Frankenstein Chapters 13-20
Who arrives at the cottage in the spring? What is Safie's background? How does her language problem help the Monster? Which of them learns faster?
A lady on horseback arrived at the cottage. She is an Arabian. Since she does not know their language and he does not know much of their language, she had to be told some English words, and he listened while they told her some of their English words. The monster learned their language faster.
How does the Monster learn about reading? What book does Felix use to teach Safie?
The monster learns about reading by listening to Felix read a book to Safie. The name of the book that Felix used to teach Safie was Volney’s Ruins of Empires.
What does the creature learn from this book? How much of a monster can someone be who can say, “But when I heard details of vice and bloodshed, my wonder ceased, and I turned away with disgust and loathing?”
He learned about the history and gained a view of many empires that existed in the world. He also learned about the manners, governments, and religions of the different nations of the earth. He learned about the slothful Asiatics, of the great genius and mental activity of the Grecians, of the wars and wonderful virtue of the early Romans, of their subsequent degenerating, of the decline of that mighty empire, of chivalry, of Christianity, and kings. He also learned about the discovery of the American hemisphere. They can be very much a monster if they’re willing to overtake empires and destroy other people.
What happens when the creature begins to think about himself? How does he compare with the humans described in the book? What questions does he ask himself? How does his knowledge make him feel?
When he begins to think about himself, he says that he is ignorant, has no money, no friends, and no kind of property. He says that he was more agile than them. He also says that he has a coarser diet than them. He was more able to survive extreme heat and cold than they were. He says that he is taller than them. He asks himself if he really is a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled and whom all men disowned. His knowledge makes him feel agony, sorrow, and pain.
What does he learn about human relationships, and how does this make him feel?
He learns that there are different genders. He learns how babies are made. He learns that the mother cares about her children. He learns how children and teenagers think. He learns what all the family relation terms are. He feels sad.
How did the De Lacey family come to be living in the cottage?
They used to live in Paris. Safie’s father started to annoy the government. He got thrown into prison for no good reason. This made all of Paris mad. Felix was at the trial. Safie’s mom was a Christian Arab. She was made a slave by the Turks. She married Safie’s father. Her mom died. Felix got out of Paris and went to Leghorn. Safie stayed with her father until he died. Safie is Arabian. Felix’s plan to let the prisoner go was discovered, and De Lacey and Agatha got thrown into prison. Felix found out and was very unhappy about it. He tried to have them freed but failed. They got exiled perpetually from their home country. They all then found the cottage in Germany. The Turk was reduced to poverty and ruin. Safie’s father wanted her to return to her native country. Safie was outraged by that command, tried to talk some sense into her father, failed, and he left her angrily which shows just how mean he was. She left for Germany to go find Felix. Her attendant fell dangerously ill. She tried to save her, but she died. Now she was left alone. She, however, had been told by her attendant where her lover lived, and she eventually found him at his cottage.
How did Safie come to find and join them?
Her father started to annoy the government. He got thrown into prison for no good reason. This made all of Paris mad. Safie’s mom was a Christian Arab. She was made a slave by the Turks. She married Safie’s father. Her mom died. Safie stayed with her father until he died. Safie is Arabian. Safie’s father wanted her to return to her native country. Safie was outraged by that command, tried to talk some sense into her father, failed, and he left her angrily which shows just how mean he was. She left for Germany to go find Felix. Her attendant fell dangerously ill. She tried to save her, but she died. Now she was left alone. She, however, had been told by her attendant where her lover lived, and she eventually found him at his cottage.
What does the creature find in the woods?
He found a leathern portmanteau containing several articles of dress and some books.
What are the three books that the creature reads, and what does he learn from each?
The three books that the creature reads are Paradise Lost, a volume of Plutarch’s Lives, and Sorrows of Werter. In Sorrows of Water, he reads about the gentle and domestic manners it describes, combined with lofty sentiments and feelings, which had for their object something out of self, accorded well with his experience among his protectors and with the wants which were forever alive in his bosom. In the volume of Plutarch’s Lives, he learned high thoughts. He learned to admire and love the heroes of past ages. In Paradise Lost, he learned that he was like Adam. He learned who God is.
What else does the creature read and what does he learn from it?
He also read Victor’s journal of the four months that had been before his creation. He learned that Victor didn’t like him.
How long has it been since the creature came to life? What is Victor doing at this point?
It has been a year since he came to life. He was having fun at his college.
What does the Monster hope will happen when he talks to De Lacey? What actually happens?
He hoped that De Lacey would talk to him and not freak out. De Lacey actually does talk to him.
What happens to the De Lacey family after the events of chapter 15? How does the Monster respond, and what does he do to the cottage?
They can’t pay their rent, so they just leave the cottage. He responds with anger, revenge, and hatred. He set the cottage on fire.
How does the Monster travel?
He travels by foot.
What event during the Monster's travels confirms his hatred of humans?
Somebody shot him and injured him with a gun.
What event happens when the Monster is near Geneva? Who is the boy?
The event that happens when the monster is near Geneva is that a boy came running into his area. The boy is someone who belongs to the Frankenstein family.
When Victor visits the site of William's death in chapter 7, he says, “I had turned loose into the world a depraved wretch, whose delight was in carnage and misery.” After reading the Monster’s account, does this seem to fit?
No because the only reason he was a fiend was that Victor abandoned him.
What does the Monster demand from Victor?
The monster demands that Victor creates a female just like him.
How does Victor initially respond to the Monster's demand? What response does he expect from the creature? What approach does the creature say he will take?
He says no. He expects the new creature to be just as bad as him. The monster decides to try and reason with him instead.
How effective is the creature in convincing Victor?
He is very effective in convincing Victor.
What does the creature say will happen if Victor creates a female for him?
He says that he will leave Europe and go live in South America for the rest of his life. He also says that Victor will never have to see him again.
What does Victor decide? What does the creature say he will do while Victor is at work?
Victor decides to do what the monster wants him to do. The creature says that he will watch him make the monster and will appear when he is ready.
How does Victor appear to his family when he returns home?
He appears unhappy and is avoiding his own society.
Why does Victor's father think Victor might not want to marry Elizabeth?
He thinks that Victor has found someone else that he wants to marry.
Why does Victor want to visit England? What excuse does he tell his father?
He wants to work in peace and quiet. He tells him that he wants to visit England.
What are Clerval's plans for his career?
Help with English colonization.
Where does Victor's journey end, and what does he plan to do there? Why is he afraid?
His journey ends in London. He wants to gain the information necessary to fulfill his promise to his creation. He’s afraid that he will turn back into his old self.
Why does Victor change his mind about creating the female? Who watches him as he destroys the female?
He’s afraid that if he creates a female monster, she won’t like his male counterpart. The monster saw him destroy his female counterpart.
What happens shortly after Victor destroys the female? How is this similar to what happened after Victor created the Monster?
The monster withdrew from Victor’s presence. This is similar to what happened after Victor created the monster because when Victor originally created him, he freaked out and ran away.
What happens when the Monster visits Victor? What does the Monster promise to do? What does Victor understand that promise to mean? What does it really mean?
He blew up at Victor for not finishing his work on creating his female counterpart. The monster promises that he will be at Victor’s wedding. Victor understands that promise to mean that he’s gonna kill him. It really means that the monster wants to kill Victor.
What happens when Victor goes out in a boat to dispose of the female creature's remains? Where does he end up? What happens when he lands?
He stayed out on the water and fell asleep. He is in Ireland. He gets disrespected by some people and accused of murder.
Who is Mr. Kirwin and how does he treat Victor? What has happened to cause Victor's arrest? What happens to Victor after his arrest?
He is a magistrate that is old and benevolent with calm and mild manners. Henry Clerval has been murdered, and they think that he was the one who murdered him. He ends up in prison for two months.