Welcome to Quill Quotes Book Club, Frankenstein Discussion #1! We hope you are enjoying Frankenstein by Mary Shelley so far. Please keep in mind this discussion is only for the first half of the book (Chapters 1-13). If you have read ahead or finished the book, please keep any spoilers or thoughts on later parts for the next discussion. See the Frankenstein Book Club Summary Page for the reading schedule details and other discussions.
Kevin’s Thoughts
The old-English writing style was a little hard to get used to at first but I’m really starting to enjoy the book at this point! It hasn’t been too scary so far but I can tell the realism/sci-fi aspects will make the horror much more impactful as we read further. The thought that your life’s work and greatest accomplishment could turn out so horribly wrong and opposite of your expectations should be enough to terrify anyone.
I also found it interesting, especially after reading Educated, that Frankenstein’s Monster basically has to teach himself everything and learns language just by observing a family. It’s really unfortunate that Frankenstein was so terrified of his creation from the beginning. I think if they’d stayed together and Frankenstein was able to teach and “raise” the Monster, he never would have become a monster.
Favorite Quote
“Alas! why does man boast of sensibilities superior to those apparent in the brute; it only renders them more necessary beings. If our impulses were confined to hunger, thirst, and desire, we might be nearly free; but now we are moved by every wind that blows, and a chance word or scene that that word may convey to us.”
– Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
Brooke’s Thoughts
Everyone has heard of Frankenstein and has a general idea what the book is about but I am SHOCKED at how different it was than what I thought. I was expecting a flash of lightning and an “IT’S ALIVE! MUHAHAHA!” evil scientist moment like from all the movies and retellings. Even though it’s not what I expected I am still really enjoying the book. I also thought I would struggle more with the Old English and while it does slow my reading pace down, it’s not that bad for a book that was written over 200 years ago.
Favorite Quote
“Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.”
– Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
Vote
Sorry, this vote is now closed. Please see the results below.
Frankenstein Discussion #1 Prompts/Questions
Feel free to comment whatever thoughts and questions you have! But if you aren’t sure where to start, consider some of the prompts / questions below:
- Is the book what you expected so far or were you surprised by how it differs from popular culture depictions?
- Do you think Frankenstein’s Monster was born/created as a monster or became that way from humanity’s treatment of him as he claims?
- Should Frankenstein’s Monster be killed/destroyed or is there hope for him?
- Do you blame Frankenstein for the Monster’s behavior or sympathize with him for how his creation turned out?
- Share a favorite quote.
- What do you think will happen with the family Frankenstein’s Monster has been living by?
Commenting
We can’t wait to hear from you in the comments! Be aware, some comments may be held for our review to reduce spam and won’t appear on the site right away, but we’ll do our best to review quickly. If you have any trouble commenting, please let us know on social media or via email to hello@quillquotes.com so we can try to help.
If you’d like to keep track of the discussion or replies to your comment via email, be sure to change the dropdown above the Post Comment button. You can also use the checkbox to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us if you haven’t already! You should receive an email to confirm, so please check your junk / spam folder and add hello@quillquotes.com to your safe-sender list if you don’t receive anything.
We hope you enjoy this discussion and join us again next week for the final discussion of the full book! Check the Frankenstein Book Club Summary Page for details.
“If the study to which you apply yourself has a tendency to weaken your affections and to destroy your taste for the simple pleasures in which no alloy can possibly mix, then that study is certainly unlawful that is to say, not befitting the human mind.” Mary Shelly Frankenstein.
I thought this quote summed up Frankenstein perfectly while he was working on his ceation. It also was a good quote for the captain of the ship that picked up Frankenstein he was opposed with finding North Pole. I’m sure later in book the captain will learn from Frankenstein while telling his story.
I also had a hard time reading this book with the old style. I would have to go back and read over to get the meaning. I’ve seen Frankenstein movies so I would try to remember what happens so that made it harder to read so I had to put the movies out of my mind so it was like a new story.
It is cool to think Mary Shelly wrote this book so long ago because it still fits in today except I think of putting a robot together instead of human parts. The idea that if you want something human like it needs to be taught and learn from experiences.
I meant to say captain was obsessed with finding North Pole.
I also liked that quote! It’s too bad Frankenstein didn’t realize this until after he’d created the monster. I hope the captain is able to learn from the story before it’s too late and he and his crew have to learn the hard way.
Having the captain be told the story by Frankenstein is not at all how I thought the story would be presented but it kind of makes sense with Mary Shelley being inspired to write the book by ghost stories. I knew the general concept of Frankenstein but don’t think I’ve ever seen any of the movies or anything, so overall, I haven’t been too surprised by the book differing from popular culture/expectations. It is pretty crazy that this book was written so long ago and is still relevant today. I can see why it’s considered one of the first sci-fi books but I’m also somewhat surprised there weren’t books about outer space or aliens or something sooner.
That is a great quote! I find it interesting that whenever I read classics I read them with a different cadence and tone in my head than I do with modern books. I think it’s because I have to slow down and can’t speed read it or I will miss parts.
I’m not sure I have even seen the movies but I had such a clear idea in my head about what I thought it was about that I’m really surprised by the actual story. I imagined Frankenstein’s Monster as green with neck bolts and can only really moan and groan. So I was really shocked when his monster started talking. But I think not knowing where the book is heading makes the book more exciting!
One of the reasons I love classics so much is because they are timeless. The book made sense 200 years and it still makes sense today.
Well said. Brooke. I agree with all you wrote. The reading is slow going but well worth the pace. The man that Frankenstein put together seems to be very intelligent. He is watching the people in the cottage and learning from them. Did he instinctively know to travel to where Frankenstein lived.? He seems to be a gentle giant so could he have killed Frankenstein’s brother.
If he had been of normal stature without the flat head and stitches he could probably have gotten along very well in a community. But then Mary Shelly needed the intrigue of how he looked. Can’t to get to the end of the novel.
I must say I groaned when this book was selected by vote but am now glad it was chosen.
I like that you didn’t call him Frankenstein’s Monster like the rest of us have been calling him but “the man that Frankenstein put together.” I assume that means you don’t think he is a monster but just a misunderstood man?
I also wondered how much was instinctual vs intelligence with his survival in the beginning. I can’t wait to hear the rest of his story.
I know what you mean, there were a few times books were picked that wouldn’t have been my go-to choice but I ended up really enjoying them.
Well said. Brooke. I agree with all you wrote. The reading is slow going but well worth the pace. The man that Frankenstein put together seems to be very intelligent. He is watching the people in the cottage and learning from them. Did he instinctively know to travel to where Frankenstein lived.? He seems to be a gentle giant so could he have killed Frankenstein’s brother.
If he had been of normal stature without the flat head and stitches he could probably have gotten along very well in a community. But then Mary Shelly needed the intrigue of how he looked. Can’t to get to the end of the novel.