Summary
One rainy summer in 1816, 18-year-old Mary Shelley came up with the idea for her first novel, and invented an entire genre. Now, Frankenstein is considered the first work of science fiction. It's also considered a classic work of Romanticism. That's the movement born of a backlash against the Enlightenment's worship of reason and science over nature and emotion. The main theme of the novel is a warning about the reckless pursuit of scientific knowledge. So, is Frankenstein the doctor or the monster? Press "play" to find out once and for all!
Viewer safety
Ages 7+
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Frankenstein:
- What is one new thing you learned about frankenstein?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining frankenstein.
- Draw or give one example of your own.