Dracula+DL+Bo

TRAIT: ORGANIZATION

Bram Stoker deserves 6 out of 6 in Organization in 6 trait identification. In Dracula, Stoker develops the story by using several types of secondary sources such as letters, journal entries, newspaper articles etc. The book Dracula has such a dynamic and unrealistic settings and characters like “Vampires”, so the use of secondary sources enhance the story more reliable and easy to understand for readers. The entire story is written as Journal entries by main characters therefore the settings are keep changing when journal entries are switched to others. In chapter 25, After Mina was attacked by Dracula, Mina can telepathically connected with Dracula and she describes it on her journal entries. Readers can see the different point of view from Seward’s or Harker’s diary. Also, In chapter 26, characters split up into three groups, which makes the story more detailed and complicated. However, letters that they sent each other and their journals help readers to understand what is going on. Another positive effect of using secondary sources (in this case, Journal entries) is that readers know how the characters feel or their opinion. Also, letters are used a lot in the story for example, letters from Care of HBM, vice-consul, appear a lot in chapter 25, and these letters are very important for the story because the letters hints about the location of Dracula. Stoker's style of writing brings out the tension of the story that hold readers' attention and he also portrays detailed feelings of each characters.

KEY PASSAGE

"That I may die now, either by my own hand or that of another, before the greater evil is entirely wrought. I know, and you know, that were I once dead you could and would set free my immortal spirit, even as you did my poor Lucy's. Were death, or the fear of death, the only thing that stood in the way I would not shrink to die here now, amidst the friends who love me. But death is not all. I cannot believe that to die in such a case, when there is hope before us and a bitter task to be done, is God's will. Therefore, I on my part, give up here the certainty of eternal rest, and go out into the dark where may be the blackest things that the world or the nether world holds!" (Harker 286) 

Mina knows that her blood is mixed up with Dracula's and she is in danger of becoming a vampire. If someone kills her before the greater evil comes to her, her soul will be freed like what they did to Lucy. If the fear of death is the only obstacle, Mina can sacrifice herself and she is not afraid of her death. However, Mina thinks that they still have hope and they can get over this instead of avoiding it by killing herself. This passage is a key passage because she shows her strong will that she is going to confront Dracula and fight against the evil. The men worry about Mina because they went through this with Lucy and she get killed. However, Mina knows the men think Mina is not strong enough to overcome this because she is a woman, so she shows her confidence and give them hope.

 LITERARY DEVICE

Symbolism: Communion WaferIt is interesting that Stoker uses Communion Wafer in Dracula. In the book, Van Helsing is Roman Catholic and he believes in transubstantiation, which means he believes wafer is the body of Jesus. Therefore, he uses it to fight over Dracula. Dracula really becomes weak whenever Van Helsing shows the wafers towards him. Stoker shows Vampires are evil and they are the opposite of holy christians by using communion wafer, which is the symbol of christian.

REFLECTION

Overall, Our group led the class fluently. For the activity, we really wanted to make something fun that is related to Dracula because if the activity is boring, kids will not participate. Therefore, we prepared BINGO game based on main characters from Dracula and summary. The game went fluently and it was very easy to handle the game too. Also, we had enough time to play several rounds. People enthusiastically participate the game and I thought it was really fun too but, I think it would have been better if we made the questions more detailed. After the activity, each of us presented about our own themes and key passages. I was pretty nervous than I thought so I skipped some of my points that I wanted to mention. However, as it turns out, I think our group discussion went pretty well and I’m glad that we showed our presentation that we prepared to the class.