This term paper compares the 1831-edition of Mary Shelley´s famous novel "Frankenstein" with Dorothy Louise´s modern stage adaptation of the novel, looking at similarities, differences and methods of adaptation. In the first part of the paper, a paratext of the novel - namely Mary Shelley´s introduction from 1831 - is analyzed, because Dorothy Louise uses this paratext as a new frame for the Frankenstein story in her play. In the second part of the paper, the narrative structure of the novel is discussed and the ways in which Dorothy Louise adapts those structures are presented.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Novel's Introduction of 1831 and the Play's New Frame
- 2.1. Mary Shelley's Introduction: Framing the Story from the Outside
- 2.2. Framing the Story Anew in Dorothy Louise's Frankenstein
- 2.3. Results
- 3. The Novel's Narrative Structure and Its Representation in the Play
- 3.1. Narrative Frames Within Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
- 3.2. Adapting the Narrative Frames
- 3.3. Results
- 4. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes how the added frame in Dorothy Louise's adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein influences the story's representation. It compares the novel's 1831 introduction and the play's new frame, examining which biographical aspects are shared and which are unique to the play. The paper also investigates how this reframing affects the novel's narrative structure, focusing on the changes in the characters of Captain Walton and Victor Frankenstein.
- The impact of Mary Shelley's 1831 introduction on interpretations of Frankenstein.
- The creation of a new frame in Dorothy Louise's play and its biographical elements.
- The relationship between the novel's narrative structure and its adaptation in the play.
- The analysis of changes in character representation between the novel and the play.
- The connection between biographical details and the thematic understanding of the story.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by highlighting the enduring popularity of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and its numerous adaptations, focusing on Dorothy Louise's 2004 play as a case study. The chapter establishes the paper's objective: to analyze how the play's added frame influences the representation of the original story. It outlines the methodology, indicating that the analysis will involve a detailed comparison of the 1831 introduction of the novel and the frame of the play. The introduction also previews the focus on biographical aspects and their effects on the story's and characters' perceptions.
2. The Novel's Introduction of 1831 and the Play's New Frame: This chapter delves into a comparative analysis of Mary Shelley's 1831 introduction to Frankenstein and the new frame introduced in Dorothy Louise's play. It explores how the introduction serves as a meta-frame, providing a moral and outlining the literary origins of the story. The chapter then examines how Dorothy Louise utilizes this introduction as an additional source text, creating a new frame that incorporates biographical details about Mary Shelley, her father, and Lord Byron. The analysis investigates which biographical elements are directly derived from the introduction and which are additions by Louise, exploring the reasons behind this focus and its impact on the overall interpretation of the story and characters.
3. The Novel's Narrative Structure and Its Representation in the Play: This chapter shifts the focus to the narrative structures of both the novel and the play. It begins by examining the narrative levels within Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, particularly focusing on the perspectives of Captain Walton and Victor Frankenstein. The key part of the analysis is devoted to exploring how Dorothy Louise adapts these narrative frames in her play. The chapter analyzes the changes in character representation between the novel and the play, highlighting the significance of these alterations for the overall narrative. The discussion connects these adaptations to the reframing of the story explored in the previous chapter, illustrating how the shifts in biographical context influence the narrative structure and interpretation.
Keywords
Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, Dorothy Louise, adaptation, narrative frame, biographical context, 1831 introduction, narrative structure, character representation, meta-fiction.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Dorothy Louise's Adaptation of Mary Shelley's *Frankenstein*
What is the main focus of this paper?
This paper analyzes how the added frame in Dorothy Louise's adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein influences the story's representation. It compares the novel's 1831 introduction and the play's new frame, examining shared and unique biographical aspects. The paper also investigates how this reframing affects the novel's narrative structure, focusing on changes in the characters of Captain Walton and Victor Frankenstein.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the impact of Mary Shelley's 1831 introduction on interpretations of Frankenstein; the creation of a new frame in Dorothy Louise's play and its biographical elements; the relationship between the novel's narrative structure and its adaptation in the play; the analysis of changes in character representation between the novel and the play; and the connection between biographical details and the thematic understanding of the story.
What is covered in Chapter 2 of the analysis?
Chapter 2 provides a comparative analysis of Mary Shelley's 1831 introduction to Frankenstein and the new frame in Dorothy Louise's play. It explores how the introduction acts as a meta-frame, outlining the story's literary origins. The chapter examines how Dorothy Louise uses this introduction, incorporating biographical details about Mary Shelley, her father, and Lord Byron. It investigates which biographical elements are directly derived from the introduction and which are additions by Louise, exploring the reasons behind this focus and its impact on interpretation.
What is the focus of Chapter 3 of the analysis?
Chapter 3 focuses on the narrative structures of both the novel and the play. It examines the narrative levels within Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, particularly the perspectives of Captain Walton and Victor Frankenstein. It explores how Dorothy Louise adapts these narrative frames in her play, analyzing changes in character representation and their significance for the overall narrative. The chapter connects these adaptations to the reframing of the story, illustrating how shifts in biographical context influence narrative structure and interpretation.
What is the methodology used in this paper?
The paper uses a comparative analysis approach. It involves a detailed comparison of the 1831 introduction of the novel and the frame of the play, focusing on biographical aspects and their effects on the story's and characters' perceptions.
What are the key takeaways of this analysis?
The analysis reveals how the added frame in the play significantly impacts the interpretation of the story. It highlights the interplay between biographical context, narrative structure, and character representation in shaping the overall meaning of Frankenstein in both the novel and its adaptation.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, Dorothy Louise, adaptation, narrative frame, biographical context, 1831 introduction, narrative structure, character representation, meta-fiction.
What is the purpose of the Introduction chapter?
The introduction highlights the enduring popularity of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and its adaptations, focusing on Dorothy Louise's 2004 play. It establishes the paper's objective: to analyze how the play's added frame influences the representation of the original story. It outlines the methodology and previews the focus on biographical aspects and their effects on the story's and characters' perceptions.
What is the role of the Conclusion chapter (Chapter 4)?
The conclusion chapter synthesizes the findings of the preceding chapters, summarizing the key insights gained from comparing the novel and the play. It likely reinforces the impact of the added frame on the overall interpretation and thematic understanding of *Frankenstein*.
- Quote paper
- Silvia Schilling (Author), 2017, Reframing the Story. Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" (1831) and Dorothy Louise's "Frankenstein" (2004), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/450285
