Frankenstein court case

As a class, we will be putting Victor and the creature on trial to decide who is to blame for
the terrible deaths.

In this task you will need to work together as a group to show that:

• you have thought about the plot

• you have used the play to get ideas about what to say and what your character
thinks
• you can listen to others
• you have taken a full part in the assessment.

Each group member will play a different character. To help you get in role you will be
given a card with some information about your character. While you are in court you will
have to listen carefully to what is happening and answer questions as your character
would.

The parts are:

• Victor
• the creature
• Head and Assistant Judges
• Elizabeth’s ghost
• Baron Frankenstein’s ghost (Victor’s father)
• William’s ghost (Victor’s brother)
• Henry Clerval’s ghost (Victor’s friend)
• Robert Walton – the captain of the ship who hears Victor’s story
• Felix – met the creature in the forest
• Agathe – met the creature in the forest
• jury members
• lawyers for the creature and Victor
• court officials

Using the play as inspiration, prepare your part by making notes on your character and be
ready to give a statement about what has happened to you and your role in the tragedy.

You should try to ensure that everyone in your group contributes equally.

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Frankenstein court case

HEAD JUDGE
Working with the Assistant Judge, you are jointly in charge of the court room
and what happens in the trial. You need to work together to make sure that
the trial runs smoothly and that Victor and the monster (the defendants) get a
fair hearing. You must listen very carefully to everyone.

• You should start the trial by explaining what has happened and why we are all here.
• You should call up each witness and the lawyers.
• You must try to ensure that everyone listens to each other and that you keep order in
the court.
• You must listen carefully and you can ask questions if you want.
• Before the trial begins, make some notes on the case and any questions you feel must
be addressed.
• You will sum up the evidence at the end of the trial, before the jury consider their
verdict.
• After the jury deliver the verdict, you will need to pass sentence.

Try to show good listening skills and get everyone involved. This will help you
to get a good grade.

THE CREATURE

You were made by Victor. In a way he is your father.

• Victor ran off when he first saw you come to life. You are called a ‘monster’ and have
no name in the story.
• You were not treated very well by most people in your life.
• Victor did not teach you right or wrong or care for you.
• You tracked down Victor and wanted him to make you a bride so that you would not
be lonely.
• You are very powerful and very strong.
• You attacked and killed people.
• You wanted revenge on Victor for what he had done.

Is it all your fault? How do you feel? Do you think that you are guilty? Try to
answer all the questions you are asked and try to make everyone understand
your side of the story. Who do you blame for the deaths?

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Frankenstein court case

AGATHE

You and your brother have come to court but you are both very nervous.

• You are blind and you met the creature when you were on your own.
• You were the only person who was ever kind to the creature. Why were you kind to
him?
• The creature did steal from you but did not hurt you.
• You tried to understand him. Can you understand why he became so evil?
• How did your brother react when he saw the creature in your home?
• What was your brother’s reaction after he shot the creature?
• What did your brother tell you about the creature?
• How do you feel now that the creature is on trial?

Do you feel sorry for the creature? Or do you now blame the creature for what
he did? Try to be really clear about who you blame and why.

WILLIAM FRANKENSTEIN – VICTOR’S LITTLE BROTHER

You are a ghost but you have come back to take part in the trial.

• You die in the story but who do you blame?

• You died at a young age. How do you feel about missing out on life?
• You loved your oldest brother Frankenstein but he was away a lot.
• Although the monster killed you, do you think anyone else is at all responsible for your
death?
• When you first saw the monster what did you think?
• Do you think the monster is evil?

Is it Victor’s fault or do you blame the monster?

Try to answer all the questions and make everyone feel sorry for you.

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Frankenstein court case

CAPTAIN WALTON: EXPLORER, CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP WHO HEARS

VICTOR’S STORY.

You are the one person who has heard the whole story from Victor’s point of
view. You can hardly believe what Victor told you.

• You are a brave explorer and you have taken risks just like Victor did with his
experiments. However, do you think he went too far with what he did?
• When you first saw Victor what did you think?
• Have you learnt anything by talking to Victor?
• Do you feel sorry for Victor? Why or why not?
• What do you think of all the deaths?
• When you first saw the creature what did you think?
• Has your opinion of Victor changed since you first met him?

You might support Victor more as you heard his side of the story – but this will
be your choice.
Try to answer all the questions and explain your thoughts fully.

COURT OFFICIAL

You have an important part to play by making sure that everyone swears to tell
the truth in court. You have to help the judges make sure that the case runs
smoothly.

• Your job is to call up the witnesses to the stand.

• Introduce witnesses by saying their character name and who they are in the story.
• You must ask them ‘Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth?’
• You must listen carefully to what is being said and make sure that you do what the
judge asks you to do.

Listen carefully to all of the witnesses and other people in the court and pay
close attention to what is going on.

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Frankenstein court case

BARON FRANKENSTEIN – VICTOR’S FATHER – GHOST

You are a ghost but you have come back to take part in the trial.

• You were proud of your son and his achievements.

• You know Victor was trying to be a great scientist.
• Before you got ill, Elizabeth tried to get Victor to visit you but he refused. How do you
feel about this?
• Victor brought to life the creature that killed both William and Elizabeth. You loved
them both so much.
• What do you think of the creature he made?
• Who is to blame for the deaths, the monster or Victor, his creator?
• What do you wish had happened?

To get a good grade try to be really clear about who you blame and why.

VICTOR

You created the monster and began to create a bride for him as well.

• You were appalled by what you had made and ran off, even though the monster was
like a child. You didn’t teach him or care for him.
• You didn’t tell anyone about what you had created.
• People you loved died because of what the monster did.
• You are a talented scientist and have dedicated your life to learning about science.
• You did something incredible that no one else had ever done. Should you be
punished for learning amazing new things?
• You have given up a lot in your life to help others.
• You have had to cope with keeping secret what you did.

Is it all your fault? If you could go back in time, would you still create the
monster?
Make sure you listen to the statements from others in the case. Try to answer
all the questions and make everyone understand your side of the story.

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Frankenstein court case

ELIZABETH

You are a ghost but you have come back to take part in the trial.

• Who do you blame for your death?

• You were loyal to the Frankenstein family, helping Baron Frankenstein and looking
after William who sadly died.
• You loved Frankenstein and wanted to help him but he did not tell you the truth about
things. How do you feel about this?
• You were killed by the monster but who do you most blame?
• Have your feelings towards any of the characters changed since your death?

Listen carefully to the other witnesses. Try to answer all the questions you are
asked and explain your point of view. Make sure people understand who you
feel is most responsible for your death and William’s.

HENRY CLERVAL – VICTOR’S FRIEND

You are a ghost but you have come back to take part in the trial.

• Can you describe Victor as he was when you first met?

• You were good friends with Frankenstein and wanted to help him but he did not tell
you the whole truth about his experiments. How did you feel when you found out he
had been hiding things from you?
• What do you think about Victor’s experiments?
• Do you think Victor was right to try to create life?
• You were killed by the monster but who do you most blame?
• Have any of your feelings about any of the characters or events changed since your
death?
• Is Frankenstein a great scientist or evil?
• Do you think you might be jealous of Frankenstein and what he achieved?

Try to be really clear about who you blame for the deaths in the play and why.

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Frankenstein court case

FELIX

You are young and want to protect your only sister from harm.

• You are very nervous in court.

• You met the monster and you shot at him because you thought that he was attacking
Agathe.
• You tried to explain to Agathe what the creature was like but she wouldn’t believe you.
• What did you think when you first saw the creature? How did he make you feel?
• What had you heard about the creature from the villagers?
• Did Agathe convince you that the creature meant no harm?
• Have your feelings about the monster changed at all over time?

Try to be really clear about your thoughts and explain how you feel about the
monster.

ASSISTANT JUDGE

Working with the Head Judge, you are jointly in charge of the court room and
what happens in the trial. You need to work together to make sure that the
trial runs smoothly and that Victor and the monster (the defendants) get a fair
hearing. You must listen very carefully to everyone.

• You can ask questions if you want.

• If a lawyer has asked to speak, you can invite them to stand and ask their question.
• Make sure that nobody is rude or abusive in the court room.
• You may need to remind witnesses and lawyers of the rules of conduct in court.
• Before the trial begins make some notes on the case and any questions you feel must
be addressed.

Try to show good listening skills and get everyone involved.

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Frankenstein court case

JURY MEMBERS

You will listen to evidence presented by the witnesses and the arguments of
their lawyers. You are important because you make the final decision in the
case after hearing all the witnesses.

• You must listen very carefully to what everyone is saying.

• You can ask questions but should put up your hand and wait until the judge asks you
what you want to say.
• Together with the other jury members, you will have to vote on whether Victor or the
Monster is most responsible.
• You must vote carefully and have a reason for your decision.
• To prepare for the trial write at least three questions for the key witnesses in the case.
Try to ask open questions so that the witness cannot answer with a yes or no.
• You will get a good mark if you show that you have been involved with the case and
with listening to others.

Make sure that you listen carefully and consider all sides of the story.

JURY MEMBERS

You will listen to evidence presented by the witnesses and the arguments of
their lawyers. You are important because you make the final decision in the
case after hearing all the witnesses.

• You must listen very carefully to what everyone is saying.

• You can ask questions but should put up your hand and wait until the judge asks you
what you want to say.
• Together with the other jury members, you will have to vote on whether Victor or the
Monster is most responsible.
• You must vote carefully and have a reason for your decision.
• To prepare for the trial, write at least three questions for the key witnesses in the case.
Try to ask open questions so that the witness cannot answer with a yes or no.
• You will get a good mark if you show that you have been involved with the case and
with listening to others.

Make sure that you listen carefully and consider all sides of the story.

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Frankenstein court case

LAWYER FOR VICTOR

You have a very challenging part and must argue for and defend Victor.

• Before the trial you should work closely with Victor to plan how you will convince
everyone that Victor is not guilty.
• Read Victor’s character card to help you.
• You should argue that the creature is to blame and is responsible for his behaviour.
• You could hypothesise that Victor is a talented scientist and could not have known
what the monster would do.
• You should plan questions to ask the creature and the witnesses. Think carefully about
what you ask; you want their answers to help Victor.
• You should make a speech at the end summing up why Victor is not guilty.

Listen to the witnesses in the case and ask powerful questions. Try to make
the jury sympathise with Victor. Blame the creature for everything that
happened.

LAWYER FOR THE CREATURE

You have a very challenging part and must argue for and defend the creature.

• You should work closely with the person playing the part of the creature to plan how
you will convince the jury that the creature is not guilty.
• Read the creature’s character card to help you.
• You should argue that Victor, as the creator, is to blame and is responsible for what
happened and all the tragic deaths.
• Explain that the creature had no role model to guide him.
• To play your part well you should look over the story and plan questions to ask Victor
and the witnesses.
• You want their answers to help the creature be found not guilty so think carefully
about what you ask.
• You will need to make a speech at the end summing up why the creature is not guilty.

Listen to the witnesses in the case and ask powerful questions. Try to make
the jury sympathise with the creature. Blame the Victor for everything that
happened.

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