... . In common with the gothic tales, Frankenstein made use of the correspondence between theme, character and setting. One of the chief elements in the novel is the use of atmosphere to create mood. The icy mists of the Arctic and the bleak windswept Alpine glacial fields are linked to the spiritual and social isolation of the Creature and its Creator. Not unlike Victor ... an imaginary and spectacular change in the human environment- (Oxford Companion to English Literature, p. 876). Mary Shelley read and relied on the most recent findings and theories of science to create her tale. She re...

• Word Count: 2302
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... monster and make this one of the first horror stories every told. The very first characteristic of a Gothic novel is its sinister setting. The opening sentence in Frankenstein sets the mood for the rest of the book. Shelley begins her novel with, "You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded ... . Victor also committed a crime when he created the monster. He didn't think about how humanity or the creature would be affected by his evil science. The third characteristic is the atmosphere of evil and horror. This is the ...

• Word Count: 1350
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School