×

Select Store

Dowload from Google Play Dowload from the App Store

Scan with Camera

Dowload via QR Code
Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus | Gradually Hardening German B2

Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus | Gradually Hardening German B2

Experience the benefits of this forward-thinking translation strategy that tailors language learning to your specific needs. You have control over the difficulty, which ensures that the content is neither too easy nor overly challenging. This method enhances your ability to understand new words through context, reducing reliance on direct translations. While the translations are subtly obscured to foster learning, you can still look up unclear terms. This balanced approach makes language acquisition smoother and more enjoyable. Delve into these translated literary works and discover the satisfaction of mastering a language through reading.

Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwill
sich freuen
rejoicetohearthatnodisasterhas
begleitet
accompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.
Iarrivedhereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskisto
versichern
assuremydearsisterofmy
wohlergehen
welfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.
IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthern
brise
breezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewith
freude
delight.
Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
This
brise
breeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.
Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryin
vergeblich
vaintobepersuadedthatthe
pol
poleistheseatof
frost
frostanddesolation;
iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationasthe
region
regionofbeautyanddelight.
There,Margaret,thesunisforever
sichtbar
visible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthe
horizont
horizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.
There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowand
frost
frostarebanished;
and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyevery
region
regionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitable
globus
globe.
Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodies
zweifellos
undoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.
Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryof
ewigen
eternallight?
Imaythere
entdecken
discoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractsthe
nadel
needleandmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythis
reise
voyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.
Ishallsatiatemyardent
neugier
curiositywiththesightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.
Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearofdangerordeathandtoinducemeto
beginnen
commencethislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimable
nutzen
benefitwhichIshallconferonall
menschheit
mankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringa
durchgang
passagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;
orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheart
leuchtet
glowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualeye.
This
expedition
expeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeinthe
aussicht
prospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceanthroughtheseaswhich
umgeben
surroundthepole.
YoumayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.
Myeducationwas
vernachlässigt
neglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhad
verboten
forbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.
ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.
Ialsobecamea
dichter
poetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;
IimaginedthatIalsomight
erhalten
obtainanicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.
YouarewellacquaintedwithmyfailureandhowheavilyIborethe
enttäuschung
disappointment.
ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
I
begann
commencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
I
begleitete
accompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
I
freiwillig
voluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.
TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselfto
bewunderung
admiration.
ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmethesecond
würde
dignityinthevesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,so
wertvoll
valuabledidheconsidermyservices.
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeserveto
erreichen
accomplishsomegreatpurpose?
Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseand
luxus
luxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementthat
reichtum
wealthplacedinmypath.
Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
Mycourageandmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoften
deprimiert
depressed.
Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficult
reise
voyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:
Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.
ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
Theyflyquicklyoverthesnowintheirsledges;
the
bewegung
motionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealready
angenommen
adopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthe
deck
deckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexercisepreventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.
Ihaveno
ehrgeiz
ambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishall
abreisen
departforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmy
absicht
intentionistohireashipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.
Idonotintendto
segeln
sailuntilthemonthofJune;
andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagain
bezeugen
testifymygratitudeforallyourloveand
freundlichkeit
kindness.
Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIamby
frost
frostandsnow!
Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
Ihavehireda
schiff
vesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainly
besitzen
possessedofdauntlesscourage.
ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenableto
befriedigen
satisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:
whenIam
leuchtet
glowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;
ifIamassailedby
enttäuschung
disappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoor
medium
mediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.
Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,
sanft
gentleyetcourageous,possessedofa
kultivierten
cultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,to
genehmigen
approveoramendmyplans.
Howwouldsuchafriend
reparieren
repairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentin
ausführung
executionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsucha
überzeugung
convictionthatIperceivedthe
notwendigkeit
necessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymore
analphabet
illiteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnotto
verachten
despisemeasromantic,and
zuneigung
affectionenoughformetoendeavourto
regulieren
regulatemymind.
Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewideocean,norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsandseamen.
Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
Mylieutenant,for
beispiel
instance,isamanofwonderfulcourageandenterprise;
heis
wahnsinnig
madlydesirousofglory,orrather,towordmy
ausdruck
phrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhis
beruf
profession.
HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsof
menschheit
humanity.
Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewas
arbeitslos
unemployedinthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimto
helfen
assistinmyenterprise.
Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandis
bemerkenswert
remarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhis
disziplin
discipline.
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-known
integrität
integrityanddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesirousto
engagieren
engagehim.
Ayouthpassedin
einsamkeit
solitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannot
überwinden
overcomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:
Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectand
gehorsam
obediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarly
glücklich
fortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.
Iheardofhimfirstinratheraromantic
weise
manner,fromaladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife.
This,
kurz
briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderable
summe
suminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.
Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;
butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,
gestand
confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.
Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,
sofort
instantlyabandonedhispursuit.
Hehadalreadyboughtafarmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;
buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneyto
kaufen
purchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithherlover.
Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.
“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisassilentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershis
verhalten
conductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestand
sympathie
sympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.
Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceivea
trost
consolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.
Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmy
reise
voyageisonlynowdelayeduntiltheweathershall
erlaubt
permitmyembarkation.
Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasa
bemerkenswert
remarkablyearlyseason,sothatperhapsImay
segeln
sailsoonerthanIexpected.
Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlyto
vertrauen
confideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.
Icannot
beschreiben
describetoyoumysensationsonthenear
aussicht
prospectofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibleto
vermitteln
communicatetoyouaconceptionofthetrembling
gefühl
sensation,halfpleasurableandhalf
ängstlich
fearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.
Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionate
begeisterung
enthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.
ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iam
praktisch
practicallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewith
ausdauer
perseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamaboutto
erforschen
explore.
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversed
immense
immenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsouthern
kap
capeofAfricaorAmerica?
Idarenotexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.
Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyeveryopportunity:
ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewith
zuneigung
affection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Juli
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwell
fortgeschritten
advancedonmyvoyage.
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldandapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethat
ständig
continuallypassus,indicatingthedangersofthe
region
regiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.
Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightofsummer,andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesireto
erreichen
attain,breatheadegreeofrenovating
wärme
warmthwhichIhadnotexpected.
Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringour
reise
voyage.
Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Be
versichert
assuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.
Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
Butsuccessshall
krönen
crownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedient
element
element?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisvery
wahrscheinlich
probablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyour
besitz
possession.
LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshe
schwebte
floated.
Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythick
nebel
fog.
Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereandweather.
Abouttwoo’clockthe
nebel
mistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.
Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.
Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeand
gezogen
drawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofhalfa
meile
mile;
abeingwhichhadtheshapeofaman,butapparentlyofgigantic
statur
stature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.
Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.
Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.
Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.
Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestattention.
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhich
schwimmen
floataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.
Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupon
deck
deckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.
Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhad
getrieben
driftedtowardsusinthenightonalargefragmentofice.
Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswere
überredeten
persuadingtoenterthevessel.
Hewasnot,astheother
reisende
travellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.
WhenIappearedon
deck
deckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”
Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeign
akzent
accent.
“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
Youmayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkof
zerstörung
destructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmy
gefäß
vesselwouldhavebeena
ressource
resourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostprecious
reichtum
wealththeearthcanafford.
Ireplied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.
Uponhearingthisheappeared
zufrieden
satisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.
GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.
Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedby
müdigkeit
fatigueandsuffering.
Ineversawamaninsowretchedacondition.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothe
hütte
cabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.
Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothe
deck
deckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwith
brandy
brandyandforcinghimto
schlucken
swallowasmallquantity.
Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhim
wunderbar
wonderfully.
Twodayspassedinthis
weise
mannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyown
kabine
cabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywould
erlaubte
permit.
Ineversawamoreinterestingcreature:
hiseyeshavegenerallyan
ausdruck
expressionofwildness,andeven
wahnsinn
madness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsanactof
freundlichkeit
kindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,witha
strahl
beamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.
Butheisgenerally
melancholisch
melancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asif
ungeduldig
impatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.
WhenmyguestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;