Research Question: What text most shapes the Creature’s identity or sense of self?
In Volume II of Frankenstein the Creature finds three books that contribute to his education: Milton’s Paradise Lost, Plutarch’s Lives (also sometimes called Parallel Lives), and Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther. Two other books that Shelley references are Volney’s Ruins of Empires (which unfortunately it is difficult to find quality information about), and also implicitly is one written by her mother, Wollstonecraft’s Vindication of the Rights of Woman.
Research one of the books listed above to learn more about it and to learn more about how it shapes the creature’s identity. You can read exerpts (or the whole thing, of course!) from the source you choose, they are all available for free on Gutenberg.org. Use quotations from Frankenstein to support your argument, as well as quotations and paraphrasing from your research sources (primary and secondary). Your paper should be 1300-1500 words long.
You will need 3 outside sources (besides Frankenstein) in your essay, one of which you find on your own. If you decide to read and cite parts of the primary source, then you will need 2 more secondary sources. These secondary sources can be one that I provide and one that you find yourself, but must be scholarly sources. You need to log in to the library’s databases when prompted using your CUNY login information.
1. Choose one from the following:
Milton, Paradise Lost Book I (more if you like): https://milton.host.dartmouth.edu/reading_room/pl/book_1/text.shtml
Plutarch, Lives, Life of Theseus (and more if you like): https://www.gutenberg.org/files/14033/14033-h/14033-h.htm#LIFE_OF_PLUTARCH
Goethe The Sorrows of Young Werther, the whole novel is about the same length as Frankenstein: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2527/2527-h/2527-h.htm
Wollstonecraft: The Vindication of the Rights of Woman (exerpts are attached as a PDF), or read it all here: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/3420/pg3420-images.html
2. You can use one of the secondary sources provided, and then you must find one more secondary source on your own.
Reminder: You will need FOUR total sources: Frankenstein plus three more (either a primary and two secondary, or three secondary). You must find one of the secondary sources on your own.
