Week Twenty Assignment

2/26-28/2008

1. Read and Respond:

& Tuesday: Read Frankenstein, chapters 17-18 (due February 28).

& Thursday: Read chapters 19-24 (finish the book). Briefly summarize each chapter (due March 4).

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2. Vocabulary:

1. Kitsch: Art or other objects appealing to popular taste, as by being gaudy or overly sentimental.

2. Litany: A repetitive recital or list.

3. Lurid: Characterized by vivid description or explicit details that are meant to provoke or shock.

4. Machiavellian: Behavior or policy characterized by expediency, cunning and deceit.

5. Malaise: A general sense of unease.

6. Malinger: To fake illness in order to avoid work or duty (or school).

7. Mantra: A word or phrase that is expressed repeatedly, as in reaffirming an idea or motivating someone.

8. Maudlin: Excessively sentimental.

9. Mercenary: Motivated solely by a desire for monetary or material gain.

10. Minimalist: Characterized by the use of only the simplest or most essential elements, as in the arts, literature, or design.

3. Write:

A. Write a short essay (500 words) in which you describe and discuss the character of the monster. Consider the question of his nature: is he Evil? Is he a victim? Is he Good? Can he be either Evil or Good? Why or why not??? Is he something other than Evil or Good? (Due March 6).

B. Write an essay in which you discuss the character of Victor Frankenstein. Describe him—his intellectual and spiritual qualities as well as his ambition. Consider the question of his character—what is his sin? Does he ever find redemption? How? (Due March 13).