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moreMSSU ENG272 - Fall 2025 Dashboard
Description
British Literature II: Revolution, Reaction, Reform examines British literature from the late eighteenth century to the present, a period that witnessed the American and French Revolutions, slave revolts such as the Haitian Revolution, a “revolution in female manners,” the Industrial Revolution, the twentieth-century revolutionary wave in Europe, as well as World War I and World War II, and, of course, artistic revolutions. We will consider how the authors and literary works of this period might be reacting to change, advocating for reform, or participating in literary revolutions—whether revolution is understood in the sense of “revolving” or of “revolting,” going full circle to return to a previous (more perfect?) time or experiencing/effecting a great alteration or rupture.
Access the works for annotations assignments in COVE Studio here: ENG 272, Fall 2025
The digital edition of Frankenstein for annotations and the map project can be found here: Mary Shelley, Frankenstein (1818)
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Cologny is known as the birthplace of Frankenstein, where Lord Byron had actually rented a mansion named the Villa Diodati in 1816. Mary and Percy Shelley, and Claire Clairmont were staying nearby, and all told ghost stories which resulted in a challenge to write a Ghost Story. This timeframe was also known “The Year without a Summer”, so much time was spent indoors writing.
In the work, Frankenstein, this is where a purchased home is being set up for married Victor Frankenstein and Elizabeth. It is where they both should return home after their honeymoon night in Evian; however, the creature arrives at the cabin and strangles Elizabeth before she could ever return back to Cologny. This new home was meant as a beacon of hope, close enough to Geneva that their lives were not altered too much, yet being engulfed in the countryside safe and tucked away. I think the Villa Diodati made an impact on Shelley, as the retreat she had was reflected in the reference to Cologny in the...
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Windsor, England was once a historic town in Berkshire, on the River Thames, about 20 miles west of London. It is incredibly famous because of the Windsor Castle which has been around since the 11th century and was a key symbol of the British Monarchy. By the 1800s, it became a pinnacle for royal pageantry that was strongly linked with King George III, George the IV, and Queen Victoria. During Shelley’s time, people would have thought about Windsor in the context of royalty and stability. It was highly esteemed due to its endurance at the time of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. Windsor filled people with a sense of pride and offered a pleasant contrast from other historical places like Manchester and Birmingham (which had become crowded and polluted over time).
In Volume III, Chapter II the...
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Westmorland (also spelled Westmoreland in older texts) is located in the Northwestern part of England, and as of 1974 (along with Cumberland), it has merged with Cumbria. It was smaller than Cumberland and sat between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales. Like Cumberland, it was a less Urban area and esteemed for its valleys, lakes, and pastoral mountains. Also, for many readers, writers, and poets during Shelly’s time, it was linked to the Romantic movement. Poets like Wordsworth—who lived and spent most of his time in the Lake District—also celebrated its beauty and was inspired to write by its scenery.
Shelley may have included the strikingly beautiful location into her writing to give the readers something to relate to. Many...
moreSouth America shows up in the story Frankenstein when the creation asks Victor to make him a companion. This pops up in chapter 17 when the creature locates Victor and they have this conversation. The creature promises that he will run away with a woman creation to South America. The British saw South America as a major economic opportunity in the 1800s, and after assisting the newly independent countries in separating from Spain and Portugal, they sought to establish open trade markets and make investments in these countries. Despite not pursuing official colonization, Britain developed strong commercial and financial ties, establishing an "informal empire" through economic domination as opposed to direct control. In order to support trade and guarantee ongoing access to South America's resources, this entailed lending money, establishing shipping lines, and constructing infrastructure like railroads. Through my research I have learned that South...
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Greenwich, England was pertinent to the story of Frankenstein because of its rich history and contribution to high society. Greenwich is located by the River Thames and is recognized for the Royal Observatory, Greenwich Hospital, and Greenwich Park. All of these locations would have made it very popular during the time that Frankenstein was written and may be why Shelley added it to her novel. Likewise, in the early 19th century, Greenwich was associated with the Navy, science, and empire. Thus, it became a staple of power and beauty.
In Frankenstein, Shelley includes Victor traveling to Greenwich, along with Oxford and London. During this time, the Royal Observatory was a pinnacle for many people in society and held a deeper meaning that adds to this text...
moreIn Chapter II of Volume III, Victor and Clerval arrived in Edinburgh during their tour of Britain and have very different reactions. Victor says "I visited Edinburgh with languid eyes and mind; and yet that city might have interested the most unfortunate being." (Vol. II Chapter II) which in my opinion basically means that Edinburgh would be incredibly impressive to anyone except Victor because he is too wrapped up in guilt and dread to appreciate it. Instead of admiring the city's beauty again Victor allows his internal struggles to make everything seem lifeless. This is a major contrast from Clerval who is enjoying his time in the city; the text says it "filled him with cheerfulness and admiration" (Vol. II Chapter II).
For Shelley's early readers, Edinburgh was very well known for being a central hub for science and medicine. I think that these readers in the early 1800s would have associated Edinburgh with the progress of learning and the evolution of science. In...
moreThe Alps appear many times throughout Frankenstein, each time connecting the setting to the larger themes that are presented in the novel. More specifically, in my opinion the Alps act as a mirror of Victor's inner life and feelings. The first time the Alps are mentioned is just after Justine's exicution as he is traveling into the mountains it states "As it was, I was somewhat interested in the scene; it sometimes lulled, although it could not extinguish my grief." (Vol. II Chapter I) I think what Shelley is trying to convey through this quote is how the natural landscape brings some peace and possibly distraction from Victor's sorrow.
A bit later in the same chapter Victor enters the Valley of Chamonix when he notices a landscape shift, "The valley is more wonderful and sublime, but not so beautiful and picturesque as that of Servox, thorough which we had just passed." (Vol. II Chapter I). I think this shows Victor's self alienation in a way. He is saying that Chamonix...
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Cumberland was a historic country in Northwest England—now part of Cumbria and Westmoreland. It is included in the Lake District which is famous for its gorgeous scenery, mountains, and lakes. In the early 1800’s, the Lake District was associated with Romantic poets such as William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Robert Southey. For many British readers, writers, and poets, Cumberland was said to help with, “creative flow,” as it allowed for many of its inhabitants to be inspired by the beautiful landscapes, the escape from reality, and a place where nature could help with deep reflection. Of course, Mary Shelley was familiar with the Lake District because of her parents (Mary Wollstonecraft and William Goodwin).
Along with her...
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