letter 1

• Who is the author of Letter 1 in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein"?

  Robert Walton
• To whom is Letter 1 addressed?

  Mrs. Saville
• What is the main focus of Walton's preparations in Letter 1?

  His expedition to the North Pole
• What does Walton express excitement about in his letter?

  Making significant scientific discoveries
• What specific scientific ambition does Walton mention in Letter 1?


  Finding a passage near the North Pole
• What personal feeling does Walton reveal in Letter 1?

  His loneliness
• What does Walton desire in terms of companionship?

  A friend who can understand and share his ambitions
• What are the key points summarized from Letter 1 in Frankenstein?


  • Written by Robert Walton to his sister
  • Describes preparations for a North Pole expedition
  • Expresses excitement and scientific ambitions
  • Reveals Walton's loneliness and desire for companionship
• Who are the two main characters introduced in Letter 1?

  Robert Walton and Mrs. Saville
• What are some key traits of Robert Walton?

  Ambitious, adventurous, passionate about scientific discovery, lonely
• What role does Mrs. Saville play in the narrative?

  She is Walton's confidante and the reader's proxy
• What are the two important settings established in Letter 1?

  1. St. Petersburg, Russia

  • Last point of civilization before the expedition

  1. The Arctic

  • Destination of Walton's expedition, symbolizes the unknown
• What does the setting of St. Petersburg represent in Letter 1?

  The last point of civilization before the expedition
• What does the Arctic setting symbolize in the context of the novel?

  The unknown and unexplored
• How do the settings in Letter 1 contribute to the themes of the novel?

  They contrast civilization and wilderness, foreshadowing isolation and ambition
• What key themes are introduced in Letter 1?

  Ambition, isolation, man vs. nature, epistolary form, the Romantic sublime
• How does Walton's loneliness in Letter 1 foreshadow Victor Frankenstein's story?

  It parallels the isolation experienced by Victor and his creature
• What impacts does the epistolary structure have on the narrative of Frankenstein?

  • Allows for multiple perspectives
  • Serves as a framing device for Victor's narrative
  • Raises questions about narrator reliability
  • Creates intimacy and immediacy with the reader
  • Foreshadows elements of Victor's story
• How does the epistolary format enhance reader engagement in Letter 1?

  It creates intimacy and immediacy, making the reader feel like a confidant