How does Bram Stoker use gothic conventions to create an atmosphere of suspense and fear for the reader?

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DINESH PATEL                ENGLISH COURSEWORK

How does Bram Stoker use gothic conventions to create an atmosphere of suspense and fear for the reader?

Gothic conventions consist of writing that would scare and excite the reader.  Gothic writing was popular during the late 18th, early 19th century.  Gothic features include supernatural forces, medieval castles, dungeons and darkness.  The type of language is very melodramatic in its style of stereotyped characters.  Gothic characters typically include spectres, monsters, demons, corpses, skeletons, evil aristocrats, vampires and Dracula.  A Goth is one of a German tribe who invaded Eastern and Western Europe.  They are normally barbarous, foul and uncouth.  Gothic conventions usually involve journeys, quests, strange creatures and sinister buildings.  Gothic novels are created to frighten their readers.  In Gothic productions imagination and emotional effects exceed reason.  Dracula was first published in 1897, other versions have adapted from the original.  The main characters in Dracula include Jonathan Harker, Mina and Van Helsing.  Throughout the story, Bram Stoker uses Dracula’s abilities, actions and appearance to create suspense for the reader.

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The novel opens with an extract from Jonathan Harker’s journal relating to his journey.  In the journal Jonathan Harker expresses his feelings; these include his worries and fears as he travels to Castle Dracula.  Bram Stoker uses strange customs and sights to generate anxiety in Jonathan Harker’s journal to the reader.  ‘I did not sleep well, though my bed was comfortable enough, for I had all sorts of queer dreams’, this creates fear to the reader because it explains there was weird existence during the sleep because it caused discomfort that was not visible.  ‘Sometimes we saw little tows ...

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