Bram Stoker's Dracula is considered one of the most influential Gothic horror stories of all time. Since its publication, the novel has inspired countless adaptations and variations, each centering on the mysterious titular character. Before students begin reading the book, consider introducing them to the Gothic genre so they can identify the Gothic elements within the work.
An epistolary novel, Dracula is composed of journal entries, letters, and newspaper articles. Students should understand how this format offers different perspectives, adds suspense, and creates a greater degree of credibility.
Dracula is very much a story of its time. Historical background on the Victorian era and the spirit of fin de siècle, or end of the nineteenth century, will allow students to contextualize the work and will promote discussion on how the novel is a response to social and scientific changes. Stoker also relies heavily on Romanian folklore and history, so background on these subjects will be useful.
The novel can be analyzed by the dichotomies it portrays. The most obvious dichotomy is the fight between good and evil, but others include science and superstition, order and chaos, East and West, and virginal versus sexual women. Class discussion can involve how Stoker presents these dichotomies and how Dracula threatens Victorian England.
Keep reading to learn the dark secrets of teaching Dracula.
Dracula
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Summary of Dracula
Key Facts
Jonathan Harker, an English lawyer, travels through Transylvania, Romania to conclude a real estate transaction with Count Dracula, but becomes a prisoner in Dracula's castle. Meanwhile, Harker's fiancée Mina visits her friend Lucy in Whitby, England, where a mysterious wrecked ship washes ashore. Lucy soon begins sleepwalking and falls ill. Professor Van Helsing, a friend of one of Lucy's suitors, determines that she is under the influence of a vampire. The protagonists then prepare to track down Dracula and stop his evil-doing.
Content Warning: Dracula contains some violence and sensuality.
What Your Students Will Love About Dracula
- Discovering the main inspiration for vampires in popular culture
- The suspenseful Gothic horror
Potential Student Struggles With Dracula
- The pacing and style of the epistolary format
- The advanced vocabulary
Learning Objectives for Dracula
- Recognize how the epistolary structure provides readers with several points of view, heightens suspense, and contributes to the novel's believability.
- Infer information about characters and events that is not explicitly stated.
- Cite incidents that illustrate that the novel is an example of Gothic fiction.
- Find passages in the story that illustrate Dracula's sensual qualities.
- Detail the extent of Dracula's powers and recognize his weaknesses; examine how Stoker incorporates these strengths and weaknesses into the story.
- Discuss the role superstition and folklore play in advancing the plot and in the defeat of Dracula.
Literary Elements in Dracula
- Allusion
- Epistolary Novel
- Foreshadowing
- Gothic Fiction
- Inference
- Irony
- Metaphor
- Personification
- Simile
- And more!
Major Themes in Dracula
Good vs. Evil — The protagonists, commonly referred to as the Crew of Light, represent the good of humanity as they battle Dracula's evil influence.
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Femininity — The novel looks at the idealized Victorian-era woman, the rise of female independence as women begin to enter the labor force, and the perceived threat of female sexuality.
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Redemption — The characters use Christian values and symbols to defeat Dracula, and once the un-dead are granted true deaths, their souls can be redeemed.
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Other Resources for Dracula
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This free guide was originally posted in June 2016. It has been updated as of September 2019.