Question

What structure does Mary Shelley use in chapter 5 in the book Frankenstein?

Accepted Answer

I am assuming you mean chapter 5 from the first volume, so I will answer according to that.
Frankenstein is an epistolary novel, meaning it is formed out of letters that are sent back and forth between people. At the beginning of Volume 1, Chapter 5, Clerval gives Victor a letter from his cousin, Elizabeth, in which she expresses her worry for his "illness." In the letter, she also goes into detail about Victor's father's health, Ernest's future endeavors, and brings up Justine Moritz, who will later on become an important character.
Through only a short letter, and in only a few pages, Shelley is able to bring a new arch to the story, and introduce characters that we will meet again as the plot grows more complicated. Because of this device, the reader does not have to endure overly long explanations or dialogue.

Frankenstein

What structure does Mary Shelley use in chapter 5 in the book Frankenstein?

Expert Answers

Unlock This Answer Now

Related Questions

In Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, why does Victor Frankenstein create the monster?

How many people die in the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley?

What are some biblical allusions in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein?

Is the monster in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein good or evil?

In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, what does the monster learn by observing the DeLacey family?