2.1.1

Fin de Siecle

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Victorian Society and the Fin de Siecle

During the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), the British Empire continued to grow, extending its influence all over the world.

The Great Exhibition

The Great Exhibition

  • In 1851, the Great Exhibition took place at the purpose-built Crystal Palace in Hyde Park and showcased the pinnacle of technologies developed during the Industrial Revolution.
Population growth in London

Population growth in London

  • The population of London grow exponentially during the Industrial Revolution (c. 1760-1840) and as a result, there was an increasing number of slum areas in the city.
London in _Dracula_

London in Dracula

  • In Dracula, London is the centre of the civilised world.
  • The arrival of the Count can be seen as a threat to the natural order of things and society.
  • In Chapter 1, Jonathan notes in his journal how Castle Dracula is in the "extreme east” of Romania - as far from the civility and familiarity of Victorian society.
‘Fin de siecle’

‘Fin de siecle’

  • ‘Fin de siecle’ literally means the end of the century, although as a concept has become synonymous with the end of the 19th century.
  • A period of great uncertainty, feared by some to be a period of degeneration; viewed by others as a period of hope for a new beginning.
  • This idea of duality is clearly reflected in Dracula where east meets west; superstition fuses with religion; and, both Gothic terror and horror are utilised within the novel.​
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1

Context - Gothic Literature

1.1

Origins & Conventions of Gothic Literature

1.1.1Origins of Gothic Literature1.1.2Key Ideas in Gothic Literature1.1.3Gothic Genre Conventions in Dracula
1.2

Vampires in Gothic Literature

1.2.1Vampires
1.3

'Terror' & 'Horror'

1.3.1Ann Radcliffe & Lewis' The Monk1.3.2'Terror' & 'Horror' in Dracula
1.4

Narrative Features

1.4.1First-Person Narration & Epistolary Format
2

Context - The Victorian Era

2.1

The Victorian Era

2.1.1Fin de Siecle2.1.2The 'New Woman'2.1.3The Contagious Diseases Act
3

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

3.1

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

3.1.1Chapters 1-23.1.2Chapters 3-43.1.3Chapters 5-73.1.4Chapters 8-103.1.5Chapters 11-123.1.6Chapters 13-143.1.7Chapters 15-163.1.8Chapters 17-183.1.9Chapters 19-203.1.10Chapters 21-233.1.11Chapters 24-253.1.12Chapters 26-27
4

Character Profiles

4.1

Archetypal Gothic Characters

4.1.1Stock & Proppian Gothic Characters
4.2

Count Dracula

4.2.1Count Dracula: Character Profile4.2.2Count Dracula: Different Literary Perspectives
4.3

Other Main Characters

4.3.1Jonathan Harker4.3.2Dr Abraham Van Helsing4.3.3Dr Jack Seward4.3.4Mina Harker4.3.5Lucy Westenra
4.4

Minor Characters

4.4.1Arthur Holmwood & Quincey Morris4.4.2Renfield
5

Key Ideas

5.1

Key Ideas

5.1.1Transgression of Boundaries5.1.2The Supernatural & Un-dead5.1.3Masculinity & Femininity5.1.4Science, Modernity & Superstition5.1.5Madness, Illness & Confinement
6

Writing Techniques

6.1

Writing Techniques

6.1.1Epistolary Form & Narrative Voice6.1.2Intertextuality & Cultural References6.1.3Structure
7

Critical Debates & Interpretations

7.1

Initial Reception of Dracula

7.1.1Initial Reception of Dracula
7.2

Modern Reception of Dracula

7.2.1Modern Reception of Dracula

Practice questions on Fin de Siecle

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  1. 1
    What caused an increase in slums in London in the Victorian era?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What can be seen as a threat to the natural order of things and society in _Dracula_?Multiple choice
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First-Person Narration & Epistolary Format

The 'New Woman'