2 Literature 2

1 Work in pairs. Discuss the questions.
● How do you imagine people travelled to foreign
countries 200 years ago?
● Why do you think there are so many books and
Count Dracula invites a young lawyer – Jonathan
Harker – to Transylvania because he wants to buy
property in England. In this extract, Jonathan is in a
town called Bistritz, on his way to Dracula’s castle.

films about vampires?

● Would you spend a night alone in an old castle?

Why / Why not?

DRACULA (1897)
Bram Stoker
It was on the dark side of twilight when we got to Bistritz,
which is a very interesting old place. Being practically on
the frontier — because the Borgo Pass leads from it into
Bukovina — it has had a very stormy existence, and it
5 certainly shows signs of it. Fifty years ago a series of great
fires took place, which made terrible havoc on five separate
occasions. […]
Count Dracula had directed me to go to the Golden Krone
Hotel, which I found, to my great delight, to be thoroughly
10 old-fashioned, for of course I wanted to see all I could of the
ways of the country. I was evidently expected, for when I got
near the door I found a cheery-looking elderly woman in the
usual peasant dress. When I came close she bowed and said, 30 This could not be true, because up to then he had
‘The Herr Englishman?’ understood it perfectly; at least, he answered my questions
15 ‘Yes,’ I said, ‘Jonathan Harker.’ exactly as if he did. He and his wife looked at each other in
She smiled, and gave some message to an elderly man a frightened sort of way. He mumbled that the money had
in white shirtsleeves, who had followed her to the door. been sent in a letter, and that was all he knew. When I asked
He went, but immediately returned with a letter: 35 him if he knew Count Dracula, and could tell me anything
‘My friend. Welcome to the Carpathians. I am anxiously of his castle, both he and his wife crossed themselves, and,
20 expecting you. Sleep well tonight. At the Borgo Pass my saying that they knew nothing at all, simply refused to speak
carriage will await you and will bring you to me. I trust that further. It was so near the time of starting that I had no time
your journey from London has been a happy one, and that to ask anyone else, for it was all very mysterious and not by
you will enjoy your stay in my beautiful land. 40 any means comforting.
Your friend, Dracula.’
25 4th May — I found that my landlord had got a letter from
the Count, telling him to secure the best place on the coach
for me; but on making inquiries as to details he seemed
somewhat reticent, and pretended that he could not
understand my German.

Glossary
twilight p
 eriod just before it becomes completely peasant a poor, country person
dark in the evening landlord a person paid for the use of a room
stormy violent, dramatic reticent not saying much
havoc confusion, without order mumbled spoke in an unclear, quiet way
cheery happy

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 2 Literature 2

2 2.01 Read and listen to the extract from Dracula. 7 2.02  

Listen again and complete the sentences
with the correct words.
3 Read the text again. Are the sentences T (true)
1 Harker is able to follow what the old lady
or F (false)?
says by asking her a lot of questions.
1 Harker arrived in Bistritz in the morning. F
2 She tells him that when the clock strikes
2 Harker likes the hotel. T midnight, evil things will come out.
3 The elderly woman is wearing simple clothes. T 3 She goes down on her knees
4 The elderly man wrote a letter. F and asks him not to go.

5 The landlord doesn't speak German. F 4 Harker explains to the old lady that nothing can
interfere with his business.
4 Match 1–4 with a–d.
1 Harker b
2 Dracula a
WRITING A letter
3 The elderly lady d
4 The elderly man c
8 Read the instructions. Then write a letter in
a paid for something. your notebook in no more than 75 words.
b wants more information. In Dracula, Jonathan keeps a diary describing
c stops speaking. his journey and the people he meets. Imagine
d waits at the entrance. he decides to write a short letter to his fiancée,
Mina, to tell her about his journey and Bistritz.
5 Complete the sentences with the correct words
These are things he writes about:
from the glossary.
● the hotel
1 I didn’t understand him because he mumbled . ● the elderly couple
2 Her landlord said dogs are not allowed ● getting a letter from Dracula
in the flat. ● how he feels about the journey
3 My grandad is very reticent to talk about
Think about what Jonathan will say about these
the war. He never mentions it. things and what order to put them in.
4 My brother and I have a very stormy
How will you begin and end the letter?
relationship – we’re always arguing.
5 The room was painted in very bright, How many paragraphs will you use?
cheery colours. Students’ own answers
6 I could see a dark figure in the twilight .

6 2.02 Listen to the next part of the story. Circle

the correct options.
DID YOU KNOW?
1 The old lady mixes German and another language
because she is emotional / confused.
Bram Stoker originally wanted to call his main
character ‘Count Wampyr,’ but he changed the
2 The day is the day before St. George’s Day. /
name after reading about a real historical figure
St. George’s Day.
called Vlad Dracula. It’s important to have a strong
3 The old lady asked Harker to wait a few days / name for a villain in a story; Voldemort and Darth
a few weeks before continuing his journey.
Vader are good examples.
4 Harker doesn’t listen to the old lady /
agrees to stay longer

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