Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein is "a profoundly geographical text," as Jason M. Kelly puts it in his introductory comments on A Frankenstein Atlas. Characters in the novel are remarkably mobile, and they refer to many more locations than they visit. This class mapping project identifies many of the named locations and explains their importance to the novel and for the novels themes.
MSSU ENG272 - Spring 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, Spring 2025
The digital edition of Frankenstein for annotations and the map project can be found here: Mary Shelley, Frankenstein (1818)
Galleries, Timelines, and Maps
Individual Entries
The term Empire of Mexico, should refer to the times in which Mexico was a self-governed monarchy. It tghen shouldn't be applied to the time Mexico was part of the Spanish Empire, but neither to the period that the novel Frankenstein make reference to. In this case, when the book mention the EMpire of mexico, it is actually referring to the "Mexica" or Aztec Empire. This was a great empire that ruled a huge part of what today is Central Mexico for about a century, before the arrival of the Spanish, which cause the fall of this empire in 1521.
On the text, Victor mentions this empire when he reflects as how and why he should take more time for himself instead of just focusing on his studies. On his reflections, he thought that if the the "rule" that if no one would had allowed that any...
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Tartary, more than an actual territory, is a term by which West Europeans referred to a vast part of Central Asia, that covers parts of the modern Russia, China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, etc. This region is mentioned once during the novel, when Victor mentions it as one of the many places of the world that jhe has travelled to while chasing "the Monster", after apparently hearing him laugh on the cemetery where William, Elizabeth and his father were buried (something that made Victor think that the monster was William's murderer).
Because of the distance and the difficult access , the region of Tartary, its cultures, geography and most of its history, remain unkown for most Europeans until 19th Century (after the writing...
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Archangel (or Архангельск in Russian) is a port city and capital of the homonimous Oblast at the Northwest part of Russia, between the Northern Dvina River and the White Sea. The place take relevance during the novel's preface, since it is a place where R. Walton lived for approximatelty 7 months, after arriving to Russia and before sailing to the White Sea. On the letters to his sister, Walton describes how he went to Archangel some time after arriving St. Petesburgh, and how that town was cold and time passed slowly for him as he spend months planning and recruiting people to sail with him.
Investigating about the place, I found out that it used to be a very importanmt port for Russia, with naval and trade...
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"Livorno" by Ronald Menti is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Geneva is probably one of the most significant places featured in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. It is the home of Victor and his family and the site of his most personal tragedies. In the 18th century, Geneva was an important center for new ideas during the Enlightenment, attracting philosophers like Voltaire and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The city was a Calvinist republic, a branch of Protestant Christianity, with strict rules. However this led to political conflicts. In 1782, a revolution occurred when citizens of Geneva tried to take control from the wealthy leaders, but outside forces...
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"Livorno" by Ronald Menti is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Leghorn, more often referred to as Livorno, is a port situated on the Ligurian Sea in Tuscany. This location plays a big role in the story of Safie, her father, and the De Lacey’s. Safie and her father seek asylum in Leghorn from the French government following the escape of “the Turk”. The city was founded as a port city in the 16th century by the Medici and delivered many foreign merchants and shipping companies. (Francis and Francis) Until Italian rule in 1860, the city was a free port where goods could be sent and received free of Customs Duty. (Britannica) The scene of the...
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"Buttermere Lake District Cumbria UK" by Leshaines123 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Cumberland, often seen in Frankenstein as Cumberland and Westmoreland or the Lakes of Cumberland, is a historical country in Northwest England. The site is well known as the Lake District, home to many infamous poets. This place is subtlety featured in Frankenstein simply as a stop in Victor’s journey to northern Scottland. It is listed on the World Heritage Site, these are locations that demonstrate culture and significance globally, for three main reasons: its natural beauty, the man-made landscape evolving over thousands of years, and the...
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"Makaria at Bosphorus / Black Sea mouth" by Rob Hursonis licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
The Black Sea was known as Euxine Sea (Inhospitable) and later, Pantos Euxeinos (Graeco Roman, meaning hospitable), and many more, depending on geography. According to sailors, the sea appeared to be black during overcast, rainy days. The name may also be derived from cardinal directions symbolic color representing North; black.
The Black Sea is the largest inland body of water—it is bordered by Ukraine,...
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"Queen's Diamond Jubilee Parade and Muster at Windsor Castle" by Defence Images is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Windsor, England is located to the west of London, and is most famous for Windsor Castle atop a large chalk cliff, originally built by William the Conqueror (the I, reigned 1066-87). The royal castle has been reconstructed many times in history.
Percy Shelley lived in Windsor when he met Mary Shelley, and the couple returned there in 1817 to live in...
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"Constantinople and the Golden Horn, Turkey, ca. 1899" by trialsanderrors is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Constantinople appears in Frankenstein a few times, but its relevance is nonetheless significant. It is the place where Safie and her father fled from; this we learn from the monster’s story. The ancient city of Constantinople, then the capital of the Ottoman Empire, is now known as Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey. First settled in the seventh...
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"Chambered Cairn on the Tarf, Swona, Orkney Islands - geograph.org.uk - 2970112" by Robert Beharie is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
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