Is the Book better than the Movie?

Professor Carolyn Nadeau sent me this great link to an essay from Romantic Circles Praxis Series, a site "devoted to using computer technologies to investigate critically the languages, cultures, histories, and theories of Romanticism."

The essay, titled "Frankenstein's Dream. Frankenstein's Cinematic Dream." compares Mary Shelley's book to the 1931 film directed by James Whale. We'll be watching this on campus during Fall Festival and discussing it in small groups. Has anyone seen the 1931 film? Has anyone seen the 1994 film starring Robert DeNiro and Kenneth Branaugh?

As you read...

One of the reasons that Frankenstein was selected as the book for the Summer Reading project is its multitude of themes. As you read, think about how the following are expressed in the book:

Ambition
Good versus evil
Horror and terror
Injustice
Obsessive behavior
Physical deformity
Parental love and responsibility
Revenge
Science and ethics
Social responsibility

Are there other themes you've noticed as you've read?

Frankenstein image

Thanks to Blair Hannah for creating this excellent image for the Frankenstein Summer Reading Project!