"Although Stoker divides Dracula into chapters rather
than into parts, the novel is easier to understand in terms of its four distinct
parts, or sections. The first of these parts relates Jonathan Harker's
trip to Dracula's castle, when an ordinary business trip becomes a terrifying
encounter with four powerful supernatural creatures. In the second part,
Dracula comes to England, where he seduces and destroys an innocent English
girl, Lucy Westenra. This part, which is also a kind of medical mystery
in which two physicians attempt to understand what is happening to their patient,
ends with Lucy's being destroyed by Dr. Van Helsing and three young men who
had proposed marriage to her. The third section brings together a number
of characters to battle Dracula and includes the seduction of Mina Harker and
the decision to track Dracula to his castle. The fourth section includes
the chase, in which this unified group tracks Dracula to his castle and finally
destroys him." Source: Carol A. Senf. Dracula: Between
Tradition and Modernism. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1998: 19-20.
BIOGRAPHY
Bram Stoker (1847-1912) studied at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.
He earned a degree in science (with honors) in 1868 and a master's degree in
mathematics in 1872. Stoker began work as a civil servant at Dublin Castle in
1868. He also worked as an unpaid drama critic for the Dublin Evening Mail,
and later, as a business manager of the Lyceum Theatre. Stoker's first book,
The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland, was published in 1879.
His short story collection, Under the Sunset, was published in 1882.
In 1892, Stoker began writing Dracula. Stoker's childhood illness, which
had hysteria-like symptoms, may have led him to imagine the predicament he would
later create for his vampire victims.
THEMES
Role of women | Science and Technology | Vampirism and Dracula Legend | Vampires
and Victorians | Parallels between Stoker's life and the lives of the victims
| Legend, myth, suspense, mystery, quest, or the use of the double | Romance
vs Seduction in Dracula | Destroying Dracula | Character study
CRITICISM
Librarian Talk about Finding Journal and Newspaper Articles!
Electronic databases are purchased by the libraries for your research use. Use them to find articles in newspapers and journals, letters, reference books, illustrations, photographs and more. Home access to article databases is available with your updated library card barcode. If you need assistance finding an article contact the Reference Librarians and they will see that you get the article. They will need full bibliographic information - and your name and address. Send your phone number as well, so they can contact you if necessary.
Use your library card to login to these online journal databases.
Scholarly journal articles (many full text) are available through the following
system library databases.
A current library card is required
for login from home. Get
a Library Card
Literature
Resource Center
Read full-text articles from reference books and selected literature journals. Select 'Advanced Search' and limit the serch to "critical essay."
Proquest
Limit to "Scholarly journals, including peer-reviewed," and click the "Full text documents only" box to find only complete articles.
Academic
Search Premier
Select 'Advanced' search and then limit to "Scholarly (Peer Reviewed)" publications to retrieve articles from scholarly journals. To get only complete articles, click the "full text" box.
BOOKS
Librarian Talk . . . About Books!
Books offer helpful information about time periods, authors and the literary works. Use them to help begin your review of literature on Dracula.
Apply online for a library card. Use your card to 1) Place a Hold on a book and have it sent to the library closest to you 2) Access journal and reference databases from home, and 3) Access Online Book Database (NetLibrary).
Online books (database paid for by our libraries) are available at NetLibrary. Use your library card to log in. Create a free account to save favorite titles or your own notes on the books you read.
See 'Supplement III' for a critical essay about Stoker's life and literary
career.
Dictionary of Literary Biography [REFPN41.D5]
Volumes 36, 70 and 178 contain essays about Stoker and Dracula.
Twentieth Century Literary Criticism [REFPN771.G27]
Volume 8 contains excerpts from numerous critical essays about Dracula.
World Literature Criticism [REFPN523.W67]
Volume 6 contains excerpts form critical essays about Dracula.
Please check at the Circulation Desk in the library
for books which your instructor may have placed on reserve.
INTERNET
Librarian Talk about the Internet!
The internet can be a wonderful source of original documents. Browse the sites we have suggested below. Remember, you do want to find reputable sites. Look at:
Accuracy - The information should be researched and show proof of that research.
Source - Look at the domain: .edu .gov .org .net are valid research sources. Your company's website is also a valuable resource.
Authority - What are the author's credentials? (Don't quote from another college freshman's paper.)
Coverage - Does the page have the information you need for your research?
Objectivity - If a work is biased, use it - just make sure your professor knows YOU know. Offer both sides of issues, where applicable.
UNACCEPTABLE SOURCE SAMPLE http://www.rit.edu/~nrcgsh/bx/bx04b.html - This appears to be part of a book (the subject is not this novel but it is a good example) however there is nothing we can see that tells you title, author, dates, publisher or any of the other needed information.
Dracula's Home Page | http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~emiller/ |
Elizabeth Miller is an English professor (and author) at Memorial University
of Newfoundland, Canada. Check this site for information about Dracula.
Bram Stoker (1847-1912) studied at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.
He earned a degree in science (with honors) in 1868 and a master's degree in
mathematics in 1872. Stoker began work as a civil servant at Dublin Castle in
1868. He also worked as an unpaid drama critic for the Dublin Evening Mail,
and later, as a business manager of the Lyceum Theatre. Stoker's first book,
The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland, was published in 1879.
His short story collection, Under the Sunset, was published in 1882.
In 1892, Stoker began writing Dracula. Stoker's childhood illness, which
had hysteria-like symptoms, may have led him to imagine the predicament he would
later create for his vampire victims.
Librarian Talk about Finding Journal and Newspaper Articles! 
