Vampires and Dracula Flashcards
What is a common trait shared by all vampires?
All vampires share the trait of consuming the life force of living beings.
What is a Penangggalan?
A Penangggalan is a flying female head with dangling entrails from Malaysia, part of local vampire legends.
What is a Manananggal?
A Manananggal is a terrifying, winged female from the Philippines who can sever its upper torso. It embodies cautionary tales and traditional values.
What is a Yara-ma-yhu-who?
A Yara-ma-yhu-who is an Aboriginal Australian frog-like creature that preys on misbehaving children, reflecting traditional knowledge.
What practices did Eastern Europeans use in the 18th century to prevent reanimated corpses?
In the 18th century, Eastern Europeans feared reanimated corpses and used practices such as nailing corpses to coffins, beheading, burning, or placing bricks in mouths to prevent them from rising.
How did Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” impact vampire mythology?
Stoker’s “Dracula” popularized the modern vampire myth, cementing the image of vampires as supernatural, blood-sucking creatures. Likely based on Vlad the Impaler
What was discovered on Lazzaretto Island related to vampire beliefs?
On Lazzaretto Island, a 61-year-old female plague victim was found with a brick in her mouth, symbolizing vampire beliefs of the time.
What was found in Sozopol, Bulgaria, related to vampire superstitions?
A 700-year-old skeleton was found with an iron rod through its chest in Sozopol, Bulgaria, believed to prevent resurrection. Over 100 similar ‘vampire’ burials have been found in the region.
Who was Vlad III (Vlad the Impaler), and how is he connected to Dracula?
Vlad III, known as Vlad the Impaler, was a 15th-century prince of Wallachia known for his brutal tactics. His violent reign and nickname inspired Bram Stoker’s fictional character, Count Dracula.
What significant event occurred in Vlad the Impaler’s early life?
Vlad was taken hostage by the Ottoman Empire in his youth, which fueled his hatred for them and influenced his later brutal leadership.
What was Vlad the Impaler’s brutal method of execution?
Vlad earned the nickname “Vlad the Impaler” for his gruesome method of impaling his enemies on large wooden stakes, reportedly killing tens of thousands.
How is Vlad III connected to the name “Dracula”?
The name “Dracula” comes from Vlad III’s father, Vlad II, who was a member of the Order of the Dragon. “Dracula” means “son of Dracul” (dragon), but also has associations with the devil in Romanian.
How did Vlad the Impaler fight against the Ottoman Empire?
Vlad fought to protect Wallachia from the Ottomans, refusing to pay tribute in 1456 and starting a bloody conflict with them to defend Christian Europe.
What was Vlad the Impaler’s legacy and death?
Vlad died in 1476 while fighting to reclaim his throne from the Ottomans. His death remains mysterious, but he is viewed by many Romanians as a national hero for defending Wallachia.
How does Vlad the Impaler relate to chivalric symbolism?
While far from a traditional noble knight, Vlad’s nickname “Dracula” ties into medieval fascination with dragons, knights, and legends, symbolizing immortality and power through dark, supernatural means.
How did the legend of Dracula evolve over time?
The legend of Dracula evolved from a historical figure, Vlad III, to a symbol of the occult, representing fear, death, and the supernatural in folklore and modern fiction.
