Research on Author Bram Stoker Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

On Author Bram Stoker - Research Paper Example To be specific, the amalgamation of history, imagination and horror raises the novel Dracula to new heights of readership, and the novelist to popularity. Thesis statement: Bram Stoker’s writing style, with unique themes, symbols, metaphors, imagery, and character types, is symbolic of the Gothic horror genre in English Literature (special references to the novel Dracula). Short biography Bram Stoker was born in the year 1847, Clontarf in Ireland. His childhood was not so happy because he was forced to be bedridden due to sickness. Sue L. Hamilton states that Bram Stoker’s experiences (say, sickness) in his childhood helped him to be imaginative and creative as a writer (Hamilton 8). When he entered the Trinity College, he was able to overcome the past troubles. For instance, he proved himself as brilliant in athletics and academics. After graduation, Stoker entered the Irish Civil Service and remained as a civil servant for the next 10 years. His entry to the civil ser vice did not hinder him to make progress in his literary career. Besides, his relation with Henry Irving helped him to be in the limelight of Lyceum Theatre in London and his contribution to drama criticism was noteworthy. But Stoker was not ready to give up his ambition to be a writer and he decided to write novels. As pointed out, ill health in childhood and family influence in the early stages of life deeply influenced him and he was attracted towards horror novels. Carol A. Senf opines that Bram Stoker’s curiosity in learning science and horror maybe deeply rooted in his family background (Senf 50). For instance, one can easily identify that Stoker’s novels represent the horror (Gothic) novel genre in English Literature. Some of his novels are: The Snake's Pass (1890), Dracula (1897), Lair of the White Worm (1911), etc. After the marriage with Florence Balcombe in the year 1878, Stoker moved to London and worked as the manger of Lyceum Theatre, London. In London, S toker was able to be in the elite circle of writers. This relationship with writers like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle helped him a lot to fulfil his ambition to be a writer. Meanwhile, Stoker decided to conduct a world tour and visited the United States of America. The world tour boosted Stoker’s craftsmanship as a writer. For instance, in the United States of America, Stoker was able to meet Walt Whitman, one of his favourite writers. Besides, the American tour inspired him to select the same nation as the background of later works. Generally, Bram Stoker’s short stories and other novels apart from gothic novels are less appraised by critics. For instance, the novel Dracula is praised as one of the most important gothic novels in English Literature. Due to stereotyped characterization and less importance given to vividness, Stoker’s other works are generally less accepted. In addition, the high content of melodramatic elements that can be seen in Stoker’s nove ls and short stories reduce the scope of vivid characterization. But the craftsmanship shown by Stoker in describing places proves his craftsmanship as a novelist and short story writer. Bram Stoker passed away in 1912. Bram Stoker’s life history and his journey from Scotland to England are noteworthy because his profession as a theatre manger did not harm his ambition to be a writer. Instead, his profession boosted his ambition to b