Freud Discussion

Review Questions from Freud

1.      Id contains everything that is inherited, that is present at birth, and above all instincts. This is the most basic part of personality, and wants instant gratification. Ego seeks to increase pleasure and decrease un-pleasure, but deals with reality. Superego is based on morals and judgment, right and wrong. We compare it to a conscious. The oldest is id, and newest is superego. The ego serves as an intermediary between id and the external world. Ego receives stimuli from the outside world and controls body movement. The superego is the repository of family, cultural, and social factors, as they are embodied in grandparents, teachers, religious leaders, and others who represent or admire social ideas. Neither of them is based off of what consequences will be.

2.   To satisfy the inate needs without regard to demands or restrictions of the outside world. Naturally operate against one another even when they combine in the same act. Eros and destructive instinct. Eros is to bind things together in unity; the aim of destructive instinct is just the opposite. Eros-ego, destructive-id. The erotogenic zones.

3:  In What chief ways did Freud’s analysis of human sexuality contradict accepted belief on this subject?  Outline the main phases of the human sexual development, according to Freud.  With what organs of the body are these individual phases associated?  How does Freud justify classify these phases as sexual? What is the significance (for psychoanalysis) of infantile amnesia?  What is the significance of the Oedipal phase in sexual development?  In the context of the phases of sexual development, how do perversions originate?  What is regression?  How is the individual personality related to sexual development?

-          Freud believed human sexuality was obtained at birth.  In today’s society we do not believe this to be true.  It is understood that an infant cannot possibly have sexual tendencies.

-          The main phases of Freud’s human sexual development are

a.       Oral

(Mouth is the main organ)

b.      Anal

(Anus and the pleasure of defecating is present)

c.       Phallic

 (Discovery of the genitals is present)

d.      Latent

(Repressed sexual feeling, often they will only play with same sex)

e.       Genital

(discovery of the opposite sex and the focus of pleasure is the genitals)

-          If they do not have correct sexual development in the early stated of life, that stage will be referred back to in the future

-          They try to forget about their sexual tendencies or trauma as children, and often need counseling as an adult

-          The oedipal phase for a girl or boy focuses on the sexual desire for parents of the opposite sex

-          When a part of sexual development is not met, it is often regressed back to in the future.  This often develops the individual persons personality on whether or not they are comfortable as a person sexually and if something is wrong as an adolescent or adult they might have homosexual tendencies, or other problems sexually.

5:  Why is the state of sleep considered a fruitful area for the study of interactions between id and ego?  What is the difference between the manifest content and the latent content of a dream?  How do dreams originate? With which components of the psychical apparatus are dreams associated?  What is the role of memory in dreams?  What is the role of symbols?  Define concepts of condensation and displacement.  How does wish fulfillment serve a therapeutic purpose in dreams?  How does Freud account for anxiety dreams?  What is the relationship between dreams and neuroses and psychoses?

-          Sleep is considered a fruitful area to see the interactions between id and ego according to Sigmund Freud because sleep can determine how the ego really is without being held back by the id in this unconscious state of sleep.

-          The manifest content of a dream is the literal meaning of a dream, and latent content is the underlying meaning of a dream.

-          Dreams originate from the unconscious desires of things being held back by the id in reality

-          There are two main parts of the psychical apparatus of dreams

1.      Instinctual impulse

2.      Urge left over from waking life

-          Memory plays a big role in dreams, it brings up recollections of past experiences or desires (p. 716).

-          Symbols enable us to confirm the dreamers senses (p. 716).

-          Concepts of condensation are inclinations ro form fresh unities out elements which in our waking thought we should certainly have kept separate, and displacement is the distinguishing from one element to another, so that id often happens that an element which was of little importance in the dream-thoughts appears as the clearest and accordingly the most important feature of the manifest dream (p. 717). 

-          Wish fulfillment in a dream is therapeutic because they get their unconscious desire for their wish fulfilled and therefore that desire that may not be accomplishable in reality is fulfilled during the dream.

-          Anxiety dreams are seen as un-dealt with residues from the previous days

Review Questions: 1. A. ID, Ego, Superego a. ID – animal instincts b. Pleasure principle c. Irrational d. EGO—Referee e. Utilizes defense mechanisms to protect ongoing thoughts from battles f. Reality principle g. SUPEREGO—Conscience (age 7-8—rules about how to act; should be perfect.) – Pride, follow through, guilt [angle on shoulder—perfection, nice, do work] h. Moral code i. Irrational ID is the oldest. Superego is the most recent. The id is the set of uncoordinated instinctual trends; the super-ego plays the critical and moralizing role; and the ego is the organized, realistic part that mediates between the desires of the id and the super-ego. The super-ego can stop you from doing certain things that your id may want you to do. 2. What are instincts? How do they operate? What are the two basic instincts, according to Freud? How do they relate to one another? With which components of the psychical apparatus is each instinct primarily associated? In what forms do secondary associations (of instincts and components of the psychical apparatus) manifest themselves? What for example is the result when the entire libido is associated with the ego? Innate needs of the id and the tensions that underlie them are powered by instincts. There are two types—Eros and the destructive instinct. Eros bind things together in unity; the destructive instinct undo connections and to destroy things. The energy behind eros is libido. For instance, eating involves destruction of the food itself but for the purpose of incorporating the food into a new unity with one’s body. The ego influenced by superego, can turn the id’s destructive tendencies against the body that houses it. 3. In what chief ways did Freud’s analysis of human sexuality contradict accepted belief on this subject? Outline the main phases of human sexual development according to Freud. With what organs of the body are these individual phases associated? How does Freud justify classifying these phases as sexual? What is the significance (for psychoanalysis) of infantile amnesia? What is the significance of the Oedipal phase in sexual development? In the context of the phases of sexual development, how do perversions originate? What is regression? How is the individual personality related to sexual development? Frued refutes the assumption that human sexual life begins at puberty and is confined to genital contact between members of the opposite sex. Freud believes sexual life begins soon after birth, should not be considered exclusively genital, and should not be exclusively identified with the reproductive function, such as sucking as an infant without having to do with eating. First stage Oral stage Centered on the mouth erotogenic zone Second stage anal excretory/aggressive functions Third stage phallic phase confined to males culminates Oedipus phase For purposes of self-protection, most memories of these childhood phases of sexuality in both sexes fall prey to infantile amnesia. Psychoanalysis may be required to recover memories of early sexual experiences and traumas that may have led to neuroses in adulthood. Perversions libidinal fixations upon non-genital objects or homosexuality—fixations upon genital objects of the same sex. Sexual disappointments can lead to regressions, such as libidinal fixations upon previously satisfying sexual objects. Individual personality is related to the individual’s sexual life, as far back as infancy and childhood, can help account for sexual problems in adolescence and adulthood. Hence, the formation of the personality is inextricably tied to sexual development. 5. Why is the state of sleep considered a fruitful area for the study of interactions between id and ego? What is the difference between the manifest content and the latent content of a dream? How do dreams originate? With which components of the psychical apparatus are dreams associated? What is the role of memory in dreams? What is the role of symbols? Define the concepts of condensation and displacement. How does wish fulfillment serve a therapeutic purpose in dreams? How does Freud account for anxiety dreams (ie, dreams that do not serve the purpose of wish fulfillment)? What is the relationship between dreams and neurosis and psychoses? We avoid the familiar reproach that we base our constructions of normal mental life on pathological findings; for dreams are regular events in the life of a normal person, however much their characteristics may differ from the productions of our waking life. The “royal road” to the unconscious: Manifest--what u see… touches trunk, sees lights, shifts gears, vrooms, his hand is on the stick shift, her hand touches his and takes it off the trunk… not about car…. About sex. Latent is more depth, deeper overall impact (if you figure out what that is) ie: humor—connected to unconscious (ie laughing when someone gets hurt=aggression). Dreams instinctual impulse which is ordinarily suppressed (an unconscious wish) finds enough strength during sleep to make itself felt by the ego. It can also be an urge left over from waking life, a preconscious train of thought with all the conflicting impulses attached to it, finds reinforcement during sleep from an unconscious element. It comes from either id or ego. Ego give evidence of its original derivation from the id by occasionally ceasing its functions and allowing a reversion to an earlier state of things. We are justified in saying that there arises at birth an instinct to return to the intra-uterine life that has been abandoned—an instinct to sleep. Since the waking ego governs motility, that function is paralyzed in sleep, and accordingly a good part of the inhibitions imposed on the unconscious id become superfluous. Dreams bring up recollections which the dreamer has forgotten, which are inaccessible to him when he is awake. Dreams make an unrestricted use of linguistic symbols, the meaning of which is for the most part unknown to the dreamer. They probably originate from earlier phases in the development of speech. Memory very often reproduces in dreams impressions from the dreamer’s early childhood of which we can definitely assert not only that they had not been forgotten but they had become unconscious owing to repression.

-          Dreams can determine neuroses or psychoses simply from the content and components of the dream.

Review Questions. 1. Id- basic part of personality, seeks instant gratification for wants and needs. Ego- deals with reality, and tries to meet the desires of the id in a way that is socially acceptable to the external workd. Superego- develops last and is based on moral judgements regard what is right and wrong. From oldest to youngest in development: Id, Ego, Superego. The Ego serves as the intermediator betweent he Id and the external world. The ego frequently reconciles conflicting demands of the id, the superego, and reality. The Superego deals with morality and judgement, so it is influenced by how the environment shapes you. It is influenced by parents, family, culture, and social facors including teacher, religious leaders and admired persons. The Id, ego, and superego all work together in creating behaviors. The id creates the demand, the ego creates the environmental acceptance, and the superego adds morality to the action. 2. Instincts are drives to satisfy innate needs. The Eros and the destructive instincts operate against one another, even in the same situation. The two basic instincts are the Eros and a destructive instinct. Eros aims to bind things together in unison, while the destructive instincts aim to undo connections and destroy things. They naturally operate against one another, such as when eating: we destroy food, to create energy for ourselves. The destructive instincts can be displaced from outward factors towards oneself, and thereby become self-destructive. The egp, influenced by the superego, can turn te id’s destructive tendencies against the body. The libido is a manifestation of sexual urges that originate from the id’s instincts. If the libiodo focuses primarily on the ego, one becomes narcissistic. 3. It is believed that sexual fantasies begin in puberty and only involve genital contact, Freud claims that it begins soon after birth and goes far beyond genital involvement. Stage One: Oral- infant gains pleasure through sucking and putting things in its mouth, becomes sadistic when they begin to teeth. Stage Two: Anal- satisfaction is gained in excretory and aggressive functions. Stage Three: Phallic/Oedipud- boys discover their penis and the pleasure associated with it; girls discover their vagina similarily. They begin to fantasize about the parent of the opposite sex, and seek to get rid of parent of same sex. When they discover that the opposite sex does not have the same parts as them, they believe they have been punished and sexuality ends until puberty (latency period). Infantile amnesia- for self-protection, memories of sexuality fall prey to amnesia and dissapear. Perversions can result in sexual development that has arrested or been disturbed such as libidinal fixations on non-sexual objections or homosexuality. Regression- libindinal fixations upon previously satisfying sexual objects. The formation of the personality is tied to sexual development from as far back as infancy and childhood. From all stages of sexual development from oral, anal, and phallic/oedipus stages, you need to fullfill them completely in order to progress and develop sexually. 5. Nightly sleep is a state of interaction between the id and ego, the unconscious has to be able to migle with the consciousness, and this is best achieved in sleep. Manifest- what occurs in the dream Latent- the true meaning of what the manifest content displays Dreams arise from either the id or the ego during sleep as we attempt to confront urges In dreams, the id attempts to force its way into the ego. Role of memory- brings up unconscious urges or recollections and present them to the dreamer. Role of symbols- during dreams, we confirm the presence of symbols and our interpretation of them leads to different confrontations betweent the id and ego. Condensation- an inclincation to form fresh unities out of elements which our waking though should have kept separate. Displacement- elements of little importance become the main focus of the dream. Fulfillment of wishes brings important elements to the forefront and discards uninmportant elements after review. Anxiety- unfullfilled dreams.

Final Frankenstein Discussion

1.      Knowledge is presented as both as a great key to advancement/ progress but it is also portrayed as dangerous. What effect does knowledge on the quest for it have on Walton, Victor, Henry, and the Monster?

a.      For Walton, knowledge is the key for him to go on adventures and become independent. He is intelligent and uses his knowledge for his own want for adventure. He wants to see what is out there in the world and go to the north pole.

b.      Victor becomes educated and creates a monster; he uses his knowledge to create something he ends up hating. He doesn’t take responsibilities for his knowledge and what it helped him create.

c.       Henry becomes interested in the sciences and uses this knowledge in a healthier manner than Victor did. He is not as obsessive as Victor.

d.      The Monster’s knowledge makes him become bitter about life. He realizes he is alone in the world and he just wants to be a part of something. He starts killing people. He knows his creator doesn’t love him and he wants revenge.

2.      What is the Monster missing that he desperately seeks? Can you sympathize with his slaying of William? How do you interpret his mischief?

a.      He desperately seeks companionship, acknowledgement, guidance, and trying to make his life better.

b.      No, we do not sympathize with the Monster for killing William, because William had done nothing wrong. He killed an innocent child while he was confused and it still doesn’t justify the killing. He also plants the evidence on Justine and it continues the consequences of what he is doing.

c.       His mischief is an outburst of hate towards his master. He wants attention.

3.      What is the Monster’s purpose in asking for a female companion? Why does Victor hesitate and ultimately give up?

a.      He is upset that everyone else has a possibility of having a wife and he is known as the beast that cannot have a wife. He states “why do you get to be happy but I’m stuck with my wretchedness.”—He just wants to be like everyone else. He doesn’t want to be alone.

b.      He hesitates to create a wife because it’s going to be another Monster who could hurt others. He doesn’t know how this female Monster would react.

4.      How is Henry’s death a role-reversal?

a.      It is a role-reversal because Victor doesn’t want to make Monster a companion, so Monster kills his friend Henry. It also is a role-reversal because he let Justine take the fall for William’s death, knowing it was Monster. He let her die and didn’t try to justify her innocence. Victor was accused of killing Henry and is now being judged unjustly just like Justine was judged. Victor also finally feels what Monster feels in the aspect of being alone and the world being against him.

5.      Why does Victor pursue the Monster north?

a.      The Monster kept leaving clues that enticed Victor to follow him. Monster leaves footprints behind.

6.      By the end of the novel, to what extent are Victor and the Master similar/ dissimilar? In what manner are they made equal?

a.      They are similar because are both alone and isolated. Victor has many things to look forward to; marriage, family, and education. Monster comes into the world without having anything.  

7.      Does Victor develop as a character and learn from his mistakes? Consider his suggestion to the crow near the end.

a.      He did learn from his mistakes because he stops himself from creating another creature. He still keeps pursing the monster, he hasn’t learned and he doesn’t care about the consequences.

8.      How do you interpret Walton’s decision?

a.      Walton decides to turn back around and they are not going to go into the unknown. Especially, after having the knowledge about the monster.

9.      Who ultimately is the monster?

a.      The monster and Victor are both monsters, they both are not taking ownership for their actions, they are irresponsible.

10.  Why does the Monster have no home?

a.      He has no home because nobody accepts him. He is not accepted in society due to his appearance.

11.  If you discovered a journal from a close friend or your parents which revealed disgust with you, how would you react?

a.      I would react with disappointment and I think it would make me evaluate who I am. Try and figure out why they feel disgusted.

1)      Walton-He gets stranded in the Artic. 

Victor-Creates a horrific monster and essentially goes crazy

Henry-Going to college is where he meets Victor, and when he goes to visit he sees Victor is very ill

Monster-Realizes he’s not the same and becomes angry, bitter, and jealous.  And aware of wretchedness

2)       Monster is seeking companionship.  Sympathize-No-even though you’re ugly and alone you don’t kill children.  Mischief=attention seeking

3)      Monster wants a companion so he won’t be alone.  Victor gives up because he feels guilty and doesn’t want more deaths to occur.

4)      Henry was killed by the Monster and Victor is blamed; Victor created the Monster that kills William and then Justine is unjustly executed for the murder

5)      Victor and the Monster both seek knowledge.  They are dissimilar in that Victor is a loner and the Monster wants to be around others.  Also, Victor feels guilty and shameful and the Monster has no shame.  Victor is deteriorating and withering away with health and mental status, however the Monster is learning to survive on his own and is educating himself with language and literature.

6)      Victor realizes the creation of the Monster was a mistake and encourages his crew to pursue the Monster and kill him.

7)      Walton is still pursuing to go forward and is trying to be encouraging even though he is freaking out inside. 

8)      Victor was so ashamed of his creation that it did not deserve a name. 

9)      Victor is obsessed with chasing the Monster North because the Monster is taunting Victor by leaving “clues” for Victor to find

10)    Parents-You made me, I am a product of your creation, look in the mirror kettle

Friends-Would no longer be friends, confront them,

11)   Victor 

Frankenstein Central Themes

Thus far the novel explores several major themes. Which characters exemplify these traits and where do we see this?


Knowledge and the idea of Dangerous Knowledge




The beauty/perfection of nature




The dangerous effects of secrecy




Monstrosity - Who is the real monster in the story?

Frankenstein: Chapter Discussion 4/10

Volume 1 Chapter 5

“ Surely, Victor, you must have been exceedingly ill; and this makes us all very wretched, as much so nearly as after the death of your dear mother.”

Explains how much they miss Victor in greater depth, it has deep emotion.

Relieve us from this fear and we shall be the happiest creatures of the world.”

Romanticism pertains to nature and Elizabeth describes humans as creatures.

Volume 2 Chapter 1

“Now all was blasted: instead of that serenity of conscience, which allowed me to look back upon the past with self-satisfaction, and from thence to gather promise of new hopes, I was seized by remorse and the sense of guilt, which hurried me away to a hell of intense tortures, such as no language can describe.”

He has conflicted feelings with the guilt of Justine’s death.

“During this journey, I sometimes joined Elizabeth, and exerted myself to point out to her the various beauties of the scene. I often suffered my mule to lag behind, and indulged in the misery of reflection.”

He was retreating to a place where he made himself suffer, instead of indulging in the beauty.

Volume 2 Chapter 2

“The sight of the awful and majestic in nature had indeed always the effect of solemnizing my mind, and causing me to forget the passing care of life.”

Describes the overpowering force of nature. 

Volume 1 Chapter 5

·         Shelly utilizes words the evoke strong emotions and vivid imagery

·         Elizabeth writes Frankenstein to catch him up on the latest news in Geneva with the hopes of provoking a response from him.

·         The beginning of Elizabeth’s letter she talks about the serious topics of his mother’s death and his current ill state, but as the letter progresses she moves on the lighthearted topics with the hopes of lifting Frankenstein’s spirits.

·         Elizabeth refers to Justine as an individual who could life him out of his “ill humor” and she refers to Justine as a creature, but the opposite in nature compared to Frankenstein’s creature

Volume II Chapter 1

·         The beginning of this chapter, Justine dies

·         Frankenstein is overridden with guilt for the death of his brother and Justine, because he is sure that his creation is responsible for the loss

·         He begins to realize that his actions and his creation has impacted his father and all of his loved ones. Elizabeth cannot enjoy her usual activities because of the recent transgressions

Volume II Chapter II

·         The opens with a glimmer of cheerfulness within the family, which had not been experienced for quite some time, Elizabeth encourages Victor to maintain his cheer and not relapse into a dark stupor

·         The following day, it rains heavily leading to Victors melancholy and miserable state

·         Nature led to the happiness the family experienced at the beginning, and then return to a depressed state again. 

Volume I Chapter V

Elizabeth writes very feverishly to Victor regarding her concern for his illness and his recovery.

Elizabeth writes about the “blue lake and snow clad mountains” and how they never change, she is comparing their hearts and their home to nature and how it never changes.

Elizabeth is writing to Victor about William she says “I wish you could see him, he is very tall of his age, with sweet laughing blue eyes, dark lashes, and curly hair”. She is painting a picture of what he looks like instead of just stating his features.

Volume II Chapter I

Victor states that his ‘state of mind preyed on his health’, so he is stating that

Victor says blood flowed freely in his veins, but the weight of despair and remorse pressed on my heart. I wandered like an evil spirit where I can commit deeds of mischief beyond description horrible, and more, much more.

Chapter 9

They congregated round me; the unstained snowy mountaintop, the glittering pinnacle, the pine woods, and ragged bare ravine, the eagle, soaring amidst the clouds--they all gathered round me and bad me be at peace.

The rain was pouring in torrents, and thick mists hid the summits of mountains, so that I even saw not the faces of those mighty friends.

I remembered the effect that the view of the tremendous and ever-pouring glacier had produced upon my mind when I first saw it.

The path, as you ascend higher, is intersected by ravines of snow, down which stones continually roll from above; one of them is particularly dangerous, as the slightest sound, such as even speaking in a loud in a voice, produces a concussion of air sufficient to draw destruction upon the head of the speaker.  <--no joke, that is one sentence

The pines are not tall or luxuriant, but they are sombre and add an air of severity to the scene.

Chapter 8

-He is talking more about her emotional state of appearance.

-He is very detailed about the way she looks along with how she is feeling.

-Elizabeth seemed to lose faith in goodness when Justinie was guilty. Her eyes told how she really felt.

-He was bitter about the how the trial ended but seemed so passionate about Justinie doing what she did in the court room.

-Justinie informed Elizabeth on her death bed that she should suffer no more and cares about her making other people happy.

-He is there for Elizabeth and showed his sadness with her.

-Victor feels many emotions after Justinie passes away and felt grief with his loved ones.

Frankenstein Discussion 1

Describe Robert Walton:




Describe Victor Frankenstein:



What is Walton's great desire in the first letter?


How does Walton's statement in the second letter, his "lover for the marvellous, a belief in the marvellous" make him a Romantic? What feelings does the second letter convey?



Who does Walton encounter in his fourth letter? Where is the ship headed?

Frankenstein: Letter 1 Analysis

Below is a combination of everyone's work on Letter 1 from tonight's class:

He starts off by calling her his dear sister.

He uses vivid details when describing the weather like saying it plays on his cheeks.

He is affectionate to her and grateful to her for all her kindness to him.

He is writing passionately about a great purpose he wants to achieve

He writes about conquering his fear of death

She knows his failures

Remembering the importance of the individual experience and he talks about the wind and how it inspires his day dreams.

Having a purpose feeds to the intellect

He compares himself to Homer and Shakespeare

He is driven –perfers the glory over the luxury and ease

 Frankenstein-Volume I

·         “My first task is to assure my dear sister of my welfare, and increasing confidence in the success of my undertaking.” Celebrating his progress and what he plans to do, he feels proud of himself for taking this adventure on.

·         “There, Margaret, the sun is forever visible; its broad disk just skirting the horizon, and diffusing a perpetual splendor.” Here he is giving a description of how big the world is and how beautiful it is. “The sun is forever visible,” the world is bigger than the eye can see.

·         “…beauty every region hitherto discovered on the habitable globe.” With romanticism they focus on geometrical shapes and he is describing the wonder of this earth. There is still so much to discover.

·         “And now, dear Margaret, do I not deserve to accomplish some great purpose. My life might have been passed in ease and luxury; but I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path.” This discusses his purpose, his goals, his dreams, and his fears. He is willing to risk his life for this adventure.

Frankenstein- Shelby Armold, Abbey Gilbert, Kristi Donoban

            Letter 1-

·        The first sentence states that he has arrived in Russia, with his goal being the North Pole. He acknowledges his sisters reservations and emotions toward his journey, so he kindly writes her to ease her mind and eliminate her worries.

·        The details of his current surroundings paint a picture of his continued journey to the Pole. He depicts the sun as a focal point that is and forever visible, utilizing the Romantic view that the horizon/sun is a permanent and grand fixture that surpasses human capabilities.

·        The last sentence of the first pages talks about the enticements of his journey put all fears of danger and death to rest. His is ambitious, brave, and passionate like the Byronic hero.

·        The second paragraph of the second page depicts his drive and passion for his journey

·        He endured the cold, famine, thirst, hard labor, and sleep deprivation to achieve his goals, he will do whatever it takes to accomplish his dreams

·        Uses intense vivid words that paint a detailed picture of his experiences

·        At the end of the letter he is overconfident in his abilities, yet reveals his depressed in struggles of his journey and the hardships that he had not anticipated. He is possibly trying to build up his ego to continue on his journey. 

What defines a human?

As we are entering a new unit let us address a key issue and your definition. What makes us human and how far can we alter our bodies before we become something else?