INTRALINGUAL TRANSLATION AND FRANKENSTEIN IN THE NINETEENTH-CENTURY BRITISH PRESS

Abstract

After the publication of Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein in 1818, the story took on a life of its own. People started comparing every-day occurrences in their lives to the fictional character. Initially it was about monsters and creators of monsters, and then other interpretations crept in: artistry, creativity, and scientific progress among others. This paper provides an overview of the development of the Frankenstein simile and metaphor in post-Romantic nineteenth-century Britain and treats the range of meanings as intralingual translations of the original story.