After a summary of the events in the book, we will analyze the novel by looking. Stoker actually got the name from a book about transylvania he found in a. Transylvania is the setting for the beginning and end of the novel, and, since he had never been there, stoker had to rely on research for his description of the country and its people. The story is written as a series of letters, newspaper clippings, and journal entries compiled by mina. The best part of the book is undoubtedly jonathan harkers journal chapters i iv where he is stuck as draculas prisoner in his castle. In the story dracula, a young solicitor named jonathan harker travels to transylvania to finalize paperwork with a. Stoker is thought to have picked the name dracula after reading a book that revealed to him this modern. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. In modern romanian, drac has evolved to mean devil. The book dracula uses varying kinds of literary devices. Count dracula is not the tortured romantic hero of modernday cinema, but rather an evil monster that must be destroyed. The novel details a catastrophic conflict between humans and extraterrestrial martians. Budapesth seems a wonderful place, from the glimpse which i got of it from the train and. From the dank crypt of his foreboding castle in the forests of transylvania to the bustling, foggy street of victorian london, count dracula comes to claim his victims to feed the lustful hunger that has damned him to a life of lonely immortality.
These free notes consist of about 63 pages 18,811 words and contain the following sections. Buy dracula wordsworth classics new edition by bram stoker isbn. Dracula is an 1897 gothic horror novel by irish author bram stoker. A cultural analysis of bram stokers dracula english.
Dracula, novel by bram stoker, derived from vampire legends and published in 1897, that became the basis for an entire genre of literature and film. The free dracula notes include comprehensive information and analysis to help you understand the book. This sequel, titled the undead which was stokers original title for dracula, was written by a descendent of bram stoker. As mina begins the slow change into a vampire, the men sterilize the boxes of earth, forcing dracula to flee to the safety of his native transylvania. Blurb analysis frankenstein by mary shelley teaching. Also, parents should be aware that this novel has a strong female character turned into a sexually aggressive predator, as well as unsettling descriptions of mental illness. Using various methods, including the hypnosis of mina, they follow dracula all the way to the borgo pass in transylvania, where they find the last remaining box being transported to castle dracula by a group of gypsies. This is not an example of the work produced by our essay writing service.
Dracula by bram stoker question about reading difficulty. Summary this novel is not told in a straightforward, chronological, omniscient. I was interested in one small sentence in the book from sewards journel he is safe now at any rate. The war of the worlds is a science fiction novel by h. Despite the fact that he is actually seen on only a few of the approximately four hundred pages of the novel, his presence constantly pervades the entire work. These resources, a lesson presentation and worksheets, focus on gothic fiction and in particular frankenstein by mary shelley but could. Dracula isnt nearly scary enough, jonathan harker is a wet mop of a protagonist, mina is annoying and the best character spoiler alert. Dracula is of the szekelys race, whom harker describes, in this journal, as being descended from attila the hun. In his mortal life, dracula had authority and wealth. See a complete list of the characters in dracula and indepth analyses of count dracula, van helsing, mina murray, and lucy westenra. The novel tells the story of draculas attempt to move from transylvania to england so that he may find new blood and spread the undead curse, and of the battle between dracula and a small group of people led by. Heres where youll find analysis about the book as a whole.
As harker wends his way through the picturesque countryside, the local peasants warn him about his destination, giving him crucifixes. One example of symbolism being used as a literary device in dracula is the following. Dracula he is the vampire who has been undead for several hundred years and keeps his vitality by sucking blood from live victims. Dracula is a classic and genredefining tale of horror from famed author bram stoker. Supposedly, the writers of the letters and journals didnt intend them for anyone elses eyes as they were writing them. During this lesson, we will explore bram stokers novel, dracula. Stoker uses a circular structure for his novel, incorporating two settings. Bram stokers gothic horror masterpiece pits good against evil and life against death, all under the thrall of the original vampire count dracula sleeps in a silent tomb beneath his desolate castle. Bram stoker this was my second time reading this book and since i read it for a class this time i got a lot more out of it. Dracula becomes the famous horror novel in the 15th century and also an inspired many horror story after that. The book presents several colour illustrations, and these certainly does add to the narrative, as the art usefully depicts the most important aspects of the story. The war of the worlds summary, analysis, characters. However, dracula is still a classic blurb, i mean book, that has stood the test of time and is definitely still a good read.
The style is without a doubt the most interesting thing of the book. I think you have expressed what is wrong with the hero characters in a way that i was having trouble nailing down. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of dracula. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The novel tells the story of draculas attempt to move from transylvania to england so that he may find new blood and spread the undead curse, and of the battle between dracula and a small group of people led by professor abraham van helsing. Harker read, in london, that a great many superstitions are. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of dracula by bram stoker.
In the 1897 gothic horror novel, dracula, the author, bram stoker, an irish author from the mid to late19th century, introduces the most famous vampire character of all time, count dracula. The men pursue the count, dividing their forces and tracking him across land and sea. For anyone interested in taking a first, tentative step towards understanding the plot of dracula then this is. Book blurb dracula by bram stoker dracula is a gothic romance written by bram stoker 1847 1912 and published in 1897. He had no other major health problems and even became an athlete at trinity college, dublin when he studied there from 18641870. Overall the dracula blurb built quite an air of mystery. This is a news blurb about a graphic novel, titled harker, thats described as a sequel to stokers dracula. The entire setting of the lonely castle tucked away on the mountains of carpathian in gloomy transylvania produces the most gothic effects and coupled with stokers writing is an instant hit. This book is great when dracula is actually in it, which is surprisingly little. Written in the first person through the medium of collected journal entries and letters reflecting the perceptions of its mortal participants, it tells the tale of the transylvanian. Dracula by bram stoker book summary minute book report. That is a fancy way of saying it is written as if the characters are writing letters to each other. The rest of the novel takes place in england, a setting.
Stoker visited the seaside town of whitby in england in 1890 and found inspiration for his excellent novel dracula. It introduced the character of count dracula and established many conventions of subsequent vampire fantasy. He was a sickly boy but he fully recovered when he was seven. Dracula is a name, a broad stereotyping of a character which encompasses many different components and interpretations of our favourite count. Bram stokers 1897 novel, dracula, remains the most influential vampire story ever written. Bram stokers dracula is a 1992 american gothic horror film directed and produced by francis ford coppola, based on the novel dracula by bram stoker. It stars gary oldman as count dracula, winona ryder as mina harker, anthony hopkins as professor abraham van helsing, and keanu reeves as jonathan harker dracula was theatrically released in the united states on november, 1992 to. The suspense was built with good use of question marks and suspension marks, in all the right places. This study guide consists of approximately 70 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of dracula.
Book summary sometime in the late nineteenth century, jonathan harker, a young english lawyer, is traveling to the castle dracula, which is located in transylvania, in order to finalize a transfer of real estate in england to count dracula. Dracula by bram stoker meet your next favorite book. Has been reread a number of times and i still have the dogeared. His eyes are stony and his cheeks are deathly pale. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by. The dracula study guide contains a biography of bram stoker, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz. The fascinating thing about the book is that it takes on the viewpoint of several characters in the form of. Before leaving london, harker did research on the part of the world where count dracula lives, in his castleit is a region known as transylvania, in presentday eastern romania, bordering moldavia and bukovina.
Van helsing takes mina with him, and they cleanse castle dracula by killing the three female vampires and. Dracula is an epistolary gothic horror novel written in 1897 by bram stoker, an irish author who became famous after writing about the vampire named count dracula, who later on had many interpretations theater, movie and television. But on his lips, there is a mocking smileand a trickle of fresh blood. First person point of view is the predominate viewpoint of dracula. This short story written by the author of the novel dracula was published in 1914, two years after stokers death. The horror tale is set to take place in romania during the turkish invasion as vlad luke evans goes to the greatest of lengths to fight for his homeland even if it means selling his soul and becoming forever doomed as a creature of the night trained by the sultans janissaries to become a fearless warrior, vlad tepesor vlad the impaler. The ultimate retelling of a story that has mesmerised readers for nearly a century. Dracula is a novel by bram stoker that was first published in 1897. It is a considered a landmark work of science fiction, and it has inspired numerous adaptations and imitations. It follows the vampire count dracula from his castle in transylvania to england, where he is hunted while turning others into vampires.
Because of its extremely cheap price, it is worth picking up this blurb in its paperback popular penguin format. Dracula is a transylvanian military leader voivode, or commander and nobleman who somehow survives physical death but requires human blood to sustain his supernatural youth and strength. This is hardly surprising, since the novel is composed of a series of personal letters and journal entries. Though dracula and vampires are probably best known today through films, the book s portrayal of these characters is considerably different than the moving pictures. Jonathan harker, a young english lawyer, travels to castle dracula in the eastern european country of transylvania to conclude a real estate transaction with a nobleman named count dracula. First published in 1897, the novel was influenced by a history of vampire myths and stories, but stoker shaped all those fragmented tales to create a literary legend that was just the start of what we know and understand about vampires in current literature. The novel tells the story of draculas attempt to move from transylvania to england so that he may find new blood and spread the undead curse, and of the battle between dracula and a small group of men and a woman led by professor abraham van helsing. A cultural analysis of bram stokers dracula english literature essay. Draculas guest gives readers a spooky taste of bram stokers classic novel.
Though dracula and vampires are probably best known today through films, the books portrayal of these characters is considerably different than the moving pictures. Dracula chapter 15 summary and analysis gradesaver. The parts when he is on a ship, and the poor crew dont know what is going on, are especially chilling. This is a quick book summary of dracula by bram stoker. Classic vampire tale is sexier and darker than you remember. What are some literary devices in dracula by bram stoker.
292 970 156 508 1013 575 1454 1041 1269 674 1512 414 425 1068 335 761 1130 168 136 80 149 75 1559 724 1046 1162 1064 1345 1146 372 604 1319 1433 1286