108 Frankenstein Essay Topics & Examples

Looking for Frankenstein essay topics? You’re in the right place! Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein continues to be one of the most read books 200 years after it was written.

In your Frankenstein essay, you might want to analyze good vs. evil characters in the novel. Another option is to write about the Monster and his role in the book. The theme of humanity is also worth focusing on. Whether you’re planning to write an argumentative or critical analysis essay on Frankenstein, this article will be helpful. Here we’ve collected Frankenstein essay questions and answers, writing tips, and top Frankenstein essay examples. Go on reading to learn more!

❓ Top 10 Frankenstein Essay Questions

1. Why did Mary Shelley write “Frankenstein”?
2. Where does “Frankenstein” take place and what role does setting play in the novel?
3. What genre is “Frankenstein”?
4. Why is Frankenstein called the modern Prometeus?
5. Who is the real monster in “Frankenstein”?
6. What is the main theme of “Frankenstein”?
7. What natural phenomena influenced Frankenstein?
8. What do Victor and Walton have in common in “Frankenstein”?
9. Why does Frankenstein feel he has the right to take the life of his monster?
10. How has Victor changed by the end of “Frankenstein”?

💡 Frankenstein Essay Prompts

Writing a Frankenstein essay can be easy if you know what to write about. That’s why we gathered some ideas to get your essay started. You might want to write about the writing style of the novel, genre, symbols, characters, themes, or imagery. In general, we can divide all the topics into three categories: themes, characters, and literary devices.

🧟‍♂️ Frankenstein Essay Themes

Appearances

The monster in Frankenstein is judged based on his grotesque appearance. Many pieces of literature have the idea of appearances as a prevalent, e.g., Little Zaches, Great Zinnober, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, etc.

If you’re assigned to write a compare and contrast essay, you might want to compare the monster and, for example, The Picture of Dorian Grey and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Fate

In the novel, Victor Frankenstein states he was destined to create the monster. Think, if his actions were a matter of fate or he had a choice? Or is he just using destiny as an excuse? How did Victor’s actions cause his and monster’s isolation? Argue about fate in Frankenstein. Analyze how man’s choice can impact his life.

Forgiveness

Even though that seems like everyone in Mary Shelley’s novel is seeking revenge, try to take a closer look and see the theme of mercy and compassion.

Does Victor feel sympathy for the monster he created? Does the monster seek compassion and forgiveness from society? Think about these questions when you will write your Frankenstein essay outline.

👹 Frankenstein Essay Characters

Victor Frankenstein

While reading the novel, you will see how Frankenstein’s character develops from a mad scientist who pretended to become a God to a man, feeling guilty for creating such a monster. You might want to analyze Frankenstein’s character in your paper.

The monster

Also, you can examine the monster character who is intelligent but beaten by society due to his appearance. Explore how society can be prejudiced to anyone different. You can find out examples in other literary works to compare and contrast with Frankenstein’s monster.

📚 Literary Devices in Frankenstein

Point of view

If you’re still looking for more Frankenstein essay topics, consider writing about points of view in the novel. Here’s the deal: most stories stick with one narrator, while Frankenstein is an exception.

You will learn about the story through Frankenstein and the monster’s perspectives, through Walton’s letters, and a third-person narrator. You can’t be sure which story (if any) is true. And your job as a writer, join all the events together and try to find the truth.

Think, only the monster or only Frankenstein narrated this novel, how it would change?

Frankenstein essay symbolism

When you are composing your Frankenstein essay titles, think about essential symbols in the novel. If you turn out the full title of the book, you will find a connection to Greek mythology. Prometheus gave fire to humanity, thus gave them knowledge.

And, like Prometheus, Victor also wished to bring knowledge and life when he created the monster. But, at the same time, the monster also learned the power of fire and realized that it could bring danger along with the light.

Frankenstein essay irony

Another topic example you may use in your writing is the irony. Victor Frankenstein tried to create life but also brought destruction through the monster he created.

If you still have no idea of how you can incorporate irony into your essay, check our Frankenstein essay examples to help you cope with writer’s block.

🏆 Best Frankenstein Essay Examples

1. Dr Frankenstein & His Monster: Compare & Contrast
   His need to exert vengeance for the death of Elizabeth and Henry proves that he had a desire for a family but chose not to work on it.
2. Feminism in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
   Mary Wollstonecraft expressly makes her stand known in advocating for the rights of the women in her novel, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, but her daughter is a bit reluctant to curve a […]
3. Who Is More Human Than the Monster of Frankenstein?
   By opposing the monster created by a scientist and the creator, Victor Frankenstein, the author alludes to the true meaning of being a human beyond the mere form of existence but rather living by virtues.
4. The Dangers of Science in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
   Her assertion is that science is equal to power, the power to create. Frankenstein reads like a warning to the modern world about the dangers of science.
5. Romanticism in Frankenstein: The Use of Poetry in the Novel’s Narrative
   Although the dark and horrific motifs of Frankenstein may appear to contrast with the bright tones and subjects of such poetry, there is a clear connection, as established in the text, between the poetry of […]
6. Frankenstein & the Context of Enlightenment
   The public was becoming more and more involved in the debates being waged, particularly as newspapers and other periodicals became more prevalent with the introduction of the printing press, introducing and maintaining widespread discourse in […]
7. “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley
   The monster then travels to Geneva and meets a little boy called William in the woods, where he hopes that the young boy who is not yet corrupted by the views of older people and […]
8. Macbeth & Frankenstein: Compare & Contrast
   In the being of the play, we assume that Macbeth is akin to the king, a loyal soldier, and a person “full of the milk of human kindness”.
9. Frankenstein: The Theme of Birth
   Frankenstein is a ruthless man who can stop at nothing in his pursuit of knowledge, and when he discovered the secrets of life, he uses it to create a monster.
10. Homosexuality in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
    However, at the same time, these breaks from the traditions incited a response reaction in favor of more traditional social roles in other areas, such as the refutation of male sexual relationships to the extent […]
11. Victor Frankenstein vs. the Creature: Compare & Contrast
    While discussing the main characters, one is to keep in mind that the creator of the monster Victor Frankenstein and his creature are the principal figures of the novel.
12. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein as a Tragedy
    Another tragedy in the novel appertains to the difficulties that faced Victor and his family after the creation of the monster.
13. Frankenstein: Monster’s Appearance & Visual Interpretations
    However, to my mind, the difference in the contexts of the novel and famous film can be neglected as the monster’s appearance is repulsive enough.
14. Innocence of Frankenstein’s Monster
    The name of the novel as Frankenstein conceals the major occurrence of the novel, hence, masking the intentions of the writer at first.
15. Curse and Blessing in “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley
    The idea that knowledge can be a curse is portrayed because the creature that the protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, has created relying on his knowledge harms himself and his family.
16. Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” (1994)
    For instance, the Arctic scenery, the subtle fact that the creature can converse in the human voice and is smart and able to experience pain, the series of events related to William’s death and the […]
17. The Symbol of Fire in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
    The fire symbolizes the ambivalent nature of the creation: one the one hand, it grants rebirth and creates life, one the other mercilessly punishes people. The fire in the novel is the ultimate power regulating […]
18. Ethics of Discovery in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”
    The extent and horrific nature of the experiments encouraged the international community to prohibit scientific and medical experiments that cause harm to people in a treaty that would be called the Geneva Convention.
19. Mary Shelley’s Fears in “Frankenstein”
    Mary Shelley’s creation is often spoken about as a philosophical work telling about the influences of industrialization and technological progress on the society and the ideas about the values of life and death, the argument […]
20. Ethical Issues in the Novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley
    The paper looks at the ethical issues that the author highlights in her paper, such as the promotion of artificial life to help in the development of the discussions of this paper. Victor Frankenstein is […]
21. Responsibility in “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelly
    Despite the description of a being created by Frankenstein as a wretch and the evil that he commits, he causes the feeling of sympathy.
22. The Role of Women in Frankenstein
    This shows that the woman presented to us has a strong character that enables her to deal with the enormous loss in her life.
23. Responsibility in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
    Although Victor Frankenstein seems to be responsible for the wretch’s behavior due to his egoism, departure, and fears, the impact of the creature’s individuality cannot be ignored in the story.
24. Social Issues in “Frankenstein” Film
    Frankenstein’s monster represents the mangled and depressed soldiers returning from the war only to find an economy in crisis, given that the Great Depression was in the offing after the war.
25. Loneliness & Isolation in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
    In addition to making him and his creature be isolated, Viktor does not accept the idea of duty and responsibility for his actions because of his inability to understand what it means to be responsible […]
26. Frankenstein: a Deconstructive Reading
    In the story, Frankenstein assumes the position of the creator while the monster is the created being. As a creator who is ready to sail in the glory that his work will bring him, Frankenstein […]
27. Doctor Frankenstein: Hero, Villain or Something in Between?
    Even though he sets out to find and destroy the monster that he created, he knows that the challenge he is facing is much great.
28. Theme of Knowledge in Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley
    The milieu in which the novel, Frankenstein; The Modern Prometheus is situated served as a warning to people that the technological developments brought about by the quest for knowledge could bring about the very threat […]
29. Science and Integrity in Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
    Human experimentation is a violation of integrity and scientific norms, notwithstanding the fact that Dr. To conclude, the topics of science and integrity in Dr.
30. “Frankenstein and Critique of Imperialism” by Gayatri Spivak
    What the author sets out to do is to expound on the intensity of imperialism in the story. There are several themes in the novel, but the central questions that the article seeks to addresses […]
31. Nature of Child in Shelley’s “Frankenstein”
    These behaviors include understanding love and care, the role of parents, and fears of sharing affection. Victor believes that he should reflect his parents’ love for him to the creature.
32. Ethics as a Theme in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
    From the novel, it is evident that humans drove the monster into a state of madness when they subjected it to hatred and rejection, and thus the monster’s madness emerged due to the treatment it […]

📃 Good Frankenstein Essay Topics

1. Roles of Education & Family in Frankenstein
   In the story, the family serves as one of the major socializing agents in society. The role of love in the family is an additional theme that can be depicted in the story.
2. The Novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley: Impact of Galvanism
   Galvanism is the technique of resurrecting a corpse and advancing Luigi Galvani’s research on using electricity to advance and extend life.
3. Not Born a Monster: Nature vs. Nurture and the Creature in “Frankenstein”
   Among the things, the novel implicitly refers to the age-old nature vs.nurture debate about whether one’s personality is defined by the inborn qualities or the upbringing one receives in the course of one’s life.
4. Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and H.G. Wells’s “The Island of Dr. Moreau”
   Frankenstein and Wells’s recognize outcomes of genetic engineering and scientific experiments that lose locus of control and result in to unexpected outcomes that add a new dimension of the body of knowledge to the literature […]
5. Shelley’s Frankenstein: Double Vision of the Hero
   The rest of the novel refers to a nameless creature who is simply addressed as “the monster” [O1] and the one, who is created by Victor.
6. Frankenstein: Novel & Movie Comparison
   It also points to have a warning note to it in the subtitle against the over-ambition of the modern man and the impacts of the Industrial Revolution and French Revolution containing both enormous assurance and […]
7. Shelley’s Frankenstein: What It Means to Be Human
   The contestation was largely influenced by the Enlightenment led by the philosopher David Hume, who argued that there were different species of people and non-European species were “naturally inferior to the whites”.
8. Frankenstein: Influences of “The Prometheus” and “Paradise Lost”
   This is echoed in the novel, as Victor Frankenstein is said to create life against the laws of nature and is punished for it.
9. Scientific Responsibility in “Frankenstein” by Shelley
   Shelley uses the anguish of both Frankenstein and the Monster to warn readers of the negative consequences of the pursuit of knowledge.
10. Themes in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Literature Analysis
    In connection to the previously discussed topic of the status of the female in the modern world, one can conclude that the world in which the public sphere of rationality and science becomes dominant naturally […]
11. Science & Nature in Frankenstein & Blade Runner
    A novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a romantic work that reflects the consequences of “blind science” and human ambition, and Blade Runner by Ridley Scott depicts the industrialized society and world of the future […]
12. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: Language and Sympathy in a Monster’s Transformation
    Shelley pushes us to view the monster’s behavior from a completely different perspective and to empathize with his predicament by granting him the ability to speak. Despite Victor’s utter loathing for his creation, the monster […]
13. Artificial Intelligence and Frankenstein’s Monster
    These models learn from the world around them and might eventually become sentient, and it is far from certain that they will decide to be benevolent to humans.
14. “Frankenstein” vs. “Great Expectations”: Compare and Contrast
    The book seems to make use of previous writings like Paradise Lost one of the books that the monster reads, Shakespeare and Don Quixote for instance, the Arabian lover and the sequence of the monster’s […]
15. Main Themes in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”
    The purpose of the presented study is to discuss the perception of moral and ethical aspects in the field of scientific discoveries by Frankenstein.
16. Frankenstein’s Search of Companionship in Shelley’s Novel
    Frankenstein’s point is to establish his social life through the fulfillment of his ambition, and the monster seeks the unconditional love that a family can provide.
17. Monsters, Reflection of Creators: Frankenstein and Mr. Hyde
    The research introduces the authors’ symbolic concepts of strangeness which address alienation and desire and, which happen in the unconscious state of the creator’s Victor and Dr.
18. Frankenstein Murderer: Hero Analysis and Careful Study of the Case
    Knowing that the monster intended to cause yet more destruction in the world and who the monster was likely to target, Frankenstein’s deliberate refusal to do anything to help his creation comprises another instance of […]
19. Mary Shelley’s Novel Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus
    This is the main theme that the writer explores; in this way, she prompts the readers to think about the causes of misfortunes that struck many innocent people.
20. Modern-Day Treatment of Frankenstein: New Variations of the Classic Novel
    Frankenstein’s monster would be a creature that would be hard to wipe out of the face of the earth and would be made of cells that are highly replicating within hours to form new monsters […]
21. Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’: Chapter 18 Analysis
    This paper takes a critical look at the inclusion of chapter 18 in the publication entitled ‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley and its significance in enabling a better understanding of the drama in the chapter. It […]
22. Analyzing Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’: Key Themes and Ideas
    This fact confirms the thesis of the essay and highlights such topics of Frankenstein story as justice and vengeance. The portrayal of Victor Frankenstein characterizes man’s inability to take responsibility for opportunist acts.
23. Shelley’s Novel “Frankenstein,” Shakespeare’s Play “Macbeth,” and Austen’s Novel “Persuasion”
    Upon analyzing the characters of Lady Macduff, the three witches, and Lady Macbeth, it is appropriate to conclude that the latter is the most powerful woman in Macbeth.
24. Sympathy for the Frankenstein’s Monster
    The author describes the monster as a yellow-faced creature of enormous stature, with watery eyes and a black mouth, which, in the tradition of literary Gothicism, is intended to instill fear in the reader.
25. Aspects of “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley
    It allows assuming that the symbols, structure of the narration, and the means of literary expression will enable the author to create the image of the person who tried to compete with the Creator but […]
26. Gender Role and Feminism in Shelley’s Frankenstein
    This paper will discuss the implications of gender structures in the novel and find its representation in the current gender views.
27. The “Frankenstein” Novel by Mary Shelley
    I predict that from the early moment when Frankenstein creates the creature, he will become the monster in his life, leading to madness, while no one will accept the creature because people are usually afraid […]
28. “Frankenstein” and “The Possibility of Evil”: Evil Theme
    The main difference between the stories of Frankenstein and The Possibility of Evil is based on the evil aspect and the type of horror represented.
29. “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley Review
    The feelings conveyed in the book are incredibly gentle and pure, and the depictions of family life are of the most affable and straightforward, with a father who is alluring and deep.
30. The Novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley: Critical Analysis
    The themes of creation and vengeance are illustrated to give a clear perspective of Mary’s main aim in writing her book.
31. Romantic Characteristics in “Frankenstein”
    In the novel, there are at least two features of Romanticism that are not discussed in the overview: the illustration of grotesque and the theme of individual versus society.
32. Social Topics of Shelley’s Frankenstein Novel
    The main characters of Frankenstein are Victor and Robert, who constantly seek adventures and want to discover the unique parts of the world.

✍️ Frankenstein Research Paper Topics

1. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Critical Analysis
   Hetherington’s “The Creator and Created Review of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” demonstrates that Shelley’s religious views and lifestyle influence Frankenstein and that Mary’s modernity may be replicated in chronicles to comprehend their meaning.
2. Conflict in “Frankenstein” Novel by Mary Shelley
   The novel’s main conflict revolves around negligence of responsibility in the name of ambition and the consequences of such actions. Refusing to take responsibility for producing a monster, the scientist loses his loved ones at […]
3. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: Divine and Satanic
   Hetherington adequately concludes that Victor Frankenstein is a symbol of God through the creation of a new being, and the monster is a symbol of Satan due to his deeds.
4. Metaphors in Frankenstein
   By creating an unnatural monster and endowing life to the dead objects, Victor denied one of the main laws of nature.
5. Evaluation of “Frankenstein” Critiques
   The narrative of the novel uses elements of superstition, but the writer acknowledges that giving life to the lifeless matter could potentially be possible. The author clearly distinguishes between “the marvelous and the effects of […]
6. Frankenstein’s Monster: Analysis
   The creature can be compared to a baby who tries to examine the world it lives in, and its actions are just contractions to the cruelty of the world.
7. The Novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley
   Later, the reader can understand that the main hero feels quite lonely and pays much attention to his research and studies to cover this inner loneliness caused by the loss of his beloved ones.
8. Genetics, Reproductive and Cloning Technology in “Frankenstein”
   If Mary Shelley was for the idea of cloning technology, I think her novel would have ended up with Frankenstein creating a female companion for the monster to compliment the theme of love in the […]
9. The Feminine Roles in the ‘Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus’ by M. Shelley
   Shelley develops the theme of feminism in the course of the book by revealing the evil attributes of the creature and how the women fall victim of the creature.
10. The Novel Protagonist Victor Frankenstein Destiny
    Victor did not realize that God created humanity and took care of creature, while Frankenstein sought for the success of scientific experiment: “From the beginning, the creature is unloved: Victor, in his flight and subsequent […]
11. Kipphardt’s “In the Matter of J. R. Oppenheimer” and Shelley’s “Frankenstein”
    In Kipphardt’s play, it is possible to pursue the development of Oppenheimer’s outlook on the value of the invention of the nuclear weapon.
12. Frankenstein: The Hidden Monster Is Worse Than the Apparent One
    She does this by employing the first definition as it applies to the monster, but then employs the second definition to apply to the doctor, suggesting that the hidden monster is far worse than the […]
13. Scientist’s Role in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
    The great issues of the day were the main focus of articles as well as the works of fiction that were becoming much more popular as the price of books fell.”The Victorian novel, with its […]
14. Comparison of Victor and the Creature in ”Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley
    Victor Frankenstein, the main character of the story, intentionally adopts the position of God in his attempt to overcome the forces of life and death and place them directly in the hands of man.
15. “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley and “Blade Runner” by Ridley Scott: Comparative Analysis
    The texts under consideration picture the events of different periods of time and have absolutely different settings, but both Frankenstein and Blade Runner express the desire of a human to have powers of God.
16. Feminist Ideas in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”
    One of these issues and the subject of this paper is the theme of feminism in Shelley’s novel. It is time to separate unchangeable morals from local manners”.- Mary Wollstonecraft in A Vindication of the […]
17. “Frankenstein“ the Book by Mary Shelley
    Though the true nature of the Monster is virtuous and kind, he is treated like a beast, like a devil and even his creator addresses to him as to “it” “For this I had deprived […]
18. The Ladies of Frankenstein: The Gender in Literature
    It is widely understood that Mary Shelley wrote for the female public, even though she originally wrote the novel on a wager among friends.”She fitted character and plot to the tastes of the public, especially […]
19. Scientist’s Role in “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelly
    Every action and character in the novel, in this manner, is linked to and affected by the role of the scientist protagonist Victor Frankenstein.
20. Humor and Technology in “Young Frankenstein” Film
    One of the debates of the day was the question of the proper role of the scientist in the contemporary age, addressed in the novel Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley.
21. “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus” by Shelley
    He studied in Ingolstadt where he discovered the secrets of life, which he uses to create a monster. He does this in secret since he is aware of the dangers of his experiment.
22. Stylistics of Frankenstein by Mary Shelly
    The name of the main character of the novel, who has created the living monster from the insentient substance, became a special sign that in a course of time widened its meaning.
23. What Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Say About Community?
    Hyde was not eager to become a part of the community and he tended to avoid communication with members of the society he lived in.
24. Mary Shelley’ “Frankenstein” Story Analysis
    The creation is not a monster because it has human habits and affection. From the start of the story, Frankenstein’s creation is misjudged due to the way it looks.
25. Mary Shelley’s Monster in Frankenstein Literature Analysis
    Statement of the Research The underlying principle of this research undertaking is to examine the character traits of Frankenstein as a monster.
26. “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell” and “Frankenstein”
    In this essay, the author seeks to confirm that in the two books, the role of the devil is the same.
27. Frankenstein: Critical Reflections by Ginn & Hetherington
    The complexity of the novel and its meaning is often compared to the challenging and full of struggles life the writer herself.
28. Responsibility as a Theme in Frankenstein
    In sum, through the character of Victor, Shelley portrays that a person matures when he can accept responsibilities for his actions and their consequences.
29. Romantic Era Literature: “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley
    The Romantic era of art and literature is a movement which started in Europe at the end of the 18th century, peaking around the time between 1800 and 1840.
30. Motifs and Themes in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”
    Moreover the paper also describes the concept of education and upbringing of child through the analysis of charter of Frankenstein in the novel.
31. Frankenstein’s Historical Context: Review of “In Frankenstein’s Shadow” by Chris Baldrick
    Baldrick’s ‘In Frankenstein’s Shadow’ is an indispensable input to what is promptly gaining primacy as decisive and learned compromise regarding the integral nature of Mary Shelly’s narrative to the comprehension of the two concepts of […]
32. Science and Society in “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley
    Many scientists and scholars tried to view the problem of the connection between Frankenstein and science from the perspective of the feminist vision as the novel is written by a woman.
33. Frankenstein Attempts to Generate a Socially or Politically “Appropriate”
    Additionally the paper respond to the questions: does the film expel, discipline, or otherwise “manage” the elements of the film that might conflict the sanctioned meaning and whether these elements end up subverting or overwhelming […]
34. “On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer” vs. “Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus” : Compare & Contrast
    Giving readers the sense of being immersed in the world of the Greeks and the Trojans, or in the world of any fine literature, is a goal for many writers.