Dracula by Bram Stoker

Activity 1:

Have a look at the table of contents (inhoudsopgave) of the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, which you can access by clicking on the link below (rightclick, open in new window/tab).
Then answer the question below

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Dracula, by Bram Stoker

 

 

Did you spot that most of the chapter titles indicate that the chapters are segments from someone's diary or journal?
If you write in your diary (pretend if you don't have one), what pronouns do you use when writing in it?
These pronouns will tell you the point of view of the story.

 

 

Now read the first chapter of Dracula.
(about 25 minutes)

 

Then answer the question below.

Tip! Unsure of your answer? Review the theory you've researched on narrative perspective/ point of view

 

Activity 2:

The previous question was a bit mean, because although the first chapter of Dracula doesn't properly illustrate it, there are in fact multiple narrative perspectives throughout the book.

That is because the book is made up of diary entries/journals as well as letters. These letters are not always embedded or introduced in the journal entries, as was the case in the first chapter. Therefore, these letters are arguably not part of the journal text, but standing on their own.

It's like the characters folded the letters they received and put them under the cover of their journals. Like you would put a hand-out in class in your textbook or notebook, so you can find it again.

For example, look at the following fragment from chapter 14 from Dracula.

Activity 3:

 

Activity 4:

Write a short (100 words max) alternative ending for either Frankenstein or Dracula.
  - write from a different narrative perspective than the original story.
  - write a different type of ending (go back to the lesson on endings, to refresh you memory)

Bring it with you to class.

Tip! If you don't know how those books end, either look it up online or (if you don't want spoilers) don't look up the ending but simply make up your own. As long as you state which type of ending you chose.

 

You can find the complete text of both books, and many more, in the online Gutenberg library. This online database gives you free access to many literary works, of which the U.S. copyright has expired. You can read the texts online or download it as an eBook. Very handy when you want to browse through or read scary, short stories or other literary classics.

Here you can find the full text of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley - Free Ebook (gutenberg.org)

Here you can find the full text of Dracula by Bram Stoker: Dracula by Bram Stoker - Free Ebook (gutenberg.org)

Click here to revisit the lesson on narrative endings.