Learn English with FRANKENSTEIN - Part 2: How To Argue Elegantly

SCENE 1 - THE DINNER DEBATE - part 2

Part 2: “You laugh? You’re amused?”

Did you notice Victor’s reaction when Elizabeth laughs? He says:
“You laugh? You’re amused?”
These are simple questions, right? But here’s the magic—he’s not really asking. He’s challenging her. When someone laughs at your ideas and you say “You’re amused?"—you’re actually saying “How dare you laugh at me?”
This is called a rhetorical question. You ask not to get an answer, but to make a point. It’s elegant confrontation. Let me say it slowly: “You’re amused?” (with a raised eyebrow)
Try it! When your friend laughs at something you said seriously, raise one eyebrow and say: “You’re amused?”

Part 3: “Are my ideas not clear?”

Victor asks: “Are my ideas not clear?”
And Elizabeth responds: “You certainly expressed them loudly enough.”
Oh, this is beautiful shade—that means a polite insult. She’s saying: “Your ideas are loud, but that doesn’t make them good.”
Notice the word “certainly”—it sounds polite, but it’s actually sarcastic here. When you want to disagree politely but firmly, you can use “certainly”:

• “You certainly think highly of yourself.” (Translation: You’re arrogant)
• “That’s certainly one way to look at it.” (Translation: That’s wrong)

Practice: “You certainly expressed them loudly enough.” Say it with a little smile.

Part 4: “Enlighten me, please”

Here’s Victor’s most elegant phrase: “Enlighten me, please.”
To enlighten means to give knowledge, to make something clear. It’s formal and sounds intellectual. But here? Victor is being sarcastic. He’s saying “Oh please, explain your superior wisdom to me” with attitude.
You can use this phrase seriously:

• “Could you enlighten me about this topic?”

Or with sarcasm like Victor:

• “Oh, enlighten me, please!” (when someone acts like they know everything)

The key is your tone. Say it slowly with me: “Enlighten me, please.”
Beautiful, right?

Part 5: Elizabeth’s War Speech - Part 1

Okay, notice what Elizabeth does here. She says: “Take the war, for example.”
“Take X for example” is a perfect phrase for giving examples in any argument or presentation. It sounds professional and clear.

• “Take climate change, for example.”
• “Take my brother, for example—he never cleans his room.”

Write this down: “Take ___ for example.”
Now, let’s see how Elizabeth uses this example…

Part 6: Elizabeth’s War Speech - Part 2

First, Victor says: “Pray, carry on.”
“Pray” here doesn’t mean religious prayer—it’s an old-fashioned formal way to say “please.” You won’t use this in modern conversation, but you’ll hear it in period films and literature. It shows extreme formality and sometimes sarcasm.
Now, Elizabeth lists: “Honor, country, valor.”
These are big, noble concepts. Then she asks: “Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Wouldn’t you agree?” is a tag question—you add it at the end to involve the other person. It’s softer than just stating your opinion:

• “This movie is boring, wouldn’t you agree?”
• “She handled that well, wouldn’t you agree?”

It invites agreement but in an elegant way.

Part 7: Elizabeth’s Powerful Description

This is dramatic English at its finest.
Elizabeth says: “And nevertheless, men are dying for them.” Nevertheless means “despite this” or “even so.” It’s formal and connects two opposite ideas:

• “It was raining. Nevertheless, we went for a walk.”
• “He studied hard. Nevertheless, he failed the exam.”

Then notice her description: “In a decidedly un-elevated way, face down in the mud, choking on blood, screaming in pain.”
Decidedly means “definitely” or “clearly,” but it sounds more sophisticated. And she contrasts “elevated ideas” with the “un-elevated” reality of war—the beautiful words versus the terrible truth.
This is powerful speaking: using contrast to make your point stronger.

Part 8: Elizabeth’s Emotional Climax

Elizabeth is building emotion. She repeats “Men that were…” three times:

• “Men that were fathers, brothers or sons”
• “Men that were fed, cleaned and nursed”
• “Those men remain at home, untouched”

This is called parallel structure—repeating the same grammar pattern for emphasis. It makes your speech more powerful and memorable.
Notice also: “untouched by blood or bayonet”—she’s painting pictures with words. This is what makes language elegant.

Part 8: “Ideas pursued by fools”

Elizabeth concludes: “That is what happens when ideas are pursued by fools.”
To pursue means to chase, to follow, to go after something. It’s a sophisticated verb:

• “She pursued her dreams.”
• “He pursued a career in medicine.”

Then Victor responds: “And you think me a fool?”
Notice the grammar? Not “Do you think I’m a fool?” but “You think ME a fool?” This is formal, old-fashioned English grammar. In modern English, we’d say “You think I’m a fool?” but Victor’s version sounds more dramatic and elegant.

Part 9: The Dismissal

Perfect! Elizabeth ends with: “Run to your brandy and cigars. The boys are waiting.”
She’s dismissing him, treating him like a child. By saying “the boys are waiting,” she’s suggesting he’s immature, not worth her time.
This is how to end an argument elegantly—not with anger, but with cool dismissal. You’re basically saying “I’m done with you” without being directly rude.
In modern English, you might say:

• “Run along now.”
• “I’m sure your friends are waiting.”

The message is the same: This conversation is over. You’re dismissed.