Gothic Motifs Of Bram Stoker s Dracula - 1165 Words

The novel Dracula is a very popular book that was written in the form of Gothic Literature. This novel was written by Bram Stoker in the Victorian Age. A large portion of this piece of writing deals with many famous Gothic motifs. Gothic Literature combines the usual Gothic horror with fiction and Romanticism (Wikipedia). A motif is a distinctive symbol or dominant idea used in literature. So therefore, a Gothic motif is a literary symbol that usually combines fiction with either horror or romance. Bram Stoker’s usage of Gothic motifs not only helps define Dracula as a piece of Gothic Literature, but also helps the reader become better acquainted with what is happening in the novel. Gothic motifs are found in many different forms in pieces of work, and if readers are already accustomed to these motifs, it makes reading Dracula clearer and easier. Stoker uses many different Gothic motifs throughout this novel, but there are only a few that are the more important and stand out f rom the rest. These motifs are: castles and strange places, power and constraint, and revenants. Castles and strange places are important motifs in Dracula because the entire first section of the story involves Johnathan Harker making a trip up to Castle Dracula in Transylvania―a very strange place. The Count’s castle in Dracula, like any other castle described in Gothic Literature, is viewed as an old, deserted structure of terror. Castles in this time period were thought of as haunted and imprisoning,Show MoreRelatedGothic Literature : Bram Stoker s Dracula913 Words   |  4 PagesGothic literature is dominated by gothic horror, for instance dark and mysterious objects or events. It is a type of literature that combines fiction, horror, and romanticism. As Bram Stoker wrote his famous novel, Dracula he makes sure to include many different characteristics of gothic literature. Three important motifs that are stated in Dracula which also fit into the gothic literature category would be; blood, dreaming or nightmares, and superstition. This particular novel has man y gothic motifsRead MoreTexts Can Be Modified or Appropriated to Suit Different Audiences or Purposes, Yet Still Remain Firmly Within the Genre. Discuss Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ and at Least One of the Films You Have Studied.1050 Words   |  5 Pagesremain firmly within the genre. Discuss Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ and at least one of the films you have studied. FW Murnau’s 1921 film Nosferatu is an appropriation of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula. Despite it being an appropriation, explicit gothic conventions remain evident, which explore societal fears and values. These fears and values differ from Dracula, due to distinct contextual influences of different time periods. Stoker’s novel Dracula, presents the fear of female promiscuity, for whichRead MoreHow The Romantic Period Was Characterised By Political And Social Upheavals1318 Words   |  6 PagesThe Romantic period was characterised by political and social upheaval. The era marked England s shift from a largely agricultural society to a modern industrial nation. Moreover, the aristocracy s influence diminished, industry-owning middle classes grew. The Romantic epoch also witnesses revolution and war. First the American Civil War, followed by the French Revolution later. They brought concepts of popular freedom, and of the power of the proletariat. In England, these ideas were well receivedRead MoreDracula: An Epitome of the Gothic Novel2430 Words   |  10 PagesLiterature August 9, 2010 Dracula, by Bram Stoker, is quite the epitome of the gothic novel. Towards the beginning of the story, the setting takes place in an old and ominous castle, which is highly characteristic of gothic literature. Harker’s tribulation begins when â€Å"the driver was in the act of pulling up the horses in the courtyard of a vast ruined castle,† (Stoker 18). There is also a gloomy and menacing tone given to the setting of the novel, as in most pieces of gothic literature. This gloomRead MoreThe Gothic Elements Of Frankenstein922 Words   |  4 PagesBlake Sisson Mrs. Schroder Honors English IV December 8 2016 The Gothic Elements of Frankenstein Gothic novels are stories written in the gothic genre which is a literature genre of fiction characterized by an atmosphere of mystery and horror. This genre rose to, and flourished in, popularity during the 18th and 19th centuries. One of the most famous novels of this Genre is Frankenstein, also known as the Modern Prometheus, by Mary Shelley. Frankenstein is about a scientist who creates a grotesqueRead MoreHorror Movies : The Horror Movie Genre859 Words   |  4 Pagesbeginning gothic novels by literary works by Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and Edgar Allan Poe inspired the horror movie genre. These literary works entertain us by teaching us about society or human behavior. When the Lemiere brothers created the film â€Å"Spook Tale† in 1895 it was the first telling of a scary story on film. It wasn’t until 1896 when Georges Melies created the film â€Å"The Manor of the Devil† making it the first horror film some experts argue. Often times there are themes or motifs fromRead MoreEnglish Literature in the Victorian Era2737 Words   |  11 PagesIm no lunatic man, Im a sane man fighting for his soul this quote from Bram Stoker’s- Dracula, illustrates and foreshadows that in the Victorian era, a quest for meaning was seen by the majority of society as ‘lunacy’, however the characters that Stoker uses, are represented ‘sane’, suggesting Stoker’s encouragement of a quest for meaning and purpose in the Victorian era of increasing uncertainty. Along with Stoker, Charles Dickens and Lord Alfred Tennyson also address the individual’s pursuit