Category: Mary Shelley

Frankenstein Essential Question #2

11/7/2022

In what ways can imagination and inspiration unleash the best and worst in humankind?

Primary Blog Expections: 200-250 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59 PM Friday night.

Secondary Blog Response Expectations (read everyone's primary responses, select two that interest you, and respond to their ideas): 100-150 words EACH, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59 PM Sunday night.

"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (1798) by Samuel Taylor Coleridge - Discussion Question

10/13/2022

(Iron Maiden video above for atmosphere)
Prompt: Thoughtfully answer one of the following questions using examples from both Coleridge and connections to the real world.

Are there worse things in life than death?

Is a leader fully responsible for those they lead?

Is it acceptable and ethical for Christian morals to be a part of literary works?

In our culture does punishment typically fit the crime?

Do people suffer consequences for their crimes in today's society?

When someone imprisons another are they also imprisoned?

Can a person's guilt affect their sanity? Should it?

Primary Blog Expections: 200-250 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59 PM tonight!

Secondary Blog Response Expectations (read everyone's primary responses, select two that interest you, and respond to their ideas): 100-150 words EACH, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59pm Tuesday, October 18!

Lens and Artifact (Primary Blog Entry ONLY)

1/8/2021

What is a Lens and Artifact Analysis?

Look closely at literature, and you may see a new world below the surface. In high school or college, a teacher may ask you to do this by writing a lens essay. A lens essay is a type of comparative paper that analyzes one text through the viewpoints expressed in another. Composing an effective one is difficult even for the most seasoned of writers. However, it is an incredible intellectual exercise through which you will not only improve your writing skills but your critical reading and thinking skills as well.

Here are a few questions to consider when analyzing the content of your focus text: How does the lens text serve to shed light on the second text? Does it criticize it or support it? What is a new or different perspective that you can grapple with by using this lens? Does this new perspective strengthen your own original understanding or does it challenge your ideas?

Your Blog Post Prompt:
First, you are NOT WRITING AN ESSAY! You are simply considering how a lens allows you to play with analysis. This is not intended to be a formal analysis, but merely intellectual exploration.

Your lens is Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Now that you have read and analyzed this novel, consider the events on Wednesday, January 6th. How does your understanding of Frankenstein illuminate this historic event? How can you parse these events using Shelley's characters and themes?

Now, here comes the fun part!

All critical thinkers consider multiple facets of an issue. I am asking you to do the same. You may feel that you strongly align with one side of this situation. For this part of the exercise, you must use the same lens to illuminate the opposing viewpoint. What is their Creature? Who is their Victor Frankenstein? Can you make any parallels?

Additionally, you can take this a step further and consider abstract concepts: Capitalism, Fascism, Socialism, Nationalism, Patriotism, Black Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, your own ideas, YOU NAME IT. This exercise is a good exercise in understanding where people come from. You should practice it all the time.

This is an exercise in critical thinking only. There is no debate here, other than with yourself. This exercise is not intended to change minds, only to understand opposing viewpoints. Remember the key question here: WHY do people believe they things they do?

Good luck!!

Primary Blog Expectations (respond to the prompt above): 200-250 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59pm Sunday night 1-10-2020!

Frankenstein: Chapters 20-24

12/8/2020

Final Blog Prompt: Chapters 22 and 23 contain a strong sense of foreboding, or the feeling of a catastrophe around the corner. Look through these chapters and demonstrate how suspense is used to foreshadow future doom. Use several examples to prove your point. Relate these examples to the function of a gothic novel.

Primary Blog Expectations (respond to the prompt above): 200-250 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59pm Friday night 12-11-2020!

Secondary Blog Response Expectations (read everyone's primary responses, select two that interest you, and respond to their ideas): 100-150 words EACH, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59pm Sunday night 12-13-2020!

Frankenstein: Chapters 13-19

12/1/2020

25 Comments

Examine the Creature’s argument and his demand of Frankenstein. Is it reasonable? How does the creature formulate his argument and does he argue successfully in your opinion? If you were Frankenstein, would you agree to it? Why or why not? After you read Frankenstein’s actions in these chapters, what do you think of his actions?

Primary Blog Expectations (respond to the prompt above): 200-250 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59pm Friday night 12-4-2020!

Secondary Blog Response Expectations (read everyone's primary responses, select two that interest you, and respond to their ideas): 100-150 words EACH, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59pm Sunday night 12-6-2020!

25 Comments

Frankenstein: Chapters 11-16 Primary Blog Post

11/1/2016

These images could depict some of the main plot points of Chapters 5-10. While these moments are important, they are by no means the only significant points in these four chapters.
After having read these chapters:
-Select a single passage (this may be a single paragraph or several) that you feel best typifies the action and Shelley's authorial intent in this section of Frankenstein.
-Explain the action and context of the quoted passage (you must cite the passage) and then,
-Explain how your understanding of this passage (1) supports your understanding, (2) deepens the character development, and/or (3) builds a central message that aligns with one of the unit's essential questions.

Primary Blog Expectations (respond to the prompt above): 200-250 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the scientists's name that you selected in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by the start of class on Monday 11/7!

Secondary Blog Response Expectations (read everyone's primary responses, select two that interest you, and respond to their ideas): 100-150 words EACH, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the scientists's name that you selected in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by the start of class on Thursday 11/10!

Frankenstein: Chapters 5-10 Primary and Secondary Blog Posts

10/23/2016

These images could depict some of the main plot points of Chapters 5-10. While these moments are important, they are by no means the only significant points in these four chapters.
After having read these chapters:
-Select a single passage (this may be a single paragraph or several) that you feel best typifies the action and Shelley's authorial intent in this section of Frankenstein.
-Explain the action and context of the quoted passage (you must cite the passage) and then,
-Explain how your understanding of this passage (1) supports your understanding, (2) deepens the character development, and/or (3) builds a central message that aligns with one of the unit's essential questions.

Primary Blog Expectations (respond to the prompt above): 200-250 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the scientists's name that you selected in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by the start of class on Tuesday 10/25!

Secondary Blog Response Expectations (read everyone's primary responses, select two that interest you, and respond to their ideas): 100-150 words EACH, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the scientists's name that you selected in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by the start of class on Friday 10/28!

Frankenstein: Chapters 1-4 Primary Blog Post only!

10/10/2015

These images could depict some of the main plot points of Chapters 1-4 illustrating some main events in young Victor's life and development: his idyllic childhood and introduction to Elizabeth Lavenza, his mother's death, and his entrance into university. While these are moments are important, they are by no means the only significant points in these four chapters.

After having read these chapters, select a single passage (this may be a single paragraph or several) that you feel best typifies the action and Shelley's authorial intent in this section of Frankenstein.

Explain the action and context of the quoted passage (you must cite the passage) and then explain how your understanding of this passage supports your understanding, deepens the character development, and/or builds a central message that aligns with one of the unit's essential questions.

Your blog post must be 250 - 300 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the assigned scientist given to you in class as your nom de plume.

Frankenstein: Letters 1-4 Primary Blog Post only!

10/7/2015

The painting above depicts a fate that Walden fears but is willing to face, risking the lives of his crew, in order to fulfill his all-consuming pursuit of fame's immortality.

After having read these initial letters from the ship's captain to his sister, select a single passage (this may be a single paragraph or several) that you feel best typifies the action and Shelley's authorial intent in this section of Frankenstein. Explain the action and context of the quoted passage (you must cite the passage) and then explain how your understanding of this passage supports your understanding, deepens the character development, and/or builds a central message that aligns with one of the unit's essential questions.

Your blog post must be 250 - 300 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the assigned scientist given to you in class as your nom de plume.

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