ASTRO logo
Present

Facts for Kids

Mary Shelley was an English novelist best known for writing the Gothic novel 'Frankenstein,' which is one of the earliest examples of science fiction.

main image
Description of image
Explore the internet with AstroSafe
Search safely, manage screen time, and remove ads and inappropriate content with the AstroSafe Browser.
Download
Inside this Article
Isaac Asimov
Frankenstein
Literature
Innovation
Addition
Becoming
Did you know?
๐Ÿ“… Mary Shelley was born on August 30, 1797, in London, England.
๐Ÿ“– She wrote one of the first science fiction novels called 'Frankenstein' in 1818.
๐Ÿ’€ 'Frankenstein' tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, who creates a living creature from dead body parts.
๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐ŸŽ“ Mary loved reading and writing from a young age, spending time in her father's library.
๐Ÿ’˜ Mary Shelley fell in love with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and they ran away together.
๐ŸŒŸ She published 'Frankenstein' when she was only 20 years old!
๐Ÿ’” Many of Maryโ€™s children died young, which greatly affected her.
โœจMary Shelley wrote many other works, including novels and essays on women's rights.
๐ŸŒ Her novel 'Frankenstein' explores themes of creation and responsibility.
๐ŸŒŒ Mary Shelley is often called the 'Mother of Science Fiction' for her influential work.
Show Less
Description of image
Become a Creator with DIY.org
A safe online space featuring over 5,000 challenges to create, explore and learn in.
Learn more
Overview
Mary Shelley was an amazing English writer born on August 30, 1797, in London, England ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง. She created one of the first science fiction novels called "Frankenstein" in 1818. This story is about a young scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who creates a living creature from parts of dead bodies! ๐Ÿ’€๐Ÿ” People are still fascinated by her work today. Maryโ€™s stories explore big questions about life, nature, and what makes us human. In fact, she is often called the "Mother of Science Fiction!" ๐Ÿ“š๐Ÿ’– Learning about Mary reminds us that stories can inspire us to think about the world in new ways!
Read Less
Literary Career
Mary Shelleyโ€™s writing career kicked off in the early 19th century ๐ŸŒŸ. Her most famous book, "Frankenstein," was first published when she was just 20 years old! The idea came to her during a spooky night spent with friends, including Percy, in a villa near Lake Geneva ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿž๏ธ. Mary challenged herself to write a ghost story, which turned into the tale of Frankenstein. After that, she published other books, including essays and novels, but "Frankenstein" remained her biggest success. Life was not always easy, yet Mary kept writing, inspiring many with her words! โœ

๏ธ
Read Less
Mary Shelley's Legacy
Mary Shelleyโ€™s legacy shines bright even today! ๐ŸŒˆ

Her novel "Frankenstein" is studied in schools around the world, helping students engage with important questions about humanity. The book has inspired countless movies, plays, and other stories ๐ŸŽฌ๐ŸŽญ. Mary became a symbol of how women writers can create powerful art, and her contributions made a lasting impact in literature! People now celebrate her life and work every year, keeping her spirit alive and showing how creativity can change the world. Mary shows us that a single idea can grow and influence generations! ๐ŸŒ๐ŸŒŸ
Read Less
Cultural Representations
Mary Shelley and her work have appeared in many movies, TV shows, and even comic books! ๐ŸŽฅ๐Ÿ“บ The character of Frankenstein's monster has become iconic, often depicted as a misunderstood creature searching for love and belonging. Some shows even modernize the story, exploring what it means to be different or to create life ๐Ÿ”๐Ÿ’š. Maryโ€™s tale inspires artists in various forms, from theater to visual art. Each new interpretation allows us to view her story from fresh perspectives and keeps the spirit of her original message alive! ๐Ÿ–Œ

๏ธโœจ
Read Less
Early Life and Education
Mary was born to two famous parents: her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was a writer too, and her father, William Godwin, was a philosopher. ๐Ÿ“–๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐ŸŽ“ Sadly, her mother died just days after she was born. Mary loved reading and writing from a young age ๐Ÿ“š๐Ÿ’•. She spent time in her fatherโ€™s library, where she discovered classic works by great writers. In her teenage years, Mary met a poet named Percy Bysshe Shelley, and they fell in love. ๐Ÿ’˜

They ran away together, and he helped her follow her dream of becoming a writer.
Read Less
Influence on Science Fiction
Mary Shelley is known as the "Mother of Science Fiction" because of her groundbreaking work in the genre ๐ŸŒŒโœจ. Her novel "Frankenstein" introduced many themes still popular in science fiction today, like the consequences of scientific experiments and the nature of artificial life ๐Ÿค–. Writers like H.G. Wells and Isaac Asimov were inspired by her ideas! Storytellers continue to explore similar questions about technology and humanity in movies and books. Maryโ€™s influence is seen everywhere in popular culture, from movies about robots to stories about space adventures! ๐ŸŒ ๐Ÿ›ธ
Read Less
Later Works and Contributions
After "Frankenstein," Mary Shelley continued to write many other works ๐Ÿ“šโœจ. She published novels like "The Last Man" in 1826, which imagines a future world where a deadly plague wipes out humanity. In addition to fiction, she wrote biographies and essays about important topics, including women's rights! Mary loved to write about science and philosophy, making her a true pioneer. She spent time editing her husband's works after his passing and worked hard to share her ideas with the world, inspiring future generations of writers! ๐ŸŒŸโœ๏ธ
Read Less
Role in the Romantic Movement
Mary Shelley was an important figure in the Romantic Movement, which was a time when artists celebrated nature, emotion, and individualism ๐ŸŒŠ๐Ÿ’–. The Romantics often believed in deep feelings and the beauty of the natural world. Maryโ€™s work explored the complexities of human emotions, like love, fear, and ambition. She stood out as a unique voice among many male authors of her time ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธ๐Ÿ“š. By sharing her stories, she helped create a rich literary world where readers could question and feel deeply, cementing her role in this exciting movement! ๐ŸŒŸ

Read Less
Frankenstein: Themes and Impact
"Frankenstein" explores deep themes like creation, responsibility, and the dangers of unchecked ambition โšก๏ธ. Victor Frankenstein, the scientist, learns a hard lesson about the consequences of trying to play God. The book raises questions about what it means to be human and the importance of accepting and understanding one another ๐ŸŒโค๏ธ. People were amazed by the novel, and it became a classic! Maryโ€™s story also started a new literary genre known as Gothic fiction, which combines horror and romance, still enjoyed by many today! ๐Ÿ‘ป

Read Less
Personal Life and Relationships
Mary Shelleyโ€™s life was filled with love and loss ๐Ÿ˜ขโค๏ธ. She married Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1816, and they had several children together. However, many of their children sadly died young, which deeply affected Mary. ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ’” Their relationship was passionate but troubled, as Percy was often away from home. Mary also faced criticism as a female writer in a male-dominated world! Despite these challenges, she remained strong and determined to succeed in her writing career. Her friendships with famous poets and writers, like Lord Byron, also helped shape her work. โœจ

Read Less
Historical Context of Her Writing
Mary Shelley wrote during a time of great change in the world! โš™

๏ธ๐ŸŒ The Industrial Revolution was happening, and science was advancing quickly. New inventions, like steam engines and electricity, amazed people. This curiosity about science inspired Maryโ€™s writing, especially in "Frankenstein," where the themes of creation and exploration of the unknown came to life! โšก

๏ธ๐Ÿ”ฌ After the French Revolution, ideas about individual rights and freedom spread, influencing Maryโ€™s thoughts on social issues. Her work reflects the excitement and fear of new technology while inviting readers to think about the balance between innovation and responsibility! ๐Ÿ’ก

Read Less

Try your luck with the Mary Shelley Quiz.

Try this Mary Shelley quiz and see how many you score!
Q1
Question 1 of 10
Next
Explore More