As a result of Victor Frankenstein's experiment in creating life, many people died. Should Frankenstein be held accountable for the deaths that his Creation committed? Since Frankenstein created the being without assuming the responsibility to care for it and acclimate it to the society in which it was "born," Frankenstein is being tried in court for the murders and actions of his creation. Witnesses from the novel as well as fictional experts will be called to the stand to testify in this situation. Attorneys will determine whether witnesses will be primary defense or prosecution witnesses. Participants will have to suspend their disbelief for purposes of the trial because most of the participants in the trial - including the defendant - are dead by the end of the novel.
Learning Targets: By completing this activity, students will:
Display their understanding of the characters and situations in the novel Frankenstein;
Recreate the characters by playing them in the trial;
demonstrate their knowledge of the novel by participating in, preparing for and performing a mock trial;
practice argumentative reasoning skills;
combine reason and ethical values to determine the issue of responsibility in this case.
review ethos, pathos, and logos as elements of persuasion and persuasive writing
As a result of Victor Frankenstein's experiment in creating life, many people died. Should Frankenstein be held accountable for the deaths that his Creation committed? Since Frankenstein created the being without assuming the responsibility to care for it and acclimate it to the society in which it was "born," Frankenstein is being tried in court for the murders and actions of his creation. Witnesses from the novel as well as fictional experts will be called to the stand to testify in this situation. Attorneys will determine whether witnesses will be primary defense or prosecution witnesses.
Participants will have to suspend their disbelief for purposes of the trial because most of the participants in the trial - including the defendant - are dead by the end of the novel.
Learning Targets:
By completing this activity, students will:
- Display their understanding of the characters and situations in the novel Frankenstein;
- Recreate the characters by playing them in the trial;
- demonstrate their knowledge of the novel by participating in, preparing for and performing a mock trial;
- practice argumentative reasoning skills;
- combine reason and ethical values to determine the issue of responsibility in this case.
review ethos, pathos, and logos as elements of persuasion and persuasive writing