Pistes d'exploration

“I had a dream, which was not all a dream.” Lord Byron and other Romantic poets contributed to the Gothic genre and the development of ghost stories as a genre during the Victorian era. References to the Victorian Gothic novel, Frankenstein and the later Dracula are easily spotted in the novel and allow readers to make connections.

In small groups, brainstorm and discuss the conventions of genre that you notice. As a group, categorize the conventions according to genre (romance, horror, adventure, etc.).

Following discussion of genre and conventions, make notes in a reader-writer's notebook about the elements of genre and writer’s craft including setting, characterization, language, etc.

Mots-clés

Adventure , Horror , Mystery , Gothic , intertextuality , monsters , Romantic literature , school life , self-determination , Victorian England

Commentaire descriptif

Confident readers will enjoy this trip to the dark side of Victorian England—with dangerous London streets, lonely moors stalked by supernatural creatures, and stern schoolmasters who employ the whip. Highly sensitive Edgar Brim begins life as a fearful lad, exposed since infancy to gripping horror stories. But eventually Edgar grows into a formidable monster-hunter—along with friends Tiger Tilley, Lucy and Jonathan, and their mentor Professor Lear. Twists of mystery and suspense remain strong until the last lines. The language revels in shiver-inducing descriptions and situations: “‘Bolt the door,’ commands Lear.… The building feels like a corpse, without a beating heart and no blood in its veins. The creature has them cornered.” Rich use is made of the era’s art (Burne-Jones), literature (Dickens, Poe) and headlines (Jack the Ripper). Their mention may encourage readers to seek out these inspiring sources. While some characters are drawn from historic figures (such as Bram Stoker, author of Dracula), others are brought to life from classic monster-tales—with fascinating arguments for the potential verity behind these myths. The story thoughtfully explores the veil between art and life, even as readers may feel compelled to tear through its pages, to find out what happens next.