A Literary Analysis of a Romantic Young Adult Novel
             "I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs" (62). Victor Frankenstein, the protagonist in Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, shutters at the mere sight of his hideous creation into which he has breathed life. Simultaneously, Mary Shelley's Gothic Romantic novel was born. Yet, the exposure that many young adults have had to this classic young adult novel of the nineteenth century probably begins and ends with the famous Hollywood picture of Victor's monster portrayed on the cover of this analysis. Some critics may therefore argue that Shelley's novel is in a sense "dead," saying that it is out-of-date and irrelevant to interests of young adults today. Therefore it is my goal, throughout my exploration and analysis of the Romantic elements and themes present in Frankenstein, to both demonstrate the value in encouraging young adults to read this novel as an important piece of Romantic literature as well as to share my reasons for wanting to keep this Gothic Romantic novel alive as an important piece of young adult literature.
             In addition to the adventurous Gothic details, the captivating and exciting plot, and the hundreds of comedic parodies, Shelley's masterpiece is also valuable for teaching young adults about Romantic Era during which Frankenstein was written. Romanticism was a literary movement, keynoted by intensity, which took place in Britain and throughout Europe between 1770 and 1848. Emotionally, the movement expressed assertion of the self and the value of individual experience. Intellectually, the romantic period marked a violent reaction to the Enlightenment. Politically, this movement was inspired by revolutions in America, France, and the popular wars of independence in Spain, Poland, and Greece. It is extremely valuable for young adults to understand...