Jane Eyre 12.

“ . . . like a wild, frantic bird rending it’s own plumage in desperation . . . “(Brontë 257)

Many times when birds become flustered they flap their wings in desperation to take flight to safety. However more often than not they wind up with a broken wing or flap themselves into exhaustion and die. Brontë compares Jane to a frantic bird because Jane is acting out immensely because of Mr. Rochester’s actions. She believes him to be getting married to Miss. Ingram and she decides to leave. By Brontë saying she will render her own plumage she means that if Jane continues to act the way she currently is than she will end up losing Rochester and everything she’s worked for.

Jane Eyre 11.

“ . . .a careless shepherd if I had left a lamb. . . so near a wolf’s den . . . “ (Brontë 219)

At this point in the novel Rochester has left Jane alone with a bleeding patient in dire need of assistance. She is frightened to the extent where she is almost incoherent. She is incapable of bandaging his wound and fears greatly that he will die before the return of Rochester and the surgeon. Brontë compares Jane to a lamb because before a lamb matures into a sheep it is entirely dependent on either it’s mother or it’s shepherd. In this case Jane’s shepherd is none other than Rochester and him leaving her alone could have dire consequences due to the fact that she is so dependent on him.

Jane Eyre 10.

“ . . . with her long curls and blue eyes . . . just as she was painted . . .” (Brontë 25)

At this point in the novel everyone in the Reed household is gawking over Georgiana’s beauty. They disregard Jane as part of the family, not only because of her behavior but because she is not much to look at. Brontë made such a big point of this because she wants to make the reader realize that appearance was a huge part of life and social status in the mid 1800’s. Even more interesting is that appearance is still a huge part of fitting in in todays society some hundred years later.

Jane Eyre 9.

" . . . remorse is the poison of life . . . " (Brontë 138)

When Brontë says this he means that if life if lived through regret and remorse than there really is no living. Jane Eyre has a lot to regret from her life but she has chosen to push past it and more forward, living for the future. If she had not chosen to do so she would be over come by depression because of her child hood and would never be able to move on. She would forever be stuck seeing out of the eyes of that little girl.

Jane Eyre 8.

" . . . an uncongenial alien permanently intruded on her own family group . . . " (Brontë 16)

At this point in the novel Jane Eyre resents her Aunt more than ever, and her Aunt is none too fond of her. Brontë could have chosen to use to term 'alien' for more than one reason. The word alien is often used to describe a foreigner which Jane technically was. The only reason she was living there was due to the fact that her father was deceased and had requested she stay there. Another usage for the word alien is in the extraterrestrial sense. Jane was not classically "beautiful" and her Aunt was never shy to tell her. Brontë could have been using this term to describe her lack of blending in with the Reed family.

Jane Eyre 7.

" . . . they let us ramble in the wood like gypsies . . ." (Brontë 78)

Gypsies, among other things, are known for their free spirits and diverse, spirited travels. By Brontë comparing the girls to gypsies she is simply saying that they took everything in, every bit of nature that surrounded them and appreciated every inch She also meant that the girls frolicked to and fro through the woods with out a care in the world or a destination, much like gypsies.

Jane Eyre 6.

" . . .Solomon said . . . "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a stalled ox and hatred therewith . . . " (Brontë 75)

Solomon was known not only for creating Jerusalem and the Holy Temple but also for his wisdom, his wealth, and his writing. He is often times quoted much as he was in Jane Eyre. This particular quote has been paraphrased an umpteenth amount of times over the years. It is saying that it is better to be poor and have love than to have all the riches in the world and know only hate. Brontë used this quote because she was explaining the differences between Lowood and Gateshead. Although Gateshead was much more pristine and seemed to be "better" at a glance it was filled with nothing more than bitter memories for Jane.

Jane Eyre 5.

". . .we feasted that evening as on nectar and ambrosia. . . " (Brontë 73)

Nectar and ambrosia are said to be "foods of the Gods". They were fortunate enough to have the luxury to dine on nectar and ambrosia. Food played a large role in greek mythology ; those who ate deserved to eat and those who went hungry deserved that as well. Hunger was seen as a punishment. By Brontë saying that they feasted on nectar and ambrosia she means that the food was fit for a God and truly decadent.

Jane Eyre 4.

"...heathen who says his prayers to Brahma and kneels before Juggernaut . . . " (Brontë 67)

The Brahma and the Juggernaut are both important figures in the Hindu religion. Brahma is said to be their God and the Juggernaut is said to be not only a God but the Lord of the entire World. At this point in the novel Jane is being accused of having sinned because she has "lied". By Brontë comparing her to someone who worships Hindu Gods she is stating that Jane is a misbeliever and a traitor and has obviously committed sins. Not only did Brontë compare her to a "heathen" but she said that she was worse.

Jane Eyre 3.

". . . march forward . . . "as stalwart soldiers" . . . " (Brontë 60)

The definition of a stalwart soldier is "one who is physically and morally strong". The students had to face the elements and endure a two mile walk to church every Sunday. Their spirits were always slow as they had to deal with the frigid air and bitter snow. Miss Temple referred to them as stalwart soldiers to lift their spirits. Brontë used this particular term to compare the girl to strong minded soldiers because in this part of the novel that's what they seemed to be. They seemed to be an army, marching to their destination of church. The battle they fought were the elements.

Jane Eyre 2.

". . . You are like a murderer . . . you are like the Roman Emperors . . . " (Brontë 10)

Roman Emperors were often known as cruel and evil. They obtained unlimited power and did with such power as they pleased. They were dictators and the lives of commoners and people that inhabited Rome had no effect on the way they chose to rule their territory. They only saw people as stepping stones to better themselves. When Brontë refers John Reed to not only a Roman Emperor but also a slave-driver she truly means that he is repulsive. That he is a retched little boy who believes that he deserves better than everyone else, especially Jane.

Jane Eyre 1.

"..I sat cross-legged like a Turk..." (Brontë 7)

When Brontë says that Jane was sitting as a Turk he means that she was sitting cross-legged. In Turkey Islam is the most prominent religion, Islam is a distinct sect of Muslim. A Muslim is bound to perform the Salaah five times a day. While performing this religious ritual of prayer they spend most of the time in the "indian style" cross-legged position, among others. When Brontë states that she was sitting as a Turk he could also have meant that she was in an almost meditative state; she was calm and serene.

Works Cited

"River Thames -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 01 Sept. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thames.

"HMS Terror (1813) -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 01 Sept. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Terror_(1813).

"Concertina wire -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 01 Sept. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concertina_wire.

"Gautama Buddha -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 01 Sept. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha.

"Ave Caesar morituri te salutant -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 01 Sept. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ave_Caesar_morituri_te_salutant.

"Huntley & Palmers -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 01 Sept. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntley_&_Palmers.

"Ludovico Ariosto -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 01 Sept. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludovico_Ariosto.

"Satan, The Fallen Angel Who Tempted Adam In The Garden Of Eden." HubPages. Web. 01 Sept. 2009. http://hubpages.com/hub/SatanFallenAngel.

"Pandemonium -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 01 Sept. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemonium.

"Nightingale -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 01 Sept. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightingale.

"Mahomet and His Successors." Yahoo! GeoCities: Get a web site with easy-to-use site building tools. Web. 01 Sept. 2009. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/2092/paper5.htm.

google images

Heart of Darkness 26.

“…To tear treasure out of the bowels of the land… burglars breaking into a safe…” (Conrad 40)

Conrad is saying that each day people are being less careful and less grateful for the earths natural treasures; we cultivate the ground, tear down trees, explode cliff sides, with no real regard or remorse for doing so. He is comparing our guiltless destroying to the guiltless mind set of a robber; a robber steals from other beings, we steal from our earth, what’s the real difference?

Heart of Darkness 25.

"...I felt as though, instead of going to the center of a continent, I were about to set off for the center of the earth..."(Conrad 17)

The center of the earth (the core) is said to be as hot as the sun but the temperature fluctuates regularly; it is composed primarily of nickel-iron alloy. To travel to the center of the earth is absolutely impossible, you would die instantly, not to mention that difficulty of cutting through the other layers of our earth. Conrad is stating that when Marlow said this he meant that this was going to be a frightful, dangerous and quite possibly, impossible journey.

Heart of Darkness 24.

1.) “…I should be loyal to the nightmare of my choice…” (Conrad 85)

When Marlow decided to find Kurtz he knew what could become of it, he knew the dangers that were possible and he had signed himself off to do this. When he says he should be loyal to the nightmare of his choice he means that though things are not going completely as smoothly as planned he allowed this to happen to himself, he placed himself in his own horrible nightmare and must continue to do so until it is finished. Conrad is stating that most people don't own up to their mistakes or follow through with what they signed up to do, but Marlow has to, he doesn't have a choice.

Heart of Darkness 23.

1.) “…I was completely unnerved by a sheer black fright… distinct shapes of danger…” (Conrad 83)

Have you ever been so scared you were paralyzed, unable to move, to think, to breathe? Sometimes people get scared to the point where they aren’t even aware that they are scared, the world just stops, your vision become skewed and you don’t know what scared you in the first place. When Marlow discovered that Kurtz had vanished he was struck with this type of fear, nothing else in the world could have scared him more because Kurtz was so essential, he didn’t believe it because he didn’t want to believe it and couldn’t feel fear because he was scared to the point where being frightened was no longer an option. Conrad is making a point to describing the type of fear Marlow is feeling, Conrad is trying to explain in such a way that each of us can relate to.

Heart of Darkness 22.

1.) “…She must have had the value of several elephant tusks upon her…” (Conrad 79)

Elephant tusks are made of ivory which makes them very, very valuable which causes poachers to kill thousands of elephants to obtain their ivory. When Conrad said that she looked as though she had several elephant tusks upon her it was not meant in the literal sense but in the sense that she was wearing very fine jewelry that must have been very expensive.

Heart of Darkness 21.

1.) “…Perhaps you will think it passing strange this regret for a savage…no more account than a grain of sand in a black Sahara…” (Conrad 65)

The Sahara desert is the world’s largest non-polar desert; it stretches 3000 miles over Northern Africa, and is covered in sand. To compare someone to a single grain of sand is pretty much stating that they are unaccountable for. Conrad is stating that the ‘savage’ is not accountable for, and not even worth thinking of, he’s just another grain of sand to walk all over.

Heart of Darkness 20.

1.) “…A loaded Martini-Henry leaning in one corner…” (Conrad 57)

The Martini-Henry was a lever-activated rifle that was adopted by the British in 1871. Much like the Winchester the Martini-Henry was also stored on most ships to protect the passengers from attack. They were also always loaded for easy access and kept in the corner closest to the door.

Heart of Darkness 19.

1.) “…I watched the fog for signs of lifting as a cat watches a mouse…” (Conrad 56)

When a cat is intent on catching a mouse it will first stalk it, once it is cornered the cat will either pounce immediately or watch the mouse with immense focus; even if they lose the mouse, they still sit and watch, hoping that it will re-appear again.Conrad is stating that Marlow feels this same way, he wants nothing more than the air to clear so he can continue his journey, so he watches, waits and watches, hoping for the fog to lift.

Heart of Darkness 18.

1.) “…No fear can stand up to hunger…disgust simply does not exist where hunger is…” (Conrad 54)’

There is no pain that is equal to the pain of hunger, it attacks you physically and mentally and is incredibly taxing in both ways. When a person is hungry to the point of starvation their mind fixates on it, it is completely set on thinking about food and quenching their hunger, nothing else can pass this wall, not fear, not sensibility, nothing. Conrad is using diction to make it apparent on the effects hunger has on the human mind, body, and soul.

Heart of Darkness 17.

1.) “…darting scared glances, with Winchesters at ‘ready’ in their hands…” (Conrad 52)

A Winchester is a certain type of rifle that was among the first ‘repeating rifles’ and could also be recognizable as ‘the gun that won the west’ due to the fact that it played a major role in western expansion. It seems as though Conrad is trying to state that when faced with a frightening situation one always feels more secure with a weapon or some sort of defense mechanism. Many people in this time period carried guns with them for protection and that were very easily accessible due to the large number of attacks that took place on the river.

Heart of Darkness 16.

1.) “…like a sluggish beetle… made you feel very small, very lost and yet it was not altogether depressing…”

When a beetle crawls across the ground, it seems as though it is moving incredibly slow, a beetle is tiny in the whole scheme of things, however so are we. When the ship is being compared to a beetle Cpnrad is merely stating that they are crawling along, at a very slow pace.However though a beetle may be small compared to us, and we may be small compared to earth itself that does not mean that it is depressing in anyway; to be smaller than something in size does not make you smaller in happiness or wisdom.

Heart of Darkness 15.

1.) “…She rang under my feet like an empty Huntley & Palmer biscuit tin kicked along a gutter…” (Conrad 37)

Huntley & Palmer were bakers that ran what was once the largest biscuit factory in the world. The biscuits were shipped all over the world in elaborately decorated biscuit tins that are now highly valuable. When a tin can is kicked along pavement is has a very distinct sound, a sound that you will always know and can not be mistaken for anything else. So when Marlow says that the steam-boat rang under him it means that a good portion of the boat was more than likely made of tin and reminded him of the biscuit tins.

Heart of Darkness 14.

1.) “…no sensible man rejects wantonly the confidence of his superiors…” (Conrad 36)

Everybody wants to be accepted, no body wants to feel as though they are an outcast on society and disliked by others. Some people may give off the sense that they really don’t care, but for the most part, people do. We go through life thinking about what is socially acceptable and trying to abide by what is, people strive to be better than what they are everyday. Conrad is stating that when given the option to be liked or disliked by people that are ‘above’ you socially no one would choose to be disliked; that being said, we rarely are given the choice but it is true that for the most part, people want to be accepted by those equal, above, and below them.

Heart of Darkness 13.

1.) “…I noticed there was a hole in the bottom of the pail…” (Conrad 31)

At this part of the book a man was trying to put out a fire in the town and continued scurrying to and fro from the river with a pale to carry water which was meant to be poured on the flames to put them out. However it just so happens that there was a hole in the bottom of the bucket so when he got back to the fire the bucket was nearly empty but he continued to work relentlessly. Through this quote Conrad shows that even though he may not have had a huge difference in whether or not the fire was put out but he was still trying and putting his best foot forward even when things weren’t going his way.

Heart of Darkness 12.

1.) “…His eyes of the usual blue….his glance fall on one as trenchant and heavy as an axe…” (Conrad 28)

When an axe falls on an object it is natural that it will do damage, an ax is relatively heavy and has an incredibly sharp, thick blade at the end of it. It is capable of slicing through thick blocks of wood and if someone was hit with the dull end could induce a mass amount of damage. Conrad is stating that the managers eyes were so incredibly cold and had such a piercing depth that one glance of eye contact could make a man cower; ‘if looks could kill’.

Heart of Darkness 11.

1.) “…I’ve seen the devil of violence, the devil of greed and the devil of hot desire…swayed and drove men…” (Conrad 21)

The devil is said to be the most evil entity that we know of, he is also said to be incredibly powerful and persuasive. By saying that he has seen the devil of each of those three things he means that he has seen them in their absolute worst. Conrad is comparing each word or sin to the devil, stating that as bad as each sin is, it had been seen at it's very worst.

Heart of Darkness 10.

1.) “…Pop would go one of the eight inch guns… and nothing happened. Nothing could happen…” (Conrad 19)

When a gun is shot is continues to slice through the air until some object stops it, the fact that nothing happened when the gun was fired is stating that they are so alone, in such complete solitude that there is nothing in the radius surrounding them that the bullet knowingly struck. While in the middle of a large body of water you are often overcome by a feeling of total solitude, there is nothing else there besides you and the ship for miles and miles.

Heart of Darkness 9.

1.) “…Morituri te salutant… not half, by a long way…” (Conrad 15)

Morituri te salutant is a Latin phrase that translates into ‘those who are about to die, salute you”. Before Marlow was to begin his journey he had to see a doctor, the doctor claimed to enjoy seeing the patient before and after his journey. While waiting he saw a woman who was knitting and she said these words to him; afterwards when he sees the doctor it is explained to him that most people that take this journey do not return. Conrad is foreshadowing that there is much danger to come.

Heart of Darkness 8.

1.) “… The snake had charmed me…” (Conrad 11)

In many countries and cultures people take part in what is called ‘snake charming’, snake charming is when a person lulls the snake into a hypnotic state which means the actions of the snake are completely in the charmers hands. However this seems to have flipped the charmer and the charmed. At this point Marlow is telling his story and realizes that he wishes to travel and explore the Thames knowing that there is a good chance for danger. Conrad is saying that although he is well aware of the possible consequences he is ‘charmed’ by the utter curiosity, meaning that in this particular instance, the snake has charmed the charmer.

Heart of Darkness 7.

“…it fascinated me as a snake would a bird… silly little bird…” (Conrad 11)

Have you ever been tempted by something that may not have been the best idea, or the best thing to do? Conrad is stating that though people may know that what they are about to do could have consequences, we as humans are drawn to things that make us curious. When Marlow speaks about is ambition to explore and saw the map of the river he knows that the river is used for Company trade, and knows that there is huge possibility for there to be trouble, but much like raccoons are drawn in by objects that shine, humans are drawn in by their own subconscious curiosity.

Heart of Darkness 6.

1.) “…He had the pose of a Buddha preaching in European clothes…” (Conrad 9)

Buddha was a spiritual teacher in the north eastern region of the Indian subcontinent that founded Buddhism. He is known for his very distinct stature, he is said to be handsome, good-looking and very pleasing to the eye. He also tends to sit cross legged when he preaches while looking very serene. When it is said that Marlow had the pose of Buddha it was meant that he looked as though he was preaching what he truly believed and wanted to pass his knowledge on; they could also have been stating that he in fact was sitting in the stance that Buddha is known for sitting in.

Heart of Darkness 5.

1.) “… A kind of ship as rigid as concertina…” (Conrad 8)

Concertina is a type of wire, much like barbed or razor wire, which is used in many wars to build fences around the perimeter of their base. Not only is it used to structure fences as a defense mechanism but it was also used for traps. Concertina wire is relatively strong and very rigid, and when enough wire is placed together can be a very fortified fence. When Marlow is speaking about the river and begins to talk about ships and says that the ship was as rigid as concertina he means that it was a very well fortified ship.

Heart of Darkness 4.

1.) “…What greatness had not floated on the ebb of that river…The dreams of men, the seed of commonwealths, the germs of empires…” (Conrad 7)

Throughout the ages the Thames had been used not only for trade but for transportation as well. Many well known Dukes, Kings and Queens used the river to get where they needed to go. Two of the most known ‘bomb ships’, Erebus and Terror used this river during their travels on their Antarctic Expedition. The Terror was used for war service in 1812 in Crimea until she was damaged and withdrawn for repairs. Conrad is making a reference to the many famous and heroic people that had once sailed the waters of the Thames, and making a point to how very important it was, and still is.

Heart of Darkness 3.

1.) “…We looked at the venerable stream…. But in the august light of abiding memories…” (Conrad 6)

The river has been serving people with no restraint day in and day out for ages by saying that it does not come and depart for ages means that it never departs; the river serves every day and every night, never leaving. Conrad is stating that memories last forever, they come from the past and continue on into the future, much like the use of the river; memories never stop and neither does the river.

Heart of Darkness 2.

1.) “… The sea reach of the Thames stretched before us like the beginning of an interminable waterway…” (Conrad 5)

The Thames River is undoubtedly the longest river in England; it has been used for trade and a distinct boundary line for the counties of England for many centuries. It played a huge role in the everyday life of English people who wished to trade with those from other counties and also provided drinking water for the natives. By Conrad saying that it seemed as though it was an interminable waterway, it means that it seems as though the river goes on forever both in the physical sense and in the sense that it provided for people centuries ago and is still providing for people today.

Heart of Darkness 1.

1.) “… He resembled a pilot, which to a seaman is trustworthiness personified…” (Conrad 5)

When a seaman goes out to see, his only responsibility is himself, however when a pilot takes flight to the skies it is possible that he is taking responsibility of hundreds of people. When the narrator is speaking of the Captain he is stating that he is well aware of the dangers ahead and is taking full responsibility of the passengers on his boat. Conrad is stating that the Captain is trustworthy enough that you can put your life in his hands without hesitation.

Frankenstein 26.

“…With a devouring maladie du pays, to see once more the blue lake…”

At this point Frankenstein had lost three of the people he loved most, he begins to reminisce on his childhood and of Justine, William, and Clerval. Maladie du pays translates into ‘home sick’, Frankenstein is feeling the aches of being homesick, wishing for his life to once again be happy and free, he wishes to rejoin his deceased friends and family and for everyone to be at peace once again.

Frankenstein 25.

“…but I was doomed to live…” (Shelley 194)

Life is supposed to be Gods greatest gift, it is supposed to be cherished and not taken for granted. Frankenstein had endured so much pain, and so much loss that he has fallen into such a deep depression that he feels as though he has nothing to live for and, for that matter, does not deserve to live. He feels as though living is a burden and punishment placed upon his shoulders because his creature has caused so many deaths. Shelley is making it clear to just how deep into depression Frankenstein had fallen, he had fallen to the point of feeling as though living was just a burden to himself and those around him.

Frankenstein 24.

“…so frightful an event is single in the history of man…” (Shelley 218)

Over the centuries our human race has endured excruciating wars, death, plagues, drought, famine, and many other indescribable events. People have endured torture, pain and suffering, loss, starvation, and disease. After Elizabeth was killed by Frankenstein’s monster he had lost four dearly loved ones because of his deprived creation; he truly believed that despite everything that man has gone through, nothing has been has horribly frightful as this. Shelley is stating that despite every horrible thing that mankind has been through, inlucing the Holocaust, the countless wars, and the Great Depression, he truly feels that he is enduring the worst of them all.

Frankenstein 23.

“…She instructed her daughter…and taught her to aspire to higher powers of intellect…forbidden to the female followers of Mahomet…” (Shelley 131)

Mahomet was the founder of the religion of Islam, however this was not his intent, he did not want to create a religion he just wanted to speak what he believed and his followers wrote down what he said to them in a book called the Koran. Women who were followers of Mahomet had very few rights, they were allowed to own possessions, but had no real financial status, women existed essentially to marry and produce children, and may only marry other men who follow the beliefs of Mahomet. Her mother wanted her to break free of the limited life led by the female followers of Mahomet.

Frankenstein 22.

“…Of what a strange nature is knowledge. It clings to the mind…like a lichen on the rock…” (Shelley 127)

A lichen is capable of clinging to a rock even when the temperature drops below freezing, it endures waves and animals, it clings there until it can no longer hold on or dies and a new lichen is produced. Shelley is comparing the strength of lichen holding on to their habitat to the strength of knowledge and memories staying in our minds. Much like a lichen knowledge will stay glued in our minds until forgotten or knew knowledge takes its place.

Frankenstein 21.

“… They possessed a delightful house and every luxury…” (Shelley 116)

Shelley is stating how true it is that when you have absolutely nothing, just having something makes you completely rich. Frankenstein’s creation had been living in complete solitude since he was ‘born’, he had nothing and he had no one to turn to. He had been living in the forest on the cold, hard, unwelcoming ground. When he saw what the old man and his children had, though they were very low class on the social charts, he thought that they had everything; ‘one mans trash is another mans treasure.”

Frankenstein 20.

“…The tortures of Hell are too mild a vengeance for thy crimes…” (Shelley 102)

In many religions Hell is thought to be the place of suffering and punishment and is most often described as fiery and painful; it is supposed to be the most severe punishment for your sins. At this point Shelley is stating that Frankenstein detests his creation so much that he doesn’t think the worst punishment we know, is punishment enough.

Frankenstein 19.

“…Satan had his companions… but I am solitary and abhorred…” (Shelley 139)

Satan is believed to be the personification of evil and the enemy of God and also commands a force of evil angels most commonly known as demons. His followers are faithful and each day he continues to obtain more. Frankenstein’s monster has no one, no one to follow and no one to follow him, he has nothing, and he doesn’t even have his own creator to look to. Shelley is trying to make it clear how devastatingly lonesome he truly is, he is so alone that even arguably one of the most hated beings on earth has more companions than him.

Frankenstein 18.

“…Like Adam I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence…” (Shelley 23)

When Adam was created he was the first being on our earth, he had no one until he discovered Eve, he had no one to connect with, he lived in complete solitude. Much like Adam, Frankenstein’s monster had no one that was like him, however there were other people around him, no one was quite like him and this made it very difficult to cope. He was forced into exile for being different, if Adam did not have Eve, who knows what our world would have come to, or if it would even exist. Shelley is making it blatantly obvious as to how important it is to have companions in our journey through life.

Frankenstein 17.

“…the wounded deer dragging its fainting limbs to some untrodden brake there to gaze upon the arrow which pierced it…” (Shelley 95)

Shelley is comparing the wounded deer to Frankenstein, though he is not injured in the physical form, but emotionally he is severely wounded. Each day that passes he has to look himself in the mirror and realize that he is the creator of the ‘evil’ that causes his loved ones pain time and time again. The deer must face the arrow that wounded him but Frankenstein must face himself, every day.

Frankenstein 16.

“…blood flowed freely in my veins, but weight of despair and remorse pressed on my heart, which nothing could remove…”

After Justine’s death victor is overcome with a feeling of utter remorse, he feels as though his monster has killed William, which in turn means the monster killed Justin, and to him, that all comes back to him being the murderer of the children. Shelley is stating that though his blood is running through his veins, there is a weight on his heart that should very well kill him, constrict him of the blood flow, but it has not, because it is only a figment of his imagination. He feels dead, lifeless, and worthless, and he pretty much is, except he still has blood moving freely and easily through all of his veins.

Frankenstein 15.

“…I did confess but I confessed a lie … but now the falsehood lies heavier in my head than all other sins…” (Shelley 87)

Have you ever told a lie? A lie that caused you to experience a horrible, gut-wrenching, sick to your stomach feeling? That is how Justine is feeling at this point in the novel; she has just lied in court, though for good reason, she still has a feeling of guilt hanging over her head. She was told that if she did not confess that she would be damned to life in Hell, so she confessed, falsely. Shelley is stating that lying could possibly be the worst sin we know, it causes guilt and guilt is one of the most horrendous feelings people can feel, Justine was forced to lie, and still has to lose her life, and has guilt. So I ask you, what good can come from lying?

Frankenstein 14.

14.) “…No one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore onwards, like a hurricane, in the first enthusiasm of success…” (Shelley 48
When a hurricane occurs it has that capability of anything, it is powerful and nothing can stand in its way. When Frankenstein first obtained his idea of creating a new being from scratch he felt just like this; he felt as though he had all power in his hands and he was about to do something that was never before done, and nothing was going to stop him. He had every emotion crashing down inside him much like a hurricane, just a whirlwind of everything, destruction, creation, happiness, and sadness.

Frankenstein 13.

“…The saintly soul of Elizabeth shone like a shrine-dedicated lamp…” (Shelley 30)
Shrines are considered to be holy places, where sacred things are kept or worshiped, meaning that a shrine-dedicated lamp would be a lamp used in a shrine making the lamp itself holy in a sense. Shelley is comparing Elizabeth to the lamp stating that not only is she holy in heart and mind but she also illuminates and forces her good will out to others. Lamps add light to dark somber areas much like Elizabeth added easiness and cheerfulness to the people around her, her spirit touched everyone, like the light from a lamp.

Frankenstein 12.

“…During my youthful days… I was never overcome by ennui…” (Shelley 174)

By definition the word ‘ennui’ means “a feeling of utter weariness and discontent resulting from satiety or lack of interest; boredom”; in this particular case Shelley is using this diction to describe a child’s view on life, nothing can go wrong, you are invincible. Victor is reminiscing on his childhood and how simple everything seemed to be, every child has that feeling of being invincible, they fall down and get right back up. Children don’t know what real pain, or discontent is, you need to live a life to really understand how it truly feels to be ‘overcome by ennui’.

Frankenstein 11.

11.) “…but I am a blasted tree the bolt has entered my soul…” (Shelley 174)

Shelley is using this as a way to describe the human body when stricken by a blow of depression, once you have experienced it a part of you has been changed forever, much like when a tree is struck by lightening, there is always permanent damage. Victor is enduring the pain and suffering of his own doing, his creature is the lightning, and he has entered his life, causing it to be forever changed.

Frankenstein 10.

“…the old man, who taking up an instrument, began to play . . . sweeter than the voice of the thrush or the nightingale…” (Shelley 112)

The Nightingale is often times translated into ‘night songstress’ due to its beautiful voice and the sheer fact that it sings at night. The Nightingale, along with the thrush have a very wide range of whistles, trills and gurgles, and tend to have many long crescendos throughout their song. Shelley is comparing the old mans ability to play beautiful music on his instrument to the natural talent of the Nightingale and Thrush.

Frankenstein 9.

“…the old man, who taking up an instrument, began to play . . . sweeter than the voice of the thrush or the nightingale…” (Shelley 112)

The Nightingale is often times translated into ‘night songstress’ due to its beautiful voice and the sheer fact that it sings at night. The Nightingale, along with the thrush have a very wide range of whistles, trills and gurgles, and tend to have many long crescendos throughout their song. Shelley is comparing the old mans ability to play beautiful music on his instrument to the natural talent of the Nightingale and Thrush.

Frankenstein 8.

“…I was benevolent and good…misery made me a fiend…” (Shelley 103)

What if you had nothing; no one to talk to, no one to love you, no one to befriend you, absolutely nothing? Shelley is comparing the actions of content people versus those who are miserable and stating that chances are that those who are miserable are going to have more aggressive tendencies than those who are content. Frankenstein’s monster had virtually no one he could connect with; everyone who saw him was immediately either paralyzed with fear or enraged to the point of violence causing him to react in the only way he knew, he fought fire with fire.

Frankenstein 7

“…as exquisite and divine a retreat as Pandaemonium appeared to the deamons of hell…” (Shelley 110)

Pandaemonium is the capital of Hell in John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost, Pandaemonium has also been interpreted into “little spirit” or “little angel” or “all demon place”. The demons found Pandaemonium absolutely exquisite after spending many nights and days in the ‘lake of fire’; Shelley is comparing how the demons felt when they discovered Pandaemonium to how the monster felt when he discovered the little hut. He had spent many nights in the forest, sleeping on the cold, and wet ground, once he found this hut he was ecstatic because he was sheltered from the damp cold forest.

Frankenstein 6

6.) “…Devil… do you dare approach me?...” (Shelley 101)

The devil is believed to be a very powerful, supernatural entity filled with evil, many say the devil is the most evil entity that we know of. It is believed that it is the devils job to lure people away from God and take then to Hell for eternity. Shelley is comparing Frankenstein’s monster to questionably the most evil being on our earth.

Frankenstein 5.

”…I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel…” (Shelley 102-103)

Shelley is using comparison between the good of Adam and the evil of the fallen Angel, known to most as Lucifer. Frankenstein’s creation believes that due to the fact that he was created by Frankenstein’s hands he should be considered his Adam. Adam is said to be God’s first creation and the first man to walk on our earth, so in a way Shelley is comparing Frankenstein to God and his creation to Adam; however Frankenstein does not accept his creation as his own and has forced him into exile much like the fallen angel, Lucifer.

Frankenstein 4.

“…lightning’s playing on the summit of Mont Blanc in the most beautiful figures… but its violence quickly increased…” (Shelley 74)

When lightening strikes and composes figures in the dark, never ending sky, it can be one of the most beautiful and wild scenes you can see, but when it gets out of hand it can cause serious damage, the worst being fatalities. When Victor has his initial idea of creating a human form he has a dream of what it will turn out as, he thinks that it will be a magnificent creation but it turns out the exact opposite of what he had hoped for. Shelley is using the majestic and deadly lightning as a comparison to what Frankenstein’s original hopes were for his creation and what it turned out to be in the end.

Frankenstein 3.

“…for the same reason that Ariosto gives concerning Angelica…” (Shelley 62)

Ludovico Ariosto is known for his epic romance Orlando Furioso, which means Orlando in Love, in Italian. In this romance Ariosto is in love with Angelica, she is a pagan princess that is considered to be the fairest, most angelic, most beautiful woman known to man. Shelley is comparing Justine to Angelica and saying that Justine obtains the same majestic beauty as Angelica.

Frankenstein 2.

“…if no man allowed any pursuit whatsoever to interfere …. America would have been discovered more gradually and the empires of Mexico and Peru had not been destroyed…” (Shelley 51)

What if no one ever took initiative, would anything ever get done? Shelley answered that with a big no. If people were too worried about messing up than our world would come to an end very quickly; often times, when a risk is taken a great reward can be received. However, it can work both ways, with both good and bad outcomes; that being said, it is blatantly obvious that everything we do, or don’t do has consequences; something will happen or something will be avoided.

Frankenstein 1.

1.)

“… a being which had the shape of a man but apparently of gigantic stature…” (Shelley 13)

Shelley, in a way, is foreshadowing in the very beginning of a novel. R.W is out to sea on his ship and is surrounded by ice, they see an object that looks as though it could be a man, but is so large that it seems to be impossible. Shelley is letting the reader know that there is a being in the novel that could occur again that is gigantic and very human like, which has adapted but is just too large in stature to be a human.