Questions to Ponder

Estimated Time: 30-45 minutes

Questions to Ponder

  1. What is the purpose of the Letters that come before Chapter 1?
  2. Walter says several times that he desires a friend on his journey and then he finds Victor. Do you think this desire affects their relationship and Walter's status as a reliable narrator? Is Walter a reliable narrator?
  3. Compare and contrast Henry Clerval and Victor.
  4. At the end of Chapter 3 we find this quote: "Thus ended a day memorable to me; it decided my future destiny." Do you think it's common to notice, at the time, the days or decisions that strongly affect your future?
  5. What is the significance of quoting Coleridge's Ancient Mariner in chapter 5?
  6. When Victor finds that his monster has disappeared from his room he says, "I could hardly believe that so great a good fortune could have befallen me, ... I clapped my hands for joy..." How did this make you feel? How should Victor have felt at this moment?
  7. Describe Clerval and his relationship with Victor.

Freewriting

After you have pondered and discussed these questions with your teacher, choose one to complete a freewrite on. If you are unfamiliar with freewriting, here are a few tips:

  • Keep your pencil moving. Don’t stop. Just brain dump onto your paper
  • Have a set amount of time. Set a timer and write for the full amount of time.
  • Ignore all grammar and spelling. Don’t let editing slow down the process. The goal is to get thoughts on paper. Spelling and grammar are not important in this instance.
  • Pen and paper aren’t the only ways to freewrite. Feel free to type on the computer. Not only does this accomplish the task, but it builds typing skills.

Share your freewrite in the comments below.

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Discussion

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