About Dracula Book
Dracula was published in 1987 by Bram Stoker after several years of plotting and extensive research. At first, he didn’t intend for this book to be published as fiction. He claimed that all the events, and some of the people, were real.
However, his editor, Otto Kyllman of Archibald Constable & Company, rejected the manuscript because it was too horrible and would create unnecessary panic in London. Many changes had to be made; some pages were cut out, the texts altered, and finally, Dracula was ready to be published on May 26, 1987.
There is no specific lead character in this book, but the plot rests on Jonathan Harker, who took a trip to the castle of Count Dracula to help him purchase a house near London. After finding out the Count is a vampire, Harker manages to escape.
Book Summary
Dracula doesn’t involve direct storytelling. The plot is developed through letters and journal entries written by the characters. The story starts when an English lawyer, Jonathan Harker, travels to Transylvania to meet a client of his firm, Count Dracula. When he arrived in town, he noticed the community reacted with terror upon finding out about his mission, but he paid no heed.
He starts to note some strange behavior of the Count but remains clueless until one night when Jonathan steps out at night against Count Dracula’s warning. He meets three women who seduce him and try to kill him. He finds out the Count is a vampire and tries to escape.
Dracula also departs for England, taking several boxes of dirt with him. It was later explained that the boxes were needed for regeneration, as they contained dirt from his home country. When his secrets finally go out, Van Helsing and his group hunt Dracula down by cutting off his head and stabbing a stake through his heart.
Dracula Quotes
As a book borne from years of research, legend, folklore, myth, and other essential sources of information, there are some interesting quotes in Dracula. Here are some of the memorable ones:
Van Helsing: “We learn from failure, not from success!”
Mina Murray: “I long to be with you, and by the sea, where we can talk freely and build our castles in the air.”
Jonathan Harker: “I am all in a sea of wonders. I doubt; I fear; I think strange things, which I dare not confess to my soul.”
Jonathan Harker: “No man knows till he has suffered from the night how sweet and dear to his heart and eye the morning can be.”
Lucy Westenra: “I suppose we women are such cowards that we think a man will save us from fears, and we marry him.”
Count Dracula: “That the luckiest man who walks on this earth is the one who finds true love?”
Essay Structure on Dracula
Since you’ve gotten a deeper outlook into the themes and plot of this book, it will be easier to brainstorm ideas as a student and write an impressive Dracula essay. As an academic platform, we are here to teach you how to properly outline your words for a more structured essay. Below, we will highlight all the necessary parts of an outline and why it’s important in your writing:
Introduction
In writing any type of essay, the introduction is the major part. This section ushers the reader into the article and determines whether or not they read it to the end.
To catch the reader’s attention in your Dracula essay, insert a hook at the beginning of your introductory paragraph. This could be in the form of catchy questions, popular Dracula quotes, or any random enticing facts.
Towards the conclusion of your introductory paragraph, chip in your thesis statement. This would explain your Dracula essay focus and tell the readers what to expect.
Body
This is where you expand and analyze all the details you put in the introduction and answer every question. Remember never to put out any information that has not been carefully researched, so you must back up all your points with facts. Each paragraph must represent a new point to allow for seamless reading.
Conclusion
Whatever Dracula essay topics you’re working on, always make sure you pay attention to the conclusion. This section is just as important as the introduction, but many students get it wrong by trivializing it.
To conclude your Dracula essay, you need to restate your thesis statement to make it clear that you’ve properly explained the argument. Never bring up a new argument in your conclusion; this will set the reader back and leave the floor open.
Tips to Consider While Writing an Essay About Dracula
We know how stressful it is to write an essay, so we have prepared these useful tips to point you in the right direction. This goes for all literary assignments and will help you plan properly. Here we go:
Read the Book
You cannot write a compelling Dracula essay without first reading the book. You might try, but you won’t know enough to engage the readers and keep them on their toes. Don’t read a Dracula summary and assume you know all there is to know about the plot. Summaries are called that because they are a thoroughly compressed version of the book, and many important points are left out.
Research Interesting Titles
There are hundreds of available Dracula essay topics to choose from; you want to ensure you only choose the one you find interesting. Writing can be stressful and research-intensive, but your enthusiasm will shine through when the topic is interesting, and you’ll put in your best.
Create the Format
As we already mentioned, creating an outline for your Dracula essay is essential for impressive writing. An outline allows you to arrange your thoughts in an organized manner. This should include an introduction, body, and conclusion.
The introduction of your text should contain a hook, the context of your argument, and, most importantly, your thesis statement. Combining these three important points will capture the reader’s attention and keep them on the page.
Bear in mind that whoever is grading your essay has other essays to read, so if you don’t grab their attention in the first half, there is a chance that you’ve lost them.
Write the Thesis Statement
For a wider context, let’s explain what a thesis statement means. It is a sentence that shows the main focus of the essay and guides the ideas you will be writing in the main body. For Dracula essay topics, your thesis statement should explain your viewpoint on the topic and why you choose to take that stance.
Put your thesis in the concluding part of the introduction. This way, it ushers the readers into the body of the essay without their realization. And make it interesting, so they are halfway through before they realize.
Include a Moral Lesson
People are drawn to emotions more than anything else, and thankfully, Dracula has a lot of this at play. Remember to use instances that play on emotions when writing your Dracula essay. Research emotional and compelling quotes to support each point, and then try to bring a moral lesson from it.
One major moral lesson you can include is the importance of unity towards a common cause; when Dracula became a problem in the book, a group formed to take him out.
This group comprised Van Helsing, Jonathan Harker, Dr. Seward, Arthur Holmwood, Mina, and Quincey. Individually, none of them was a match for Dracula, but as a group, they were able to take him down.
Proofread your Work
After extensive research and a tasking assignment, it will all go to waste if you don’t proofread and edit your work. Never submit the first draft, no matter how great you think it is. Read through your work, and cut out all the unimportant details.
Don’t forget to check for spelling, lexical, and grammatical errors. While this may seem tasking, they are all critical steps to follow. However, for those who are busy dedicating the required time to their essays, you can send us a message, and we will sort it out very quickly. You will get your essays in pdf or doc format in no time!
FAQs
Is Dracula a Hard Read?
No, it isn’t. Although the style of writing is different from what modern society is used to, having been written over a hundred years ago, Dracula remains an exciting read. The plot flits through different characters, so you enjoy fresh perspectives often.
What is Dracula the Book About?
Dracula is a gothic horror novel written about a Count named Dracula, who is a vampire. There is no main protagonist, but through a series of letters, entries, and journals, we follow the story right from when Jonathan Harker makes his trip to Transylvania to the final death of Dracula.
Is Dracula Book Scary?
Yes. Bram Stoker effectively creates an atmosphere of dread and fear throughout the book. Although some people might not find it horrifying, it is unsettling.
What Age is Dracula’s Book Appropriate For?
13+. Although the book doesn’t contain graphic scenes of nudity, sex, or swear or cuss words, it paints a horrifying picture for young minds. Children below thirteen might find it too scary to enjoy. Age 13 and above is adequately appropriate, especially with guidance.
