Introductory Notes

Prince Dracula

          The story of Dracula was written in 1897. The author, Bram Stoker, had read about a prince called Dracula. Dracula was the ruler of a country called Transylvania in fifteenth century. Transylvania is not marked on maps today. It is now part of Romania.

Prince Dracula was a very cruel man. He killed many people in horrible ways. One way was to throw them onto the sharp points of stakes fixed in the ground.

 

          Many stories were told about Prince Dracula. The stories were about his cruelty to the people he killed.  After his death, Dracula’s grave was opened. But his body was not found in the grave. The people of Transylvania believed that Dracula was not dead.

 

Vampires

 

          At the time of this story, people in Transylvania believed in vampires. They believed that vampires did not die. Vampires rested during the day and moved about at night. They attacked people and drank their blood. The people who were attacked also became vampires. They did not die. They attacked other people and drank their blood. So more and more vampires came into the world.

 

          The people in Transylvania were very frightened of vampires. They believed many strange things about vampires. They said that vampires could climb up and down high walls and fly through the air. Vampires were able to change into birds or animals. They could become dust or thick mist. Vampires knew what people were thinking. They could make people do what they wanted.

 

          Transylvanians protected themselves against vampires in many way. They wore a Christian cross around their necks. They put garlic plants in their houses. They believed that praying to God would protect them from vampires. And believed that vampires were turned away by pieces of holy bread. This is bread which is blessed by the priest in a Christian church.

 

          Three things had to be done to destroy vampires. First, you had to find the place where the vampires rested during the day. Then you had to put sharp, wooden stakes through the vampires’ hearts. Finally, you had to cut off their heads.

 

          “Dracula” is a horror story. People like to be frightened by horror stories. This is one of the most famous horror stories ever written. Do not read this blog late at night when you are alone!


 

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