Frankenstein: Key Plot Points and Character Analysis

Frankenstein: Key Questions Answered

1. Why did the monster enter the cottage when only the old man was home?

   Because the old man was nearly blind, he would not be terrified by the monster's appearance.

2. What was the monster’s revenge for the De Lacey family’s rejection?

   He waited until dark and then set fire to their cottage. A strong wind that night fanned the flames, and soon, the house was completely destroyed.

3. How did Victor feel when the monster requested a female companion?

   At first, Victor absolutely refused because the monster had killed his little brother. However, after a long period of reflection, he concluded that justice, due both to the monster and their fellow creatures, demanded that he comply with the request.

4. Why did Victor go to England before he married Elizabeth?

   He could not marry Elizabeth before finishing the horrible task of creating a female monster. He could not perform the work in his father's house, as his family might learn his terrible secret.

5. How did Victor dispose of the female monster's remains?

   He placed the remains in a basket, filled it with heavy stones, and at about two in the morning, he took the basket in his small boat and sailed out to sea. As soon as a cloud covered the moon, he dropped the basket and its contents into the water, heard it fall, and then sailed away.

Vocabulary Exercise

Complete the sentences with the words below:

• 1. share
• 2. strength
• 3. bride
• 4. clue
• 5. grief
• 6. anxious
• 7. sand
• 8. supply
• 9. fairly

Character Analysis and Key Moments

The following points analyze key characters and moments from the novel.

Mr. Kirwin

Mr. Kirwin, a judge in Ireland, seems to be a gentle man who tries to help Victor. He came to see Victor in prison and spoke to him kindly.

Victor and Elizabeth

Victor was full of fear on his wedding night, but he did not tell Elizabeth the reason for his terror.

The Monster's Remorse

At the end of the story, the monster cried over Victor’s body. He expressed regret for hurting him, stating that murdering Victor's friends and family caused him pain as well. Although he felt compelled to harm others, he acknowledged his choice to murder and was ultimately left alone, tormented by remorse.