Frankenstein • Lesson 5 C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency ⏱ 20 Mins

Lesson 5: The Confrontation on the Glacier

Master contrast fronting (Much as..., Bleak though...), albeit, and the subjunctive (insist that he listen) through the meeting of Frankenstein and his Creature on the Alpine ice.

Lesson Score
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Chapter 10 • Mer de GlaceMontanvert Glacier, Chamonix Alps (1818)
What You'll Learn in This Lesson

Contrast Structures & Formal Demands

1. Adjective + though/as + Subject + VerbEmphasizes a contrast → "Fierce though the storm was, he kept climbing."
2. Much as + Subject + VerbMeans "Even though... very much" → "Much as Victor hated the creature, he listened."
3. The Subjunctive (insist/demand that...)Uses the base verb (be, listen, remain) → "He demanded that Victor hear his story."

1. Read the Scene & Useful Vocabulary

Frankenstein • Chapter 10

High on the Mer de Glace glacier in the Alps, Victor comes face to face with the Creature he abandoned. Expecting a mindless monster, Victor is astonished by the Creature's articulate, persuasive speech:

Original Novel Extract (1818)
"I suddenly beheld the figure of a man, at some distance, advancing towards me with superhuman speed... 'Devil,' I exclaimed, 'do you dare approach me? Begone, vile insect! or rather, stay, that I may trample you to dust!'

'I expected this reception,' said the daemon. 'All men hate the wretched; how, then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things! Yet you, my creator, detest and spurn me, thy creature, to whom thou art bound by ties only dissoluble by the annihilation of one of us. You purpose to kill me. How dare you sport thus with life? Do your duty towards me, and I will do mine towards you and the rest of mankind. Have I not suffered enough, that you seek to increase my misery? Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it.'" — Mary Shelley, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818), Chapter 10 Original Text
Old-Fashioned Words (Just for Reading) 1818 Fiction
Archaic pronouns and dramatic commands used in Chapter 10. Recognize them in classic literature, but never use them in modern writing.
Thou / Thee / Thy / Wilt [archaic pronouns & verb] Old English singular "you / your / will", which Shelley uses to give the Creature's speech a biblical, Miltonic weight.
Begone! [archaic exclamation] "Go away at once!" Strictly theatrical or historical.
Spurn [verb, literary] To reject with disdain or contempt. In modern essays, reject, dismiss, or turn down sounds much more natural.
Modern C1/C2 Words (Great for Exams) Use in Writing & Speaking
Strong C1/C2 words for essays on ethics, law, technology, and society.
Inexorable [adjective] / Inexorably [adverb] Impossible to stop or prevent. Great collocations: the inexorable rise of automation, inexorable pressure.
Abhorrence [noun] / Abhor [verb] Strong disgust or moral hatred. Collocations: view violence with abhorrence, abhor cruelty.
Albeit [conjunction] Meaning "although / even if" before a short phrase (not a full verb clause): progress has been made, albeit slowly.
Task 1: Vocabulary Check (4 Marks). Classify each word as a Modern C1/C2 Word or an Old-Fashioned Word:

2. The Grammar Pattern: Advanced Contrast & The Subjunctive

C1/C2 Discursive Writing

In a C1/C2 or IELTS essay, you constantly need to acknowledge an opposing point before giving your own argument, or make formal recommendations. Here are four high-scoring ways to do it:

1. Adjective + though / as + S + V

Put the adjective at the very start before though or as to emphasize a contrast:

• Impressive though the technology is, it cannot replace human judgment.
(= Although the technology is impressive...)

2. Much as + Subject + Verb

Means "Even though [someone] wants/likes/hates something very much":

• Much as Victor despised the creature, he felt compelled to listen.
• Much as consumers welcome lower prices, quality often suffers.

3. The Subjunctive (that + base verb)

After insist, demand, recommend, suggest, or it is vital that, use the base verb (be, listen, pay) even with he/she/it:

• The creature demanded that Victor hear his side of the story.
• The report recommends that the law be updated immediately.

4. How to Use "Albeit"

Albeit means "although", but it can only be followed by an adjective, adverb, or short phrase—never a full subject + verb:

• ✗ Albeit he was exhausted, he kept climbing.
• ✓ He kept climbing, albeit slowly / albeit with difficulty.

Quick Grammar Check (3 Marks):

5. Which sentence uses the subjunctive correctly in formal English?
6. Which sentence correctly rewrites "Although the mountain scenery was magnificent, it failed to comfort Victor"?
7. Which sentence uses albeit accurately?

3. Cambridge Use of English Part 4: Key Word Transformations

2 Marks Each (10 Marks Total)

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. Use between 3 and 8 words, including the key word.

8. Although Victor abhorred the creature deeply, he felt compelled to listen to its story.
ABHORRED
, he felt compelled to listen to its story.
9. "You must listen to my side of the story before judging me," the creature told Victor.
HEAR
The creature explanation before passing judgment.
10. As Victor climbed higher into the mountains, his sense of isolation grew stronger.
CLIMBED
intense his sense of isolation became.
11. Even though the creature spoke very eloquently, Victor doubted he could ever trust him.
ELOQUENTLY
pleaded, Victor doubted he could ever trust him.
12. Victor admitted that as a creator he had a moral duty to care for his creation.
OBLIGATION
Victor admitted that he was care for his creation.

4. From Classic Fiction to Modern Exam Writing

Real-World C1/C2 Application

See how Much as..., Adjective + though..., and albeit let you balance two sides of an argument naturally in a Cambridge C1/C2 or IELTS Discussion Essay:

In the Novel's Argument
"Much as Victor abhorred the creature's appearance, he could not deny the justice of its argument. Fierce though his anger was, he agreed to listen to the creature's story, albeit reluctantly."
In a Modern C1/C2 Essay on Automation & Jobs
"Much as businesses welcome the efficiency of automated systems, the impact on entry-level workers cannot be ignored. Inexorable though the rise of AI may seem, economists insist that governments support retraining programmes—albeit as a gradual transition rather than an overnight fix."

Modern Exam Writing Practice (Questions 13–15 • 3 Marks)

Choose the most natural, accurate C1/C2 sentence for a modern essay or report: