Oroonoko by Aphra Behn or Frankenstein by Mary Shelley..
Essay 1 Write an essay of approximately 1500 words on one of the following topics based on Oroonoko by Aphra Behn or Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Use MLA citation style. This essay is worth 25% and due Oct. 29, 2019. Essay Questions 1. Both Oroonoko and Frankenstein comment on their particular historical times. Oroonoko can be read as a commentary on slavery or imperialism; Frankenstein, as a commentary on the role of science in our lives. But what message is either author trying to convey? How does Shelley or Behn use their title character to comment on the issues of the day and what conclusion does either author come to? 2. The manner in which the tale is told plays a role in both texts. Shelley layers her story, creating a tale within a tale within a tale through Robert Walton, Victor Frankenstein, and the monster himself. Behn asserts that her story is a true tale; yet the narrator (who may be read as Behn herself) makes frequent appearances in the story. How does the structure of the tale affect the manner in which it is told, characterization, and/or the advancement of plot? 3. Both Oroonoko and Frankenstein’s monster are conceived of as “different.” What is the basis of their otherness? Is it because they are racialized beings? But in both cases, their characterization or portrayals are inconsistent. The face of Frankenstein has changed from scary Herculian figure to the goofy Herman Munster. Oroonoko, although described as a black slave, is equally described as noble and rather Roman in appearance, living in a European-style court. How does either author conceive of difference and what point do you think they are making in creating an “other” varying in characterization?