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30 Nov 2025
•
Annotated Walton's Fourth Letter from Frankenstein
Katie Toppin
@katietoppin
1 / 6
A Strange Encounter in the Arctic
Picture this: you're trapped in your ship, surrounded by endless ice in the middle of nowhere. That's exactly what happens to Captain Walton and his crew in the Arctic. Just when things look properly grim, they spot something bizarre through their telescopes.
A massive figure - described as having "gigantic stature" - races across the ice on a dog sledge, heading north. The crew can barely believe their eyes because they're supposedly hundreds of miles from any land. This mysterious traveller vanishes into the distance, leaving everyone completely baffled.
The ice breaks up that night, freeing their ship. But the real drama kicks off the next morning when they discover another sledge drifting towards them - this time with a nearly dead European man inside.
💡 Key Point: This opening scene sets up the frame narrative structure - we're reading Walton's account of someone else's story, creating layers of storytelling that make the events feel more mysterious and credible.
The Mysterious Stranger Boards
Here's where it gets properly weird. This half-frozen stranger, despite being on death's door, refuses to board the ship until he knows where they're heading. Imagine being that stubborn when you're literally dying! Only when Walton mentions they're heading to the North Pole does the man agree to come aboard.
The stranger is in absolutely dreadful condition - "dreadfully emaciated by fatigue and suffering" - and keeps fainting. The crew nurse him back to health with brandy and soup, but he remains silent for two days. When he finally recovers enough to speak, something fascinating emerges about his character.
Walton describes him as having "an expression of wildness, and even madness" in his eyes, yet he can also show incredible sweetness and benevolence. There's clearly something deeply troubling this man, and his mood swings between despair and gratitude.
When asked why he'd travelled so far on the ice, the stranger gives a chilling response: "To seek one who fled from me." The plot thickens when he learns that Walton's crew had spotted another sledge the day before - the very person he's been pursuing.
The Pursuit and Growing Friendship
The stranger's entire demeanour changes when he learns about the other sledge. He calls the person he's chasing a "demon" and desperately wants to know if the ice breaking up might have destroyed his quarry's escape route. This obsession with pursuit reveals just how driven - and possibly dangerous - this man might be.
Despite his mysterious nature, the stranger wins everyone over with his gentle manners and conciliating behaviour. Walton becomes particularly attached, describing him as someone he'd "have been happy to have possessed as the brother of my heart." Remember, Walton has been desperately lonely on this voyage.
The stranger spends his time watching from the deck, hoping to spot the other sledge. His "constant and deep grief" moves Walton to sympathy, and it's clear this man has suffered some terrible tragedy that's left him broken but still strangely noble.
This relationship development is crucial because it shows how Walton, in his isolation, becomes emotionally invested in someone who might not be entirely trustworthy.
Walton's Dangerous Obsession Revealed
By mid-August, Walton has become completely fascinated by his guest, describing him as having "unparalleled eloquence" and wisdom. But here's where things get seriously interesting - and worrying. Walton starts sharing his own ambitious plans for Arctic exploration with the stranger.
Walton reveals his dangerous determination: he'd gladly sacrifice his fortune, his life, everything for the knowledge and dominion he seeks. Sound familiar? This obsessive pursuit of knowledge at any cost should ring alarm bells, especially given what we'll soon learn about the stranger's own past.
The stranger's reaction is immediate and dramatic. He breaks down completely, covering his face as tears trickle fast from between his fingers. His response is chilling: "Unhappy man! Do you share my madness? Have you drank also of the intoxicating draught?"
This moment is absolutely crucial because it shows the stranger recognising his own destructive patterns in Walton. He offers to tell his tale as a warning, hoping Walton will "dash the cup from your lips" before it's too late.
Friendship and Warning Signs
The stranger's philosophy about friendship reveals both wisdom and tragedy. He believes we're "unfashioned creatures, but half made up" without a true friend to complete us. He claims he once had "the most noble of human creatures" as a friend, but now he's lost everything and cannot begin life anew.
What's fascinating is how the stranger maintains his appreciation for natural beauty despite his suffering. Walton describes him as having a "double existence" - able to suffer misery yet still be elevated by nature like a "celestial spirit." This suggests someone who was once capable of great things but has fallen from grace.
Walton becomes increasingly obsessed with understanding what makes his guest so extraordinary, noting his "intuitive discernment" and "soul-subduing music" of his voice. This hero-worship is dangerous because it blinds Walton to potential warning signs.
💡 Key Point: The stranger's promise to tell his story creates dramatic tension - we know something terrible is coming, and his warnings about the dangers of ambitious knowledge-seeking foreshadow the main narrative.
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Most popular content in English Literature
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4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Annotated Walton's Fourth Letter from Frankenstein
Katie Toppin
@katietoppin
Ever wondered what happens when you're desperate for friendship and encounter someone with a dark secret? Mary Shelley's Frankenstein opens with Captain Walton's letters to his sister, describing his Arctic voyage and a mysterious encounter that changes everything.
A Strange Encounter in the Arctic
Picture this: you're trapped in your ship, surrounded by endless ice in the middle of nowhere. That's exactly what happens to Captain Walton and his crew in the Arctic. Just when things look properly grim, they spot something bizarre through their telescopes.
A massive figure - described as having "gigantic stature" - races across the ice on a dog sledge, heading north. The crew can barely believe their eyes because they're supposedly hundreds of miles from any land. This mysterious traveller vanishes into the distance, leaving everyone completely baffled.
The ice breaks up that night, freeing their ship. But the real drama kicks off the next morning when they discover another sledge drifting towards them - this time with a nearly dead European man inside.
💡 Key Point: This opening scene sets up the frame narrative structure - we're reading Walton's account of someone else's story, creating layers of storytelling that make the events feel more mysterious and credible.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The Mysterious Stranger Boards
Here's where it gets properly weird. This half-frozen stranger, despite being on death's door, refuses to board the ship until he knows where they're heading. Imagine being that stubborn when you're literally dying! Only when Walton mentions they're heading to the North Pole does the man agree to come aboard.
The stranger is in absolutely dreadful condition - "dreadfully emaciated by fatigue and suffering" - and keeps fainting. The crew nurse him back to health with brandy and soup, but he remains silent for two days. When he finally recovers enough to speak, something fascinating emerges about his character.
Walton describes him as having "an expression of wildness, and even madness" in his eyes, yet he can also show incredible sweetness and benevolence. There's clearly something deeply troubling this man, and his mood swings between despair and gratitude.
When asked why he'd travelled so far on the ice, the stranger gives a chilling response: "To seek one who fled from me." The plot thickens when he learns that Walton's crew had spotted another sledge the day before - the very person he's been pursuing.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The Pursuit and Growing Friendship
The stranger's entire demeanour changes when he learns about the other sledge. He calls the person he's chasing a "demon" and desperately wants to know if the ice breaking up might have destroyed his quarry's escape route. This obsession with pursuit reveals just how driven - and possibly dangerous - this man might be.
Despite his mysterious nature, the stranger wins everyone over with his gentle manners and conciliating behaviour. Walton becomes particularly attached, describing him as someone he'd "have been happy to have possessed as the brother of my heart." Remember, Walton has been desperately lonely on this voyage.
The stranger spends his time watching from the deck, hoping to spot the other sledge. His "constant and deep grief" moves Walton to sympathy, and it's clear this man has suffered some terrible tragedy that's left him broken but still strangely noble.
This relationship development is crucial because it shows how Walton, in his isolation, becomes emotionally invested in someone who might not be entirely trustworthy.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Walton's Dangerous Obsession Revealed
By mid-August, Walton has become completely fascinated by his guest, describing him as having "unparalleled eloquence" and wisdom. But here's where things get seriously interesting - and worrying. Walton starts sharing his own ambitious plans for Arctic exploration with the stranger.
Walton reveals his dangerous determination: he'd gladly sacrifice his fortune, his life, everything for the knowledge and dominion he seeks. Sound familiar? This obsessive pursuit of knowledge at any cost should ring alarm bells, especially given what we'll soon learn about the stranger's own past.
The stranger's reaction is immediate and dramatic. He breaks down completely, covering his face as tears trickle fast from between his fingers. His response is chilling: "Unhappy man! Do you share my madness? Have you drank also of the intoxicating draught?"
This moment is absolutely crucial because it shows the stranger recognising his own destructive patterns in Walton. He offers to tell his tale as a warning, hoping Walton will "dash the cup from your lips" before it's too late.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Friendship and Warning Signs
The stranger's philosophy about friendship reveals both wisdom and tragedy. He believes we're "unfashioned creatures, but half made up" without a true friend to complete us. He claims he once had "the most noble of human creatures" as a friend, but now he's lost everything and cannot begin life anew.
What's fascinating is how the stranger maintains his appreciation for natural beauty despite his suffering. Walton describes him as having a "double existence" - able to suffer misery yet still be elevated by nature like a "celestial spirit." This suggests someone who was once capable of great things but has fallen from grace.
Walton becomes increasingly obsessed with understanding what makes his guest so extraordinary, noting his "intuitive discernment" and "soul-subduing music" of his voice. This hero-worship is dangerous because it blinds Walton to potential warning signs.
💡 Key Point: The stranger's promise to tell his story creates dramatic tension - we know something terrible is coming, and his warnings about the dangers of ambitious knowledge-seeking foreshadow the main narrative.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Most popular content: Frankenstein
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Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
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4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user