Frankenstein: Plot Summary (Edexcel A-Level English Literature): Revision Notes

Frankenstein: Plot Summary

1. Captain Robert Walton writes to his sister, Margaret Saville, about his crew rescuing a man adrift at sea, Victor Frankenstein.
2. Victor tells Walton his story.
3. Victor's childhood in Switzerland is idyllic, with a loving family and an adopted sister, Elizabeth, who becomes his closest friend and love.

4. Victor's best friend is Henry Clerval.
5. Before Victor leaves for university in Ingolstadt, his mother dies of scarlet fever.
6. At Ingolstadt, Victor immerses himself in natural philosophy, losing touch with his family.

7. Victor discovers the secret of life and creates a creature, but is horrified by its appearance and abandons it.
8. Months later, Victor learns his brother, William, has been murdered and suspects the creature is responsible but stays silent.
9. Justine Moritz, falsely accused of William's murder, is executed, and Victor is consumed by guilt.

10. The Frankensteins go on vacation to escape their tragedy; Victor often hikes in the mountains.
11. The monster confronts Victor, telling him of its suffering and rejection due to its appearance.
12. The monster demands Victor create a female companion; Victor reluctantly agrees.
13. Back in Geneva, Victor's father wishes Victor to marry Elizabeth; Victor insists on travelling to England first.
14. Victor meets Clerval in England, then moves to a remote island to create the female monster.
15. Victor, fearing the new creature's potential destructiveness, destroys it as the first monster watches.
16. The monster vows revenge, warning Victor he will be with him on his wedding night.
17. Victor dumps the female creature's remains in the ocean but is accused of murder upon returning to shore.
18. Victor discovers Clerval is the murder victim and collapses, becoming delusional for two months.
19. Cleared of charges, Victor returns to Geneva with his father and marries Elizabeth.
20. On their wedding night, the monster kills Elizabeth; Victor's father dies of grief soon after.
21. Alone, Victor seeks revenge on the monster, tracking it to the Arctic.
22. Walton rescues Victor, who soon dies.
23. Walton writes to his sister about his failed expedition and Victor's death.
24. Walton discovers the monster grieving over Victor's corpse; the monster claims it has suffered greatly and plans to end its own life.