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Literary Sources of Frankenstein   Frankenstein is considered to be the greatest Gothic Romantic Novel. It is also generally thought of as the first science fiction novel. I have always been impressed and amazed by the fact that bloody shame wrote this novel when she was eighteen years old. What experiences and powers of caprice led to such an innovative and disturbing work?   The idea for the novel arose in the summer of 1816 when Mary Shelley was staying at Lord Byrons villa in Geneva Switzerland. non only did Mary incorporate experiences from that summer into her novel, she also utilized the sources that she had been reading and studying. Two in particular were the Metamorphoses by Ovid and heaven Lost by Milton.   It is believed that Mary studied Ovid in April and May of 1815. The major element that Ovid supplied to the theme of Frankenstein, was his presentation of the Prometheus legend. This is acknowledged in the subtitle Frankenstein, Or the Modern Prometheu s. The creation of the monster is akin to this passage from Ovid   Whether with particles of heavnly fire, The God of Nature did his soul inspire Or earth, but new divided from the sky, And, pliant, still retaind thethereal energy Which wise Prometheus temperd into paste, And, mixt with living streams, the godlike picture cast... From such rude principles our form began And earth was metamorphosd into man.   Lines from Frankenstein that reflect the above passage are I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might immerse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. (p.51)   ...that I may extinguish the spark which I so negligently bestowed. (Frankenstein p.101)     The chip important literary influence was Paradise Lost by Milton. ( If you have not read this, it is really worth the time. It is difficult, but is well worth the effort. I find that it is helpful to have a copy of Bullfinchs Mythology when reading it. Almost all o f Miltons mythological references are explained in Bullfinch.)   The influence of Miltons Paradise Lost poop be seen directly from the epigraph of the 1818 edition of Frankenstein.   Did I request thee, Maker from my clay to mould me man? Did I solicit thee, from darkness to promote me?   The spirit of Paradise Lost permeates Frankenstein throughout the novel.