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Bank of essay questions on DRACULA - BRAM STOKER - A LEVEL
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Bank of essay questions on Bram Stoker's A LEVEL
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‘Dracula’ – Bram StokerAn 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.
(epistolary novel = a novel told through the medium of letters written by one or
more of the characters)
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 contextualise 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 analysed 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.
The novel explores themes of modernity, sexual repression, salvation
and madness. At the forefront of this gothic novel is the friction
between modernity and the past. Count Dracula’s reverence of and
preoccupation with the past stands in stark contrast with the Victorian
era’s immersion in scientific progress.
The most significant and enduring theme in Dracula is the idea of good vs evil. This
theme is present throughout the novel. It is evident not only as a struggle between
, characters, but also as a reflection of wider societal and moral concerns during that
time. It is a reminder of the continuous battle between light and darkness, virtue and
corruption and the longstanding belief that goodness can always triumph over evil.
Textual evidence:
The theme of good vs evil is illustrated through the main characters in the novel
and their actions:
o There is a clear divide between those who do good and those who commit
evil
Count Dracula is the embodiment of evil and he is surrounded by darkness and
the supernatural:
o The description of his body and his movements can also be linked to the
idea of evil
o His appearance is described as unnatural and almost satanic, with pointed
ears and flaming eyes
He survives by preying on the living and by sucking their blood, which goes
against nature and purity, rendering him the opposite of all that is pure and good:
o He poses a significant threat to society and to the natural order of things
Dracula’s ability to control “children of the night”, such as wolves, reinforces the
idea that he is a supernatural being with powers and abilities that are considered
unholy and in direct opposition to the church
“Good” in the novel is represented by heroes such as Jonathan Harker, Mina
Harker, Dr Seward and Professor Van Helsing:
o Their desire to restore good and protect each other is what motivates
them to pursue Dracula and ensure that he is destroyed
o They have a strong sense of honour and duty and, as a result, they are a
true representation of good, decent, moral people
In addition, the protagonists use their blood to cure, heal and as a force for good,
which is in direct contrast to what Dracula uses blood for
Van Helsing’s use of religious objects reinforces the idea that goodness can be
found in religion, which will ultimately triumph over evil:
o It is these characters who feel compelled and obligated to save Lucy’s
soul by driving the stake through her heart
o If Dracula traps souls and condemns them, then these characters free
them and bring them peace. “Then we cut off head, and drove a stake
through her heart, and burned it, and then she found peace.”
Stoker also uses religious imagery and symbolism to represent the battle
between good and evil:
o Items such as crucifixes, communion wafers and garlic are used as
weapons against vampires and evil
o This emphasises the power of faith and religion when faced with forces
that are deemed as unholy
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