Language

Style of language

The language in the two excerpts from the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker is generally formal and old-fashioned which reflects the time when the novel was written as well as Jonathan’s background and education as he is the narrator of the excerpts. Many outdated or complex words are also used such as calèche, alacrity, or physiognomy. The dialogue also sounds formal and out of date, such as: “I am Dracula; and I bid you welcome, Mr. Harker, to my house. Come in; the night air is chill, and you must need to eat and rest”. 

The two excerpts include a lot of descriptions that serve to set the scene and create a frightening atmosphere or to introduce new characters. For example, Jonathan devotes a lengthy paragraph to describing Count Dracula’s strange appearance or the rooms of his castle: 

Hitherto I had noticed the backs of his hands as they lay on his knees in the firelight, and they had seemed rather white and fine; but seeing them now close to me, I could not but notice that they were rather coarse—broad, with squat fingers. Strange to say, there were hairs in the centre of the palm. The nails were long and fine, and cut to a sharp point. As the Count leaned over me and his ha...