Frankenstein Group

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d-k
d-k
Student
High School - 10th Grade

What developmeants were being made in travel and exploration at the time "Frankenstein" was written?

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Posted by d-k on Tuesday April 8, 2008 at 5:43 AM and tagged with exploration, frankenstein, historical background.

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  1. linda-allen Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, was published in 1818. Here are a few of the things that were happening in science, technology, and exploration between 1816, when Shelley began writing the novel, and 1818, when it was published.

    Exploration: traders were searching for a route through the Arctic that would connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The Northwest Passage was charted by John Ross in 1818.

    Science: the elements cadmium, selenium, and lithium were discovered.

    Technology: the Stirling engine, named for inventor Robert Stirling, was developed.

    Although not "new" developments, these technologies were in use before Shelley wrote Frankenstein:

    • steam locomotives were in wide use
    • the French Revolution and the American Revolution were making monarchies archaic and spreading equality and democracy
    • England outlawed the slave trade
    • the Industrial Revolution was spreading, with factories being built in major cities
    • advances in medicine were hampered by the poor knowledge of human internal anatomy; as a result "graverobbers" would steal cadavers and sell them to physicians

    I hope this helps

    Sources:
    http://www.easttroy.k12.wi.us/HS/dept/english/felske/Focu...
    http://www.enotes.com/frankenstein/historical-context
    http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/icons-timeline/1800-1820

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    Posted by linda-allen on Tuesday April 8, 2008 at 11:07 AM