Plot and Action
Plot summary: What happens in Frankenstein?
Walton’s story (Volume One, Letters I–IV), Victor’s story (Volume One, Chapter I to Volume Two, Chapter II), The monster’s story (Volume Two, Chapters III–VIII), Victor’s story continues (Volume Two, Chapter IX to Volume Three, Chapter VII), Walton’s story continues (The Final Letters, Volume Three, Chapter VII), Revision focus: The novel’s form and structureVolume One, Letter I: A voyage of discovery
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key character: Captain Robert Walton, Key quotation: Walton’s sense of purpose, Exam focus: Writing about WaltonVolume One, Letter II: Walton sets sail
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key theme: FriendshipVolume One, Letter III: The voyage continues
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key language: Contradictions, Aiming high: Analyse narrative formVolume One, Letter IV: A troubled new friend
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Exam focus: Writing about effects, Key characters: Victor Frankenstein and the monster, Key theme: KnowledgeVolume One, Chapter I: Frankenstein’s childhood
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key character: Elizabeth, Key theme: The value of good parenting, Exam focus: Writing about characterVolume One, Chapter II: Victor’s early education
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key quotation: Fate and foreboding, Aiming high: The role of reading, Top tip: Writing about Victor’s educationVolume One, Chapter III: Victor at university
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key character: Victor FrankensteinVolume One, Chapters IV and V: Birth of a monster
Summary, Why are these chapters important?, Key character: Victor Frankenstein, Exam focus: Writing about language, Key character: The monsterVolume One, Chapter VI: Victor’s health recovers
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key theme: Family life, Aiming high: Exploring character and motivationVolume One, Chapter VII: Justine is accused of murder
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Exam focus: Writing about meanings and effects, Key theme: Crime and justiceVolume One, Chapter VIII: Justine is executed
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key theme: Injustice, Key language: Vice and virtueVolume Two, Chapter I: Victor’s remorse
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key character: VictorVolume Two, Chapter II: Victor meets his monster
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Revision focus: The monster, Top tip: Writing about the monster, Aiming high: Analyse settingVolume Two, Chapter III: Early experiences
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key form: Multiple narrators, Key quotation: Early memories, Exam focus: Writing about character and viewpoint, Revision focus: Using context informationVolume Two, Chapter IV: The monster’s education
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key characters: The De Laceys, Exam focus: Writing about character developmentVolume Two, Chapter V: Safie’s arrival
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key themes: Knowledge, difference and prejudice, Revision focus: Read a short passage closelyVolume Two, Chapter VI: The De Laceys’ troubled past
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Aiming high: Explore form and themeVolume Two, Chapter VII: The monster’s education and suffering
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Exam focus: Understanding the relationship between text and contextVolume Two, Chapter VIII: The monster as saviour and killer
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key language: The monster as narrator, Top tip: Writing about the theme of prejudiceVolume Two, Chapter IX: The monster’s parting wish
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Exam focus: Writing about plot and characterVolume Three, Chapter I: Victor travels to England
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Exam focus: Commenting on the writer’s effectsVolume Three, Chapter II: Victor starts his new creation
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Top tip: Analysing languageVolume Three, Chapter III: A dramatic turn of events
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key themes: Creation and destruction, Aiming high: Exploring parallels between charactersVolume Three, Chapter IV: Another murder trial
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key structure: Echoes of Justine’s trial, Exam focus: Commenting on the development of themes, Revision focus: Keep track of themesVolume Three, Chapter V: Victor and Elizabeth are married
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Aiming high: Analysing form, Key quotation: Past and presentVolume Three, Chapter VI: Two deaths
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Top tip: Writing about settingVolume Three, Chapter VII: The pursuit of the monster
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key characters: Victor and the monster, Key setting: The pursuit, Key form: Walton as narrator, Key theme: Ambition, Exam focus: Commenting on character and language, Top tip: Writing about the final speechCharacters
Robert Walton
Walton’s role in the novel, Walton’s importance to the novel as a whole, Exam focus: Writing about Walton, Top tip: Comparing Walton and VictorVictor Frankenstein
Victor’s role in the novel, Victor’s importance to the novel as a whole, Exam focus: Writing about Victor, Aiming high: Character and viewpointAlphonse
Alphonse’s role in the novel, Exam focus: Writing about Alphonse, Top tip: Alphonse as a parentElizabeth
Elizabeth’s role in the novel, Exam focus: Writing about Elizabeth, Top tip: Elizabeth’s views and idealsThe monster
The monster’s role in the novel, The monster’s importance to the novel as a whole, Exam focus: Writing about the monster, Aiming high: Interpreting charactersThemes, Contexts and Settings
Themes
The meaning of the monster, Top tip: Develop your own interpretation, Knowledge, Ambition, Prejudice, Aiming high: Comment on symbols and themes, Justice, Companionship and loneliness, Top tip: Writing about Victor’s isolation, Key quotation: Persuasive powers, RevengeForm, Structure and Language
Structure
Overview, Handling of time, Revision focus: Make connections across the text, Top tip: Writing about journeysProgress Booster
Planning your answer
Plan quickly and efficiently, Stage 1: Generate ideas quickly, Stage 2: Jot down useful quotations (or key events), Stage 3: Plan for paragraphs