Young Frankenstein: A Visual History of Mary Shelley’s Novel

photo: clement127 via flickr

When you think of Frankenstein, you probably think of the green monster with a few stitches and a bolted-on head, but did you know that guy is actually Frankenstein’s monster, aka The Creature, the mad creation of Dr. Frankenstein as told in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus? First published in 1818, the story idea came to Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley on a dark and stormy night in Switzerland. Mary, along with Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron and others were gathered at a country home in Lake Geneva when, to amuse themselves, they challenged each other to see who could write the most terrifying ghost story. And so, with lightening flashing and thunder rattling the window panes, Mary Shelley’s monster came to life.

Our friends at Course Hero put together this amazing infographic to give young minds (and their grown-ups) an understanding of this great work of literature and the author behind it. It’s like CliffsNotes with pictures. Really, really awesome pictures. Scroll down to see it!

Special thanks to Course Hero for permission to print their infographic. Course Hero is an online learning platform that empowers millions of students and educators to succeed. Learn more here.

Have you read the real story of Frankenstein?

—Amber Guetebier