Frankenstein
Creator, not creature
Frankenstein is the scientist in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel who creates a monster from corpses and brings it to life.
The name is often misapplied to the creature itself rather than its creator.
More broadly, Frankenstein refers to any creation that destroys or threatens its maker: Social media has become a Frankenstein for democracy.
A Frankenstein's monster is something assembled from disparate parts that takes on a disturbing life of its own.
Restoration of life
- galvanismElectricity causing muscle movement
- electricityEnergy from charged particles
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
- laboratoryFacility for scientific investigation
anatomy · dissection · corpse · surgery · medical · unethical · forbidden knowledge · playing God
- VictorName signifying conquest
- RomanticismEmotion-centered artistic movement
- epistolaryPertaining to letter-writing
- ArcticEarth's northernmost zone
Elizabeth · Justine · Geneva · Paradise Lost · cautionary tale · William · tragedy · hubris
Living, sentient entity
- abominationLoathsome, detestable thing
- reanimatedRestored to life
- patchworkFabric scraps sewn together
- grotesqueDistorted, bizarre figure
misunderstood · outcast · wretch · hideous · deformity · stitched · bolts · lumbering
Name signifying conquest
- scientistOne who studies nature
- hubrisRuinous excessive confidence
- obsessionPersistent, intrusive preoccupation
- ambitionDesire for achievement
responsibility · abandonment · guilt · consequences · remorse · overreach · genius · madness
reanimation
Restoration of life
- galvanismElectricity causing muscle movement
- electricityEnergy from charged particles
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
laboratory · anatomy · dissection · corpse · surgery · medical · unethical · forbidden knowledge · playing God · cadaver
Mary Shelley
- VictorName signifying conquest
- RomanticismEmotion-centered artistic movement
- epistolaryPertaining to letter-writing
Arctic · Elizabeth · Justine · Geneva · Paradise Lost · cautionary tale · William · tragedy · hubris · narrative
creature
Living, sentient entity
- abominationLoathsome, detestable thing
- reanimatedRestored to life
- patchworkFabric scraps sewn together
grotesque · misunderstood · outcast · wretch · hideous · deformity · stitched · bolts · lumbering · tragic
Victor
Name signifying conquest
- scientistOne who studies nature
- hubrisRuinous excessive confidence
- obsessionPersistent, intrusive preoccupation
ambition · responsibility · abandonment · guilt · consequences · remorse · overreach · genius · madness · isolation
terror
Extreme, overwhelming fear
haunting · dread · nightmare · suspense · frightening · sinister · gruesome · gothic · shocking · monstrous
- costumeswitch, costume, vampire, pirate, ghost costume
- Adapted NovelsHarry Potter, The Hunger Games, Twilight, Jurassic Park, The Lord of the Rings
- British LiteratureShakespeare, Dickens, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Austen
- Classic BooksPride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Moby Dick, Moby-Dick, Great Expectations
- Horror FilmsThe Exorcist, Halloween, The Shining, Friday the 13th, Night of the Living Dead
- British ClassicsPride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist
- Frankenstein's monsterAssembled reanimated corpse
- Dr. FrankensteinCreator of artificial life
- Frankenstein monsterReanimated patchwork being
- Victor Frankenstein
- Young Frankenstein