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Quizzes > Books & Literature

Frankenstein quiz: Test your knowledge of Mary Shelley's classic

Quick, free Frankenstein test. Instant results with brief explanations.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: John EricssonUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper cut illustration of Dr Frankenstein book question mark motifs on dark blue background for quiz

Use this quiz to check your understanding of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, including key plot points, characters, and themes. Get instant results with brief explanations to spot what to review for class or a test. If you enjoy Gothic tales, try our House of Usher quiz and Phantom of the Opera quiz next.

Who wrote the novel Frankenstein?
Mary Shelley
Jane Austen
Emily Bront
Charlotte Bront
Frankenstein was authored by Mary Shelley and first published anonymously in 1818. She wrote the story when she was only 18, inspired by conversations with Percy Shelley and Lord Byron. Mary Shelleys innovation in the Gothic genre cemented her reputation in literary history. .
In what year was Frankenstein first published?
1818
1831
1823
1800
The original edition of Frankenstein appeared in 1818 in London. Mary Shelley later revised it for a 1831 edition with a new preface. The 1818 version is celebrated for its Gothic intensity and raw themes. .
What is the first name of the scientist who creates the creature?
Robert
Victor
Henry
Alphonse
Victor Frankenstein is the novels protagonist, a Swiss scientist who defies natural boundaries to animate life. His pursuit of knowledge drives the plot and leads to tragic consequences. Mary Shelley explores the moral costs of his ambition. .
What is the subtitle of Frankenstein?
The Modern Prometheus
The New Prometheus
The Ancient Prometheus
The Lost Prometheus
Frankensteins subtitle is The Modern Prometheus, referencing the Greek Titan who stole fire from the gods. Shelley draws a parallel between intellectual overreach and divine punishment. This allusion underscores themes of creation, power, and transgression. .
Which narrative technique frames the story of Frankenstein?
Epistolary narrative
Third-person omniscient
First-person present tense
Stream of consciousness
Frankenstein is written as an epistolary novel, with letters from explorer Robert Walton framing Victors first-person account. This layered structure creates distance and builds suspense. Readers see events through multiple correspondents perspectives. .
Who rescues Victor from the Arctic ice and hears his tale?
Henry Clerval
Robert Walton
Alphonse Frankenstein
William Frankenstein
Captain Robert Walton discovers Victor Frankenstein stranded on an ice floe in the Arctic. Waltons letters to his sister Margaret frame the novel, and he records Victors harrowing story. This narrative device connects two ambitious seekers of knowledge. .
Who is wrongfully executed for the murder of Victors younger brother William?
Margaret Walton
Elizabeth Lavenza
Safie
Justine Moritz
Justine Moritz is accused and executed for Williams murder after the creature plants proof against her. Victor knows she is innocent but remains silent out of fear. This miscarriage of justice heightens the novels critique of societal judgment. .
Which theme is most explored through the creatures eloquent speeches?
Importance of family
Boundaries of science
Effects of isolation
Class struggle
The creatures dialogues focus heavily on the pain of abandonment and solitude. His eloquent appeals emphasize how isolation distorts personality and leads to despair. Shelley uses this to question responsibility and empathy. .
Why does Victor Frankenstein abandon his creature shortly after its animation?
He is disgusted by its appearance
He ran out of materials
It spoke menacingly
He discovered a fatal flaw
Upon seeing his creations grotesque form, Victor is horrified and flees his laboratory. His revulsion highlights the gulf between his intellectual ambition and emotional responsibility. This abandonment triggers the creatures misery and vengefulness. .
What does the creature demand Victor to create after articulating his loneliness?
Another monster
A new life
A better body
A female companion
The creature insists Victor fashion a female counterpart so he will not remain alone. He argues that mutual support will prevent hatred and violence. Victor initially agrees but later destroys the unfinished companion. .
Which contemporary Romantic poet influenced the themes in Frankenstein?
Lord Byron
William Blake
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Samuel Taylor Coleridges explorations of nature, the sublime, and human psychology shaped Romantic literature broadly. Frankenstein integrates Gothic and Romantic ideals, echoing Coleridges themes of transgression and natural wonder. Shelleys circle included Coleridges works, deepening her imaginative scope. .
What philosophical concept does Victor compare his act of creation to?
Social contract
Original sin
Tabula rasa
Playing God
Victors own language likens his scientific achievement to playing God, highlighting themes of hubris and unchecked ambition. Shelley critiques the assumption that mortals can wield divine powers without consequence. This concept remains central to debates on ethics in science. .
Which medieval alchemists works did Victor reference in his early studies that inspired him?
Cornelius Agrippa
John Locke
Francis Bacon
Paracelsus
Victor cites Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa as one of the early influences that sparked his fascination with life creation. Shelley juxtaposes outdated alchemical texts with emerging scientific methods to show his evolving worldview. Agrippas association with magic emphasizes the Gothic roots. .
In the 1831 preface, Mary Shelley describes the origin of Frankensteins idea as resulting from what experience?
A conversation with Percy Shelley
A letter from Byron
A visit to a graveyard
A waking nightmare
In her 1831 introduction, Shelley recounts that a waking dream or night-mare revealed the creatures assembling process to her mind. This origin story underscores the novels Gothic atmosphere and the power of imagination. It also distances the tale from simple scientific speculation. .
What does the creature imply by referencing himself as the fallen angel in comparison to Adam?
He intends to overthrow humanity
He feels abandoned by his creator
He wants revenge on heaven
He desires to sin
By likening himself to Satan rather than Adam, the creature emphasizes his sense of betrayal and neglect by Victor. Whereas Adam is cherished, he is cast out and despised. This biblical allusion deepens themes of creator responsibility and existential alienation. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze Character Motivations -

    Examine the driving forces behind Victor Frankenstein and his creation to master the Frankenstein character motivations quiz with confidence.

  2. Recall Key Plot Developments -

    Trace major events and twists in Mary Shelley's narrative to ace the Frankenstein plot review quiz.

  3. Interpret Thematic Elements -

    Explore themes such as ambition, isolation, and responsibility to deepen your understanding during the Frankenstein quiz.

  4. Evaluate Symbolic Imagery -

    Identify and assess symbols like light, fire, and the creature itself to enrich responses to Frankenstein comprehension questions.

  5. Apply Critical Thinking -

    Use analytical skills to connect character actions and themes, ensuring success in the Mary Shelley Frankenstein quiz.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Victor's Obsession & Ambition -

    Review Victor Frankenstein's drive to conquer death through science, rooted in Enlightenment thought (Oxford University archives). Use the mnemonic "MOT" (Mother loss, Obsession, Transcendence) to recall how personal tragedy and intellectual pride fuel his experiments.

  2. The Creature's Search for Identity -

    Examine the monster's emotional development as it grapples with abandonment and social rejection, drawing on Modern Language Association studies. Remember the phrase "I Am Alone" to link the Creature's isolation to its growing resentment and self-awareness.

  3. Gothic Elements & Sublime Settings -

    Analyze how Mary Shelley uses Alpine landscapes and stormy weather to mirror inner turmoil, a technique highlighted in University of Cambridge research. In a Frankenstein quiz context, note how setting intensifies mood - think "CREAM" (Creation, Revenge, Ethics, Alienation, Majesty) as a theme mnemonic.

  4. Ethical Dilemmas & Creator Responsibility -

    Investigate the moral questions Shelley raises about playing God, using examples from scholarly journals on bioethics. When tackling Frankenstein character motivations quiz items, focus on Victor's refusal to care for his creation and the resulting consequences.

  5. Narrative Structure & Framing Devices -

    Understand the nested storytelling - Captain Walton's letters framing Victor's tale - cited in Classic Novel Studies Journal. For Frankenstein plot review quiz sections, map each narrator's perspective with a simple timeline chart to track shifts in viewpoint.

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