LIB 102
Journal Entry Week 3
LIB 102: Human Questions
Romanticism seems to focus more on emotions and instincts whereas Classicism, to me,
seems to turn more attention to facts and knowledge that is taught. Romanticism seems to be
genuine to goodness. Romanticism seems to tend to follow one’s heart as opposed to focusing on
reason and sensibility, “I desire the company of a man who would sympathize with me, whose
eyes would reply to mine. You may deem my romantic, my dear sister, but I bitterly feel the
want of a friend,” (Shelley, 1869). As it were, Romanticism is different in how the word
‘romantic’ translates today; in the era Frankenstein was written, it was used and displayed as a
dark, sad meaning. Victor Frankenstein used his own instinct, he did not understand what would
come of his creation, he knew he had a plan he wanted to follow and his determination to bring
the dead back to life was extraordinary.
Classicism is concentrates on facts and information as opposed to emotions and instincts
as romanticism does. Oftentimes, the world can be seen as a lonely, dark, and woeful place
leading to poor decisions and worse behaviors, “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by
my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier than man
is who believes his native town to be the world than he who aspire to become greater than his
nature will allow,” (Shelley, 1869). The creation of Frankenstein’s monster was something that
seemed to compare with his own personality; it was almost as if he was creating his own child.
And no matter how much he tried to distance himself from his creation, he could not.
Throughout the novel, I was able to see both romanticism and classicism examples. I feel
the story lead more to the romanticist side with specific scenes in the story allowing my
Journal Entry Week 3
LIB 102: Human Questions
Romanticism seems to focus more on emotions and instincts whereas Classicism, to me,
seems to turn more attention to facts and knowledge that is taught. Romanticism seems to be
genuine to goodness. Romanticism seems to tend to follow one’s heart as opposed to focusing on
reason and sensibility, “I desire the company of a man who would sympathize with me, whose
eyes would reply to mine. You may deem my romantic, my dear sister, but I bitterly feel the
want of a friend,” (Shelley, 1869). As it were, Romanticism is different in how the word
‘romantic’ translates today; in the era Frankenstein was written, it was used and displayed as a
dark, sad meaning. Victor Frankenstein used his own instinct, he did not understand what would
come of his creation, he knew he had a plan he wanted to follow and his determination to bring
the dead back to life was extraordinary.
Classicism is concentrates on facts and information as opposed to emotions and instincts
as romanticism does. Oftentimes, the world can be seen as a lonely, dark, and woeful place
leading to poor decisions and worse behaviors, “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by
my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier than man
is who believes his native town to be the world than he who aspire to become greater than his
nature will allow,” (Shelley, 1869). The creation of Frankenstein’s monster was something that
seemed to compare with his own personality; it was almost as if he was creating his own child.
And no matter how much he tried to distance himself from his creation, he could not.
Throughout the novel, I was able to see both romanticism and classicism examples. I feel
the story lead more to the romanticist side with specific scenes in the story allowing my
