Excerpt from Volume I, Chapter 4

Question

of Gris Grimly’s Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley and Gris Grimly
[1] It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils. With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. The rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open.

[2] How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe. His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful!—Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shriveled complexion, and straight black lips.

[3] The different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings of human nature. I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.

[4] Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room, and threw myself on the bed in my clothes, endeavouring to seek a few moments of forgetfulness.

[5] By the dim and yellow light of the moon, as it forced its way through the windowshutters, I beheld the wretch—the miserable monster whom I had created. He held up the curtain of the bed; and his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me. His jaws opened, and he muttered some inarticulate sounds.

[6] I took refuge in the court-yard belonging to the house which I inhabited; where I remained during the rest of the night, walking up and down in the greatest agitation, listening attentively, catching and fearing each sound as if it were to announce the approach of the demoniacal corpse to which I had so miserably given life.

[7] I passed the night wretchedly. I felt the bitterness of disappointment: dreams that had been my food and pleasant rest for so long a space, were now become a hell to me.

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Glossary
agitation–nervous excitement

agony–extreme pain

anxiety–nervousness

ardour–burning passion

arteries–blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart

aspect–appearance

attentively–with close attention

complexion–texture of skin

contrast–show of difference

demonaical–devil-like

dismally–gloomily

dreary–gloomy

dun white–dull white

endeavouring–trying

endure–bear

exceeded–went beyond

extinguished–put out

horrid–horrible

inanimate–lifeless

inarticulate–not clearly pronounced

infuse–introduce

inhabited–lived in

in proportion–the right size compared to the whole

instruments–tools

lustrous–shining

luxuriances–rich and full things

moderation–self-control

pattered–tapped quickly and repeatedly

refuge–shelter

scarcely–barely

sockets–hollow places

wretchedly–miserably

Two-Part Question
Part A
Multiple Choice Question
Which statement BEST describes the central idea of this passage from Gris Grimly’s Frankenstein?

A.
After two years of pain and suffering, Frankenstein finally sees his hard work pay off.

B.
When Frankenstein finally achieves his dream, he is so overcome with emotion that he can hardly express himself.

C.
After reflecting on his experiences, Frankenstein realizes that people are complex creatures who often feel contradictory emotions.

D.
Although Frankenstein had long dreamed of giving life to an inanimate body, success brings him disgust and disappointment rather than glory.
Part B
Multiple Choice Question
Which evidence from the text BEST supports your answer to Part 1?

A.
“It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils.” (1)

B.
“How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe.” (2)

C.
“The different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings of human

Answer 1

Part A
The statement that BEST describes the central idea of this passage from Gris Grimly’s Frankenstein is:

D. Although Frankenstein had long dreamed of giving life to an inanimate body, success brings him disgust and disappointment rather than glory.

Part B
The evidence from the text that BEST supports this answer is:

B. "How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe." (2)

This line highlights Frankenstein's overwhelming negative emotions upon achieving his goal, emphasizing the contrast between his expectations and the reality he faces.