Setting

Meaning

“the stars often disappeared in the light of morning while I was yet engaged in my laboratory”
“After days and nights of incredible labor and fatigue”
“After so much time spent in painful labor”
“When I found so astonishing a power placed within my hands, I hesitated a long time concerning the manner in which I should use it.“
“yet still I clung to the hope which the next day or the next hour might realize”
“One secret which I alone possessed was the hope to which I had dedicated myself; and the moon gazed on my midnight labors.”
“The summer months passed while I was thus engaged, heart and soul, in one pursuit.”
“Winter, spring, and summer passed away during my labors; but I did not watch the blossom or the expanding leaves—sights which before always yielded me supreme delight—so deeply was I engrossed in my occupation.”
“The leaves of that year had withered before my work drew near to a close, and now every day showed me more plainly how well I had succeeded.”

How much time passes in the excerpts from Chapter 4 of Frankenstein?

Dr. Frankenstein works on the monster for almost a year-and-a-half. It says the summer months, winter, spring, and summer passed. It then also says that the leaves had withered before he completed his work, which seems like another fall and possibly winter have passed.

What does devoting a lot of time to a single experiment reveal about Dr. Frankenstein?

Dr. Frankenstein is very dedicated and focused on his work. Based on the evidence, he often worked all night for many months at a time. The work causes problems for Dr. Frankenstein, who, by the end of the excerpts is thin and pale, has a fever, and is extremely nervous. He calls himself a wreck, but he promises to take care of himself once he completes the monster.

Support for Structure