnership
Friendship
Science, technology, progress
The Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution
Pride, hubris, arrogance, selfishness
Education, Literacy, Language, Communication
Literary references
Dopplegangers (not just comparisons or similarities)
Death
Suffering, shame, humiliation, abjection
Justice, injustice, vengeance, punishment
Nature, natural beauty, natural law
Blasphemy, sacrilege, sin, religion/faith, God (be careful here, and
talk to me first)
Can a discussion or exploration of one (or more) of these themes
provide the reader with a closer, clearer, more developed
understanding of the text, of some aspect of the text, of its
significance? Try to offer an argument (thesis, idea, position) that
ties together (or explains, or makes clear the significance of) one or
more elements of the text (plot, structure, style, characterization,
description, decisions, consequences, relationships?).You might want
to review the critical readings on "Araby."
Do be sure to make your own argument ? that is, go beyond our class
discussion. Do not argue a thesis that is essentially a moral: that
is, don't argue that some things shouldn't be messed with, only God
should create life, people should know their limits, parents should
take care of their kids, science should be controlled?.