Frankenstein is one of the classic horror stories that has survived the ages. Readers love a tale of a crazy mad scientist and experiments gone wrong. A new movie adaptation of the classic tale will be released in November (which is kind of an odd time for a horror movie. Why not October?) and will focus more on the tale of the doctor than his monster, which should be interesting.
Frankenstein is also one of the few horror tales written by a woman that is still celebrated today. Mary Shelley’s creative ingenuity inspired thousands of other horror stories and is one of the most famous monster mad-scientists stories to date. That is a pretty impressive resume for a writer.
In honor of Mary Shelley and the new movie coming out, today’s Lit Lovers features famous quotes from Frankenstein.
12 Famous Quotes from Frankenstein that Summarize the Story in Less than 300 Words
What I like about old stories like this is how formal the writing is. Shelley uses a lot of “thees” and “thous” and her phrasing is magical. I appreciate how writing was more of an expressive art form back then than it is now.
If you don’t have time to read the whole novel, these famous quotes from Frankenstein summarize the main points.
“The world was to me a secret which I desired to divine.”
“I feel my heart glow with an enthusiasm which elevates me to heaven, for nothing contributes so much to tranquillize the mind as a steady purpose — a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye.”
A mind of moderate capacity which closely pursues one study must infallibly arrive at great proficiency in that study.”
“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.”
“We are fashioned creatures, but half made up.”
“Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded.”
“How mutable are our feelings, and how strange is that clinging love we have of life even in the excess of misery!”
“Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it.”
“‘Oh! Be men, or be more than men. Be steady to your purposes and firm as a rock. This ice is not made of such stuff as your hearts may be; it is mutable and cannot withstand you if you say that it shall not. Do not return to your families with the stigma of disgrace marked on your brows. Return as heroes who have fought and conquered and who know not what it is to turn their backs on the foe.'”
“I trembled, and my heart failed within me; when, on looking up, I saw, by the light of the moon, the daemon at the casement.”
“I looked upon the sea; it was to be my grave.”
Lit Lovers Link Party
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This Weeks Lit Lover Features
I really enjoyed this post from Heather about books based on fairy tales! I’m always a sucker for a story set in a fairy tale world. There are so many good ones out there, and Heather’s list is a great place to get started.
More Creepy Tales to Read
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Ooh what a great selection of quotes from such a classic creepy book!
I sometimes find language like this very dense, which takes away from my enjoyment of the book, in a way. But, then, there are moments like in the quotes you posted when it’s crystal clear what the author meant and just simply lovely writing.
I do find it is harder to read and I get tired faster from this sort of reading. It’s not precisely “binge” reading, but I like the mental challenge sometimes.
Great idea for a theme; it’s one of the few classics I’ve read. Have you seen the show Penny Dreadful on Showtime? It’s creepy and they incorporated a Dr. Frankenstein character as well as two creatures he created in the first series. I haven’t watched the new season, so I don’t know how they carried on that storyline.
I haven’t, but it sounds like something I would like! I’ll have to check it out!
I still need to read Frankenstein! Thanks for sharing! 🙂