Roots in classic literature

1. Roots of Horror in Classic
Literature

2. “The three great 19th century
horror stories”
• “Frankenstein”, “Dracula” and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” are three of the
most well known horror stories of the 19th century. “Frankenstein” was
originally written by Mary Shelley, who was married to Percy Shelley; an
early romantic poet. It was published anonymously in London in 1818. Her
name appeared on the second edition which was published in France in
1823. The first film adaptation was produced in 1910.
• “Dracula” was first written by Bram Stoker and has many different
adaptations and sequels, such as “The Wife of Dracula”.
• “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” was originally titled “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll
and Mr. Hyde” and was written by Scottish author Robert Louis
Stevenson, first published in 1886. Today it is commonly known as
“Strange Case of dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, or
“Jekyll & Hyde”.

3. Frankenstein
• “Frankenstein” raised a lot of controversy with the science vs. nature, or
science vs. religion arguments. In the story, the scientists creates artificial
life. This could be seen as him trying to play God, as artificial life was
something which had never really been seen at the time Frankenstein came
about.
• Another point in “Frankenstein” that raised controversy is the scene in
which the monster throws a girl into a lake, causing her to drown. This
particular scene caused major upset among parents at the time.
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5KVM9KqX2U

4. Dracula
• Although the character of Dracula as a vampire was not real, he was able to
turn into a bat, which adds a sense of realism to the story. In addition to this
was the idea of diseases and infections being spread through being
bitten, which is what people may have been afraid of.
• The novel is told in the form of letters an diary entries etc., which are
written by the novel‟s main protagonists. The events of the story take place
largely in England and Transylvania in 1893. A man travels to
Transylvania, staying at Count Dracula‟s house. He cuts himself
shaving, and Dracula lunges at his throat like a demon. The man finds
himself imprisoned in the castle, and discovers Dracula‟s secret that he
consumes human blood. The man is assailed by three seductive female
vampires. Once he has found out Dracula‟s secret, Dracula has intent to
kill him.
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojgy7kyNp5g

5. Jekyll & Hyde
• “Jekyll & Hyde” tells the story of London lawyer Gabriel John
Utterson, who investigates occurrences between his old friend Dr. Henry
Jekyll, and the evil Edward Hyde.
• The work is largely associated with the rare mental condition commonly
known as “split personality”. This is referred to as “dissociative identity
disorder” in psychiatry; meaning that within the body there exists more
than one distinct personality.
• In the case of Dr. Jekyll, there are two personalities within him; one good
and the other evil, two completely opposite levels of morality.
• Due to the overall impact of the novella, the very phrase „Jekyll and Hyde‟
has become part of our language and has come to mean someone who is
vastly different in moral character from one situation to the next.
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4iA2YeLyqk

6. Other Facts
• The horror genre only really began to have forms, codes and conventions
towards the end of the 18th century.
• “The Castle of Otranto” by Horace Walpole, which incorporated elements
of the supernatural, is seen as the first gothic novel. It was first published in
1764.
• In the early 19th century, writers reflected with strong emotions in their
novels, “recognising that fear and awe aren‟t so very different”.
• During the 18th century, horror/gothic novels were marketed towards
women and often used female protagonists.
• Horror first properly originated in England in the second half of the 18th
century.