Answers Worksheet
Frankenstein’s reaction to his creation
Task A: Analysing Frankenstein’s reaction
Here is Shelley’s description of the Creature.
“His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair
was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these
luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed
almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled
complexion and straight black lips.”
3 quotations have been highlighted in bold.
Annotate them using the following questions:
● What impression do you get of the Creature?
● How does Victor feel about the Creature?
● How have colours been used to create a horrifying
image of the Creature?
● Identify the adjectives. How do these show
Victor’s repulsion?
Here’s some annotations you might have got:
“yellow” - colour
symbolism of yellow is The adverb “scarcely” creates horrifying
illness. Also, yellow can imagery - all its muscles and arteries are
represent betrayal and visible - like a dissected body
caution.
“His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair
was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these
luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed
almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled
complexion and straight black lips.”
adjective “watery” again implies
“black” again “shrivelled” again implies a
that the Creature is ill - it lacks
suggests decay. lack of vitality - decay. Fruit
vitality and brightness - it’s
Colour symbolism starts to shrivel as it decays
almost half-alive - eyes go cloudy
of black is death. and dries out.
after death
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Answers Frankenstein’s reaction to his creation Worksheet
Task B: Ethical considerations
You are going to re-write the birth of the Creature from the perspective of the Creature.
Here are the events you will need to describe:
1. Being brought to life or ‘born’ using electricity
2. Seeing a look of disgust and then disappointment on your creator’s face
3. Watching him run out of the room and how this makes you feel
Try to:
● use specific and emotive vocabulary - repulsed, anguish, disgust, despair,
heart-wrenching
● describe how Victor’s behaviour makes you feel
● try to portray yourself (the Creature) as confused and vulnerable - you have just
been born!
● include details or language from the original narrative
You can use my opening if you need help getting started.
My eyes jolted open. Harsh, white light assaulted them as I squinted, trying desperately to focus on
something - anything. I was deeply confused - that’s all I felt. Well, that and the prickling, hot,
burning sensation that was coursing through me. I strained my eyes again, only to be met with a
blurry outline of someone else in the room. This must be my parent, but where was I? Who was I?
Read the next paragraph of my response.
After what seemed like hours of waiting, my watery eyes finally focused on the figure in front of
me. It was another human being. His smooth, but pallid face was twisted into a frightful scrunch
of utter disgust. His hands were firmly knotted together, and his body convulsed - as if he were
about to vomit. I longed for his hands to unwind themselves; I yearned to feel some warmth or
comfort - my body was still throbbing with a burning pain.
Discuss: How do I make you feel sorry for the Creature?
Now, re-read your own response.
Highlight where you have used emotive vocabulary that makes your reader feel sorry
for the Creature.
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