Frankenstein • Lesson 6C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency⏱ 20 Mins
Lesson 6: The Creature's Case
Learn how to spotlight your most important points in essays using cleft sentences (What drove him was..., It was rejection that..., All he wanted was...) through the Creature's speech in Frankenstein.
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Chapters 10 & 15The De Lacey Hovel & The Creature's Defence (1818)
What You'll Learn in This Lesson
Spotlighting Key Points with Cleft Sentences
1. It-Cleft (It was... that...)Highlights a specific cause or person → "It was human cruelty that turned him bitter."
2. What-Cleft (What... was...)Builds focus toward the end of the sentence → "What he wanted most was a single friend."
3. All-Cleft (All... was...)Means "The only thing" → "All the creature asked for was a chance to speak."
1. Read the Scene & Useful Vocabulary
Frankenstein • Chapters 10 & 16
Read the Creature's argument that he was born gentle and kind, and that only constant rejection by human society drove him to anger:
Original Novel Extract (1818)
"'Believe me, Frankenstein: I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity: but am I not alone, miserably alone? You, my creator, abhor me; what hope can I gather from your fellow-creatures, who owe me nothing? They spurn and hate me. The desert mountains and dreary glaciers are my refuge. I have wandered here many days; the caves of ice, which I only do not fear, are a dwelling to me, and the only one which man does not grudge. These bleak skies I hail, for they are kinder to me than your fellow-beings. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous.'"
— Mary Shelley, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818), Chapter 10Original Text
Old-Fashioned Words (Just for Reading)1818 Fiction
19th-century words that appear often in Frankenstein, but sound unnatural in modern essays.
Wretch [noun]
An unfortunate, miserable outcast. In modern essays, write outcast or marginalised individual.
Succour [noun / verb, literary]
Help given in times of hardship. Today, write support, aid, or assistance.
Hovel [noun]
A tiny, squalid shed or shelter (where the Creature hides beside the De Lacey cottage).
Modern C1/C2 Words (Great for Exams)Use in Writing & Speaking
High-value vocabulary for C1/C2 essays on society, psychology, and ethics.
Benevolent [adj] / Benevolence [noun]
Well-meaning, kind, and generous. Collocations: a benevolent gesture, motivated by benevolence.
Ostracise [verb] / Ostracism [noun]
To exclude someone from a group or society. Collocations: ostracised by their peers, social ostracism.
Repudiate [verb]
To firmly reject or refuse to accept something. Collocations: repudiate responsibility, repudiate an accusation.
Task 1: Vocabulary Check (4 Marks). Classify each word as a Modern C1/C2 Word or an Old-Fashioned Word:
2. The Grammar Pattern: Cleft Sentences for Emphasis
C1/C2 Focus Structures
A cleft sentence splits one simple sentence into two parts so you can put a spotlight on the exact cause, person, or idea you want the reader to notice:
1. The "It"-Cleft (It is/was ... that/who)
Puts a spotlight on the exact cause, person, or time:
• Plain: Constant rejection turned the creature bitter.
• Cleft: It was constant rejection that turned the creature bitter.
2. The "What"-Cleft (What ... is/was)
Builds anticipation and places your key point at the end after is/was:
• Plain: He wanted companionship above all else.
• Cleft: What he wanted above all else was companionship.
3. The "All"-Cleft (All ... is/was)
Emphasizes that only one thing was needed or wanted:
• All the creature asked for was to be treated with basic kindness.
(= The only thing he asked for was...)
4. Useful Causal Phrasal Verbs
In Part 4 transformations, Cambridge often tests stem from and put [something] down to:
• His anger stemmed from (= originated in) deep loneliness.
• Critics put his actions down to (= attribute them to) isolation.
Quick Grammar Check (3 Marks):
5. Which cleft sentence is grammatically natural and accurate?
6. Which sentence uses ostracise accurately in a modern essay?
7. Complete the cleft structure: "It was not until he read Milton's Paradise Lost _______ how isolated he truly was."
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. Social rejection was the main thing that drove the creature to seek revenge.
DROVE
to seek revenge.
9. The creature wanted nothing more than to be treated with kindness and respect.
DESIRED
treated with kindness and respect.
10. Most critics believe that the creature's anger originated in his complete isolation.
STEMMED
The creature's angerhis complete isolation.
11. The creature attributed his violent behaviour to the cruelty he experienced from humans.
DOWN
The creaturethe cruelty he experienced from humans.
12. Victor was particularly impressed by the creature's extraordinary eloquence.
STRUCK
extraordinary eloquence.
4. From Classic Fiction to Modern Exam Writing
Real-World C1/C2 Application
See how cleft sentences (What..., It is... that...) and words like ostracise and benevolent work naturally in a modern IELTS or Cambridge C1/C2 essay on community, education, or crime prevention:
In the Novel
"'I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. It was the cruelty of mankind that turned me away from virtue. All I sought was a companion who would not despise me.'"
In a Modern C1/C2 Essay on Youth & Society
"What many sociologists emphasize is the importance of strong community ties. When young people feel ostracised or left behind by the education system, resentment can quickly take root. It is early support and mentorship—rather than harsher punishment alone—that proves most effective in preventing anti-social behaviour."
Modern Exam Writing Practice (Questions 13–15 • 3 Marks)
Choose the most natural, accurate C1/C2 sentence for a modern essay or review:
5. Optional Writing Practice: Put Lessons 4–6 Together
150–220 Words
✍️ Short Essay Paragraph Practice
Choose one of the modern essay prompts below and write 150–220 words. Try to include: 1 inverted conditional or contrast opener (Lessons 4–5), 1 cleft sentence (Lesson 6), and at least 2 C1/C2 vocabulary words from the Frankenstein lessons:
Option A: Science & Ethics Essay
"Should scientists and tech companies be held legally responsible for the unintended consequences of their inventions?" Give your view.
Option B: Rehabilitation vs. Punishment Essay
"To reduce crime, society should focus more on addressing social exclusion and poverty than on harsh punishments." Discuss.
0 Words
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Target 1: Inverted Conditional or Contrast Opener
Try using: Had... not, Were companies to, Much as, or Impressive though.
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Target 2: Cleft Sentence (What... was / It is... that)
Try using: What matters most is, What history shows is, or It is clear regulation that.
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Target 3: Modern C1/C2 Vocabulary (at least 2 words)
Sample C1/C2 Model Answer (Option A: Science & Ethics)
Natural C1/C2 Example
Much as society benefits from rapid scientific and technological breakthroughs, history shows that innovation without accountability carries serious risks. Humanity's unquenchable drive to push boundaries has transformed medicine and communications, yet it can also cause unintended harm when safety is treated as an afterthought.
What Mary Shelley's Frankenstein illustrates so memorably is that creators cannot simply repudiate responsibility once an invention enters the world. Were technology companies to release powerful AI or biotechnology tools without testing their social impact, the consequences could be catastrophic. It is clear, practical regulation—designed to delineate ethical boundaries before products are launched—that protects the public while still allowing genuine science to flourish.