DRACULA

Is this a real, true story? Or part of it? Which elements are real and which fiction?

Dracula isn`t a complete real story, it is only part of it. The author, Bram Stoker, had read about a prince called Dracula. This prince was the ruler of a country called Transylvania and he was a very cruel man. He killed many people in horrible ways and many stories were told about his cruelty. After his death, Dracula`s grave was opened, but his body wasn`t found there. People of Transylvania believed that he wasn`t dead.

At the time of this story, people in Transylvania believed in vampires. It was told, then, that vampires didn`t die. They said that vampires rested during the day and moved on the night. They attacked people and drank their blood and the people who were attacked also became vampires. People were very frightened and they protected themselves in many ways, like carring a Christian cross around their necks or having garlic plants in their houses. The story was based in a lot of real elements, like places, beliefs, and another facts, but it is an invention of Bram, that use this elements to create a very interesting story.

Describe Dr Van Helsing and explain why he is important in the story. What do we learn about vampires throughout the story?

Van Helsing was an old Professor and he helped all the characters during the story. He was very important because he knew a lot about vampires. Dracula was the most important problem in the story. When Lucy became paler and paler, Van Helsing examined her with great care. The two red marks in her neck worried him very much and he brought Lucy a lot of garlic plants. Then, he taught Arthur and Johathan how to get Lucy to rest in peace. He helped Arthur and Jonathan to save Mina`s life, because when she drank Count`s blood, she would became a vampire. At the end, Professor Van Helsing put holy bread in Dracula`s tomb. He helped Arthur to go to Drácula`s castle to kill the vampire, and Mina`s husband hammered a sharp stake into his heart. That`s how Doctor Van Helsing helped to keep Mina safe. Dracula was finally dead. During the story, we learn that vampires have white hair and face, very red lips, long and sharp teeth, long and pointed nails, they are invisible in the mirror and they are very powerful. They could became dust and were able to change into animals or birds. Vampires were turned away by pieces of holy bread, and people believed that garlic plants would protect them from vampires. We also learn that vampires rest during the day and in the night they attacked people and drink their blood.