Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" (1818) is considered an early example of:

Question

Accepted Answer

Science fiction. The correct answer is science fiction. "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus" is widely regarded as one of the first science fiction novels because it imagines the creation of artificial life through scientific means rather than supernatural ones. Victor Frankenstein uses galvanism and chemistry to animate his creature, making the novel a meditation on the responsibilities and dangers of scientific ambition.

Realist fiction aims to depict ordinary life accurately; "Frankenstein" features extraordinary, speculative events. Detective fiction, pioneered later by Poe, involves solving crimes through logical deduction. Naturalist fiction, which emerged later in the 19th century, presents characters as products of heredity and environment in a deterministic framework.

"Frankenstein" is essential for the CLEP exam as a foundational text of both Gothic literature and science fiction. Students should understand the novel's frame narrative structure (Walton's letters, Frankenstein's story, the creature's story), the Promethean theme, the creature as sympathetic rather than simply monstrous, and the novel's exploration of creation, responsibility, and the consequences of unchecked ambition.

CLEP English Literature: Question of the Day

Get a free CLEP English Literature question every day

Ready for the full CLEP English Literature? Earn 6 college credits.