Frankenstein: Study Guide

Frankenstein is a novel by Mary Shelley that was first published in 1818.

Summary

Read a Plot Overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis.

Plot Overview
Video Plot Summary
Key Questions and Answers
What Does the Ending Mean?

Summary & Analysis
Preface and Letters 1–4
Chapters 1–2
Chapters 3–5
Chapters 6–8
Chapters 9–10
Chapters 11–12
Chapters 13–14
Chapters 15–17
Chapters 18–20
Chapters 21–23
Chapter 24 & Walton, in Continuation

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in Frankenstein and in-depth analyses of Victor Frankenstein, The Monster, Robert Walton, Elizabeth Lavenza, and Henry Clerval.

Character List
Victor Frankenstein
The Monster
Robert Walton
Elizabeth Lavenza
Henry Clerval

Main Ideas

Here's where you'll find analysis about the book as a whole, from the major themes and ideas to analysis of style, tone, point of view, and more.

Themes
Plot Analysis
Protagonist
Antagonist
Setting
Motifs
Symbols
Genre
Allusions
Style
Point of View
Tone
Foreshadowing
Key Facts
Is the Monster in Frankenstein Good?

Quotes

Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of the book by reading these key quotes.

Important Quotations Explained

Quotes by Theme
Ambition
Loneliness
Parenthood
Natural Goodness

Quotes by Section
Preface & Letters 1-4
Chapters 1-2
Chapters 3-5
Chapters 6-8
Chapters 9-10
Chapters 11-12
Chapters 13-14
Chapters 15-17
Chapters 18-20
Chapters 21-23
Chapter 24 & Walton, in Continuation

Quotes by Character
The Monster
Frankenstein
Walton
Elizabeth Lavenza
Henry Clerval

Quotes by Symbol
Light and Fire

Further Study

Test your knowledge of Frankenstein with our quizzes and study questions, or go further with essays on context, background, and movie adaptations, plus links to the best resources around the web.