We’ve all been there. There’s a test tomorrow. Your students haven’t read the book, so they have this great idea: Watch the movie. Bad idea. There have been hundreds of Frankenstein movies, none of them even have an accurate summary of the novel. Here are some things to look for when analyzing whether a student has actually read the book or just watched a Frankenstein movie.
- Frankenstein is not the name of the monster; it’s the name of the scientist. The monster has no name. He is really, really lonely.
- The monster is not deranged because the scientist uses an abnormal brain. The monster is deranged because Victor Frankenstein abandons him on the day of its creation because the monster is really, really ugly.
- The best Frankenstein movie is Young Frankenstein. I highly recommend it, not because it portrays the novel accurately, but because it’s really, really funny. I highly recommend you not show this movie in class…unless you enjoy hearing from angry parents–although I’m sure you could find a TV appropriate version.
- TNT made a Frankenstein movie years ago that at least had the same characters as the novel. I turned it off when Elizabeth, Victor’s fiancee, shows up and “gets it on” with Victor during a picnic. That never happened. The movie is really, really bad.
- There was another Frankenstein remake starring Robert DeNiro made about 10 years ago. I never saw it. I heard it was really, really boring.
If you happen to find a Frankenstein movie you feel is of academic worth, try this lesson plan.
Here’s the handout. It’s self-explanatory. Find additional Frankenstein lesson plans here.
Don’t forget to write one of these standards on the board.
- RL.9-10.7 – Analyze the representation of a subject or a key scene in two different artistic mediums, including what is emphasized or absent in each treatment.
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RL.11-12.7 – Analyze multiple interpretations of a story, drama, or poem (e.g., recorded or live production of a play or recorded novel or poetry), evaluating how each version interprets the source text. (Include at least one play by Shakespeare and one play by an American dramatist.) (Bradbury is technically an American dramatist).
Can someone please find me a good Frankenstein movie (other than Young Frankenstein)?!?
Here is a movie I came across on YouTube. I have yet to watch it. When I do, I’ll post a review. I’m not exactly optimistic about this one. How can such a great book inspire so many bad movies?
The Curse of Frankenstein
Everything you need to know about Frankenstein by Mary Shelley can be accessed by the following links.
- Frankenstein Chapter Summaries
- Important Quotes from Frankenstein
- Frankenstein Characters with Analysis
- Allusions in Frankenstein
- Frankenstein Study Questions