Frankenstein: Shifting Narrative Viewpoints

This engaging and informative lesson aims to improve students’ understanding of the various narrative perspectives used to develop the plot and characters in Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein.’ The lesson places a particular focus upon the reporting of William’s death from different narrative points-of-view, focusing on the accounts of Alphonse, Victor, and the Monster. By the end of the lesson, students demonstrate an ability to make sustained and original interpretations of Shelley’s structural choices.

The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through:
- Defining the key terms ‘author’, ‘narrator’, and ‘narrative point of view;’
- Identifying the different narrators within the text;
- Reading and understanding key extracts from chapters 7 and 16 - extracts that detail the same event (William’s murder) from multiple perspectives;
- Inferring, interpreting, and analysing the effect of Shelley’s structural choices in altering the narrative viewpoints;
- Imagining and describing the events surrounding William’s murder from another perspective;
- Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts.

Included is:
- Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and substantial; (including an animated Frankenstein’s monster to guide them through the lesson);
- Descriptive devices worksheet (and a teacher answer sheet);
- Extract from the beginning of Chapter 5;
- Inferring and Interpreting worksheet;
- Analysis template with success criteria for creating well-structured responses;
- Comprehensive lesson plan.

There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. This was originally taught to middle-ability year 9/10 groups, but can easily be differentiated for groups of different ages and abilities.

All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.