Frankenstein"I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life and stir with an uneasy, half-vital motion." A summer evening's ghost stories, lonely insomnia in a moonlit Alpine's room, and a runaway imagination--fired by philosophical discussions with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley about science, galvanism, and the origins of life--conspired to produce for Marry Shelley this haunting night specter. By morning, it had become the germ of her Romantic masterpiece, "Frankenstein." Written in 1816 when she was only nineteen, Mary Shelley's novel of "The Modern Prometheus" chillingly dramatized the dangerous potential of life begotten upon a laboratory table. A frightening creation myth for our own time, "Frankenstein" remains one of the greatest horror stories ever written and is an undisputed classic of its kind. |
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Page 56
... kind and attentive nurse than himself ; and firm in the hope he felt of my recovery , he did not doubt that , instead of doing harm , he performed the kindest action that he could towards them . But I was in reality very ill ; and ...
... kind and attentive nurse than himself ; and firm in the hope he felt of my recovery , he did not doubt that , instead of doing harm , he performed the kindest action that he could towards them . But I was in reality very ill ; and ...
Page 130
... kind host , I have food ; it is warmth and rest only that I need . ' " I sat down , and a silence ensued . I knew that every minute was precious to me , yet I remained irresolute in what manner to commence the interview ; when the old ...
... kind host , I have food ; it is warmth and rest only that I need . ' " I sat down , and a silence ensued . I knew that every minute was precious to me , yet I remained irresolute in what manner to commence the interview ; when the old ...
Page 182
... kind of nightmare ; I felt the fiend's grasp in my neck , and could not free myself from it ; groans and cries and cries rung in my ears . My father , who was watching over me , perceiving my restlessness , awoke me ; the dashing waves ...
... kind of nightmare ; I felt the fiend's grasp in my neck , and could not free myself from it ; groans and cries and cries rung in my ears . My father , who was watching over me , perceiving my restlessness , awoke me ; the dashing waves ...
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Common terms and phrases
affection Agatha agony Albertus Magnus anguish appeared arrived beautiful became beheld beloved bestow Clerval companion consolation cottage countenance cousin creature crime dæmon dared dark dear death delight desire despair destroyed discovered dream earth Elizabeth endeavoured endured entered expressed eyes father fear feelings Felix felt Frankenstein Geneva gentle grief hands happiness heard heart heavens hope horror human idea imagination Ingolstadt innocent John Polidori journey Justine kind Krempe labours lake lived looked Lord Byron manner marriage Mary Shelley Mary Wollstonecraft mind miserable misfortune monster Mont Blanc morning mountains murderer natural philosophy nature never night Pandæmonium Paracelsus Paradise Lost passed passion peace perceived Percy Shelley pleasure poor possessed reflect remained resolved revenge Safie scene sensations smiles sometimes soon sorrow soul spirit strange suffered Switzerland tale tears thought university of Ingolstadt Victor voice wind wish wonder wood words wretched