Frankenstein 19-21

Chapter 16
1. What was the creature’s reaction to what had happened with the cottagers?
2. Why did the creature return to the cottage?
3. What effect did the cottager’s leaving have on the creature?
4. To whom did the creature decide to go after he left his place where the cottage had been?

5. What restored a sense of happiness to the creature as he traveled to Geneva?
6. What occurred that ended with the creature’s being wounded?
7. What predominant feeling did the creature have as he waited weeks for his painful wound to heal?

8. Why did the creature place the picture of Mrs. Frankenstein in the lady’s pocket?
9. What did the creature demand of Frankenstein?
Chapter 17
1. Why does the creature say he is malicious?
2. What does the creature say he will cause if he is not loved?
3. What does the creature say he will give to anyone who will accept him?
4. What does Victor think of the creature’s request?
5. What does the creature promise he will do if Victor accedes to his request?
6. What does Victor say will happen eventually to the exiled creature?
7. What does the creature say will satisfy him so he will leave the inhabitants of man forever?

8. Why does Victor fail to trust the monster?
9. From where does the creature say his vices come?
10. How does Victor feel as he descends the mountain?
11. Why does Victor resolve to make what the creature has asked him to make?

Chapter 18
1. What did Victor do when he felt himself falling into a deep depression?

2. What do you do when you are upset or down? Do you have a favorite place?


3. What does Victor’s father think is causing Victor to be unhappy?
4. What does Mr. Frankenstein propose Victor do in the near future?
5. Why does Victor view his father’s proposition with horror?
6. What reasons does Victor give for beginning his work away from his home?
7. Why does Victor finally come to the idea that his creature will not harm his family while Victor is in England?

8. Whom does Victor believe would give him the most comfort while he is alone?
9. Why do you think does Mary Shelley give so many details of the views of nature?
10. What do you think Victor means when he says that Henry was “a being formed in the ‘very poetry of nature’”?
11. Why do you think Shelley tells us so much about Henry’s enjoyment?
12. What can you infer about Henry from how Victor talks about him and asks, “Where does he now exist”?

13. How can we tell that Victor thought highly of Clerval:?
14. What is the significance of their mentioning the sighting of the many steeples of London along with the Tower of London?

Chapter 19
1. What was the difference between Clerval’s and Victor’s purposes in London?
2. How does Victor feel about the task ahead of him?
3. What country did Clerval hope to visit and why?
4. What was the only deterrent to Clerval’s happiness in London?
5. What does Victor intend to do in the far reaches of Scotland?
6. How did Victor feel while he was in Oxford?
7. Why did Clerval’s mentioning Chamounix bother Victor?
8. What idea haunted Victor as he traveled north to Scotland?
9. What caused Victor to remain by Clerval’s side?
10. Where did they encounter Arthur’s seat? Do you remember who he is?
11. Why does Clerval travel alone to the Scotch person who has invited them?
12. How does the aspect of the place in which Victor decides to work resemble his unhallowed toil?

13. Why do the cottagers take no notice of Victor when he moves into one of the dilapidated cottages?

14. Victor’s approach to his task different is this time, and what caused him to complete it the first time?

15. What did Victor fear might happen any day and any time while he was working on his project?
Chapter 20
1. What three fears does Victor have about this new creation?
2. What greater fear did Victor have when he gave the second creature to his first?
3. When the first creature looks through the window, what did Victor eventually do?
4. Where has the creature been while Victor was traveling to Scotland?
5. Why is it ironic that the creature calls Victor his slave?
6. Why does Victor say he will not keep his promise to his creature?
7. What does the creature say he will do to Victor?
8. How did the creature leave the place where Victor was?
9. Why did the creature manage to get away from Victor?
10. What had the creature said to Victor that caused Victor to be sad for Elizabeth?
11. Why is the following sentence particularly ironic? Victor is describing himself: “I walked about the isle like a restless spectre, separated from all it loved and miserable in the separation” (174). [Chapter 20 Five pages from the beginning]

12. What came for Victor that served as an impetus for him to leave his lonely island?
13. What did Victor do with the new creature he had destroyed and why?
14. Why do you think Victor is able to sleep soundly in the boat?
15. When Victor faces the fact that he may die on the sea, what greater horror occurs to him?

16. Where does Victor land and how do the people greet him?
17. Of what do the people accuse Victor ?
Chapter 21
1. What had the fisherman tripped over on his way home?
2. What about the fisherman’s story bothered Victor?
3. Why did the people say they had seen one boat with one man in it push off from that part of the shore and then return to almost the same place later on?

4. What conclusion had the people come to about Victor?
5. What causes Victor to become ill again, and what does he rave about during his illness?

6. What is the condition of the place in which Victor finds himself when he gets well?
7. What wish did Victor express?
8. Why is the treatment that Victor receives significant?
9. How had Mr. Kirwin shown kindness to Victor?
10. How did Mr. Kirwin learn of Victor’s innocence?
11. Why did Victor recoil in horror when he was told he had a visitor?
12. Why did Victor have to remain in prison after Mr. Kirwin realized he was innocent?

13. What prevented Victor from taking his life this time?
14. What caused Victor to live through his despair/
15. How did Victor feel about leaving Ireland and why?
16. What was his nightmare before his father awakened him on the boat?