How does an understanding of these context help to shape your response to the text?

Discuss with reference to the three key different aspects of context.

The context of a novel is the circumstances in which it was written. The three

most important areas of context in literary terms are cultural, biographical, and

political contexts. The context of a novel provides clarification of meaning aswell as giving a deeper understanding of why a particular text was written in a particular way, by a particular author at a particular time. These three areas are evident in 'Frankenstein´, however it is important to note that different contexts have relative importance, both in terms of the type of context and how much emphasis it is given in relation to key themes as well as the importance of a context as perceived by contemporary societies. Both the context in which 'Frankenstein´ was written and the novel itself help to formulate a fair and balanced response to the text.

The biographical context of 'Frankenstein´ is key in order to understand the

themes in the book. It is important to point out however, that in analysing

can be seen as a reaction to this, "my mother´s tender caresses and my father´s smile of benevolent pleasure" and along with the monsters isolated upbringing shows Mary´s own views about the importance of upbringing, and nurturing. Frankenstein deals with the idea of loss, which can be related to Shelley´s own life. Aswell as being motherless, Shelley lost three of her children, her sister to suicide, and her husband. Mary Shelley fell in love with Percy at the age of seventeen. She lived in an irregular household of men, intent on achieving glory through their genius (Percy, Byron). In writing Frankenstein, Shelley was reacting to the selfish nature of such ideals. "The labours of men of genius,..are erroneously directed". This can also be related to the detrimental

but is relatively limited in that it only tells the reader about the individual and not

something she didn´t do. Furthermore, even the DeLacey family who are egalitarian, who have no gender-roles and are seemingly the perfect family reject the monster on appearance. The monster also is typical of the concept of the noble savage, and the belief that primitive cultures can have good intentions. This is shown through the monsters fundamental benevolence and eloquent language. "The trait of kindness moved me sensibly".

Some topics in this essay:
Frankenstein Shelley, Furthermore DeLacey, Mary Shelley´s, Caroline Justine, Paradise Lost, Frankenstein Clerval´s, Mary Shelley, Godwin Shelley´s, William Godwin, Furthermore Prometheus, shelley´s own, context novel, response text, understand themes, themes book, mary shelley, biographical context, shelley´s own beliefs, feminist views, paradise lost, key themes, key understand themes, balanced response text, understand themes book,