Mind control prosthesis/textual support

Today we discussed the article on a man who can control his prosthetic leg with his mind and tied it to Frankenstein. Students then completed the following assignment: Does Victor have the right to kill the creature? Is the creature justified in devoting his life to punishing humanity? The being finished speaking and fixed his looks upon me in the expectation of a reply. But I was bewildered, perplexed, and unable to arrange my ideas sufficiently to understand the full extent of his proposition. He continued, You must create a female for me with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being. This you alone can do, and I demand it of you as a right which you must not refuse to concede. The latter part of his tale had kindled anew in me the anger that had died away while he narrated his peaceful life among the cottagers, and as he said this I could no longer suppress the rage that burned within me. I do refuse it, I replied; and no torture shall ever extort a consent from me. You may render me the most miserable of men, but you shall never make me base in my own eyes. Shall I create another like yourself, whose joint wickedness might desolate the world. Begone! I have answered you; you may torture me, but I will never consent. You are in the wrong, replied the fiend; and instead of threatening, I am content to reason with you. I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind? You, my creator, would tear me to pieces and triumph; remember that, and tell me why I should pity man more than he pities me? You would not call it murder if you could precipitate me into one of those ice-rifts and destroy my frame, the work of your own hands. Shall I respect man when he condemns me? Let him live with me in the interchange of kindness, and instead of injury I would bestow every benefit upon him with tears of gratitude at his acceptance. But that cannot be; the human senses are insurmountable barriers to our union. Yet mine shall not be the submission of abject slavery. I will revenge my injuries; if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear, and chiefly towards you my arch-enemy, because my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred. Have a care; I will work at your destruction, nor finish until I desolate your heart, so that you shall curse the hour of your birth. A fiendish rage animated him as he said this; his face was wrinkled into contortions too horrible for human eyes to behold; but presently he calmed himself and proceeded, I intended to reason. This passion is detrimental to me, for you do not reflect that you are the cause of its excess. If any being felt emotions of benevolence towards me, I should return them a hundred and a hundredfold; for that one creature's sake I would make peace with the whole kind! But I now indulge in dreams of bliss that cannot be realized. What I ask of you is reasonable and moderate; I demand a creature of another sex, but as hideous as myself; the gratification is small, but it is all that I can receive, and it shall content me. It is true, we shall be monsters, cut off from all the world; but on that account we shall be more attached to one another. Our lives will not be happy, but they will be harmless and free from the misery I now feel. Oh! My creator, make me happy; let me feel gratitude towards you for one benefit! Let me see that I excite the sympathy of some existing thing; do not deny me my request! I was moved. I shuddered when I thought of the possible consequences of my consent, but I felt that there was some justice in his argument. His tale and the feelings he now expressed proved him to be a creature of fine sensations, and did I not as his maker owe him all the portion of happiness that it was in my power to bestow? He saw my change of feeling and continued, If you consent, neither you nor any other human being shall ever see us again; I will go to the vast wilds of South America. My food is not that of man; I do not destroy the lamb and the kid to glut my appetite; acorns and berries afford me sufficient nourishment. My companion will be of the same nature as myself and will be content with the same fare. We shall make our bed of dried leaves; the sun will shine on us as on man and will ripen our food. The picture I present to you is peaceful and human, and you must feel that you could deny it only in the wantonness of power and cruelty. Pitiless as you have been towards me, I now see compassion in your eyes; let me seize the favourable moment and persuade you to promise what I so ardently desire.

Justifiable actions?

Students responded to several hypothetical situations similar to what the creature experiences in Frankenstein. Students then received a passage from the novel and 2 questions dealing with character motivations. Students were required to annotate the specific evidence (textual support) before writing their response. This is NOT to be completed for HW. We will spend time on Monday finishing this assignment. The final set of questions for Frankenstein is due Monday. USE THE TEXT!

Responsibility in Frankenstein

Today we discussed the thematic connections between the high crime rate of people who age out of orphanages and foster care systems, and the creature's actions. We also continued discussing the role appearance plays in our society in relation to a story in the news about a man with blue skin and a story about a man who grew a nose for a transplant on his forehead.

Today we read and discussed articles on a skin cell gun and head transplants. The discussion focused on making connections to Frankenstein. We also covered the use of allusion in the novel and discussed Frankenstein's responsibility to the creature. Students annotated a passage from chapter 10 to support their thoughts.

In class yesterday, students received a passage from chapter 10 of Frankenstein and were asked to respond to questions providing apt and specific references to the text. Students used the Smartboard to provide examples for discussion.

Frankenstein-Part 3

Students received the following assignment which is due Monday 9/30: Frankenstein 20-end What are some of Frankenstein’s fears about creating a companion for the creature? Provide textual support. What does Frankenstein do when he sees the creature at the window? Why? Provide textual support. Do you feel he made a good decision by doing it? Explain. Write an argument stating how Victor is responsible for the death of Clerval. Write an argument stating how the creature is responsible for the death of Clerval. Write an argument stating how Victor is responsible for the death of Elizabeth. Write an argument stating how the creature is responsible for the death of Elizabeth. Does Victor have a right to kill the creature? How is this issue relevant today? Walton’s Letters Why does the creature ask forgiveness of Victor? Explain his anger. Provide textual support. What is the meaning of the work as a whole? (1 sentence response) Does the novel promote or condemn scientific exploration? Explain

Presentations

Today we completed student presentations. Students were asked to make connections to Frankenstein for each of the topics covered. We will continue our discussion tomorrow.

Frankenstein

Today we discussed the first section of reading and viewed a presentation on GMO's. Students received the following assignment which is due next Monday: Frankenstein Chapters 9-19 What is the significance of the setting as described in chapters 9-10? Explain how this contributes to the tone of the story and the genre of gothic horror. Compare the way Victor speaks to the creature to the way the creature speaks to Victor. Explain the characterization of their relationship. Use the text as support The creature’s tale- What are the creature’s first instincts? Use textual support. What are the creature’s thoughts on the family in the cottage? Provide textual support. What is the significance of the questions that the creature continually asks himself? (chapter 15) Why was the creature accepted by the old man and rejected by his family? Explain the thematic significance. Who is the creature angry at and why? Do you feel he is justified? Explain. What is the creature’s demand? Do you think Frankenstein should do it? Write an explanation defending your opinion. What is different about Victor’s feelings towards his experiments this time? Use the text.

Research Project

Students received the following group research project which is due Monday 9/16. Frankenstein Intro research 30pts Use the links provided on my blog to research each of the following controversial topics. For each topic you must do the following: • Provide a pro/con list • Provide an explanation as to why it is controversial • Provide any necessary definitions or explanations • Provide your position on the topic and explain why • Provide a brief summary of at least 2 articles • Provide a quote from at least 2 articles and explain their importance • Provide an evaluation of the objectivity of the source

Frankenstein

Students took introductory notes on Frankenstein and then we discussed the characteristics/responsibilities of a good parent. Students received a copy of the novel and are to read through chapter 8 by Monday 9/16. Students are also to complete the following assignment: Reading questions through chapter 8. Please respond to each of the following in complete sentences. 1. Characterize Walton from his letters. Provide at least 3 specific examples. 2. Characterize Victor’s relationship with Elizabeth. Provide textual support. Characterize Victor based on this. 3. Characterize Clerval. Provide textual support. 4. Why did the thunderstorm have such a profound effect on V? What is galvanism? 5. What influence does Victor’s schooling have on him? Discuss Victor’s reaction to both M. Krempe and M. Waldman. 6. What is Victor’s tone when he is describing his days studying in solitude? Provide textual support. 7. How/why does Victor change when he is finally successful? How does the creature change when it is brought to life? 8. Who do you sympathize with after Victor leaves the creature? Explain. 9. Who is responsible for the deaths of William and Justine? Explain.

Frankenstein intro

Today we had an interesting discussion regarding the potential dangers accompanying any discovery or invention in preparation for Frankenstein.

Welcome

On this blog you will find links to important information which will be added throughout the year, as well as homework assignments, due dates, and lesson summaries. Please access it frequently in order to stay up to date with class activities.