Frankenstein (1/5)

Frankenstein
Mary Shelley

It's obvious in the first few letters from Robert Walton to his sister that the author utilizes the literary technique of foreshadowing to engage the audience. Robert Walton, in his letters, addresses the stranger, and writes down some of the words of the stranger, such as "I have suffered great and unparalleled misfortunes", and "prepare to hear of occurrences which are usually deemed marvellous" (Shelley, 13). The
stranger introduces events unrevealed until in the fifth chapter. As the stranger begins to narrate his story, it becomes known that his name is Victor Frankenstein, and he recounts his family history and background in education, adding pieces of cliff-hangers that don't reveal anything other than the mere fact that his has suffered greatly from his fate. "Rather let me say such the words of the fate, enounced to destroy me... I felt as if my sould were grappling with a palpable enemy; one by one the various keys were touched which formed the mechanism of my being" (Shelley, 27). Shelley takes advantage of cliff-hangers to keep the audience interested and wondering what is going to appear next.