1. Vampire Fictions: Rewriting Myths
IWIS

2. Learning Aims and Objectives
To explore how Bram Stoker’s Dracula and the myth of the vampire has been adopted and adapted in film and literature from across the world
To develop ways of bringing these texts into the classroom in order to stimulate creative writing

3. The History of the Vampire
term vampire popularized in 18th Century after widespread superstition and hysteria from Eastern Europe.
1819 – John Polidori’s novella The Vampyre established archetype of charismatic and sophisticated vampire

4. Dracula by Bram Stoker published 1897
defined modern form of the vampire
background in Invasion literature
enjoyed as an adventure story
popularity didn’t come until after movie versions of the 20th Century
estimated 217 films feature Dracula in a major role

5. Vampire ‘facts’ p. 26 – ‘the facts’
p.286 ‘there are such things as vampires…evidence…proof’
p. 289 ‘tradition and superstition – are everything’
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the vampire?
How is Dracula portrayed?

6. Vampire strengths strong as 20 men cunning
command of the dead (necromancy)
appear at will (within limitations)
direct the elements
command meaner animals (rat, owl, bat, moth, fox, wolf)
grow and become small
vanish
feeds on living
doesn’t die of old age
makes no shadow
no reflection in mirror

7. Vampire weaknesses can’t enter without invitation
power ceases at sunrise
can only pass running water at the flood of the tide
garlic
crucifix
branch of wild rose
sacred bullet fired into coffin
stake through hear
cut-off head

8. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson published 1954
voted best vampire novel of the last 100 years

9. Activity 1: Group 1: Read Chapter Two
How is the vampire presented? What differences are revealed?
Group 2: Read Chapter Three
How does Richard Matheson engage with previous representations of the vampire?
Group 3: Read Chapter Four
How is the vampire presented? What similarities are revealed?

10. The Lady of the House of Love
by Angela Carter
published 1979
Short story within The Bloody Chamber collection
based on a radio play called ‘Vampirella’

11. Activity 2: Read pages 196 – 197 How is the vampire presented?
How does this alter or enhance our perception of the vampire, particularly in relation to Dracula

12. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris published 2001
first in The Southern Vampire Mysteries series
inspired television series True Blood
How does the extract re-write history?

13. Dead Until Dark / True Blood
modernising the myths
asking the question: ‘What if?’
providing parallels/metaphors for today’s ‘monsters’
What issues/themes in contemporary society could you re-write using the vampire as a starting point?

14. Buffy: The Vampire Slayer
Based on 1992 film of the same name
ran from 1997 – 2003
Created by Joss Whedon
aimed to revert the Hollywood formula of ‘the little blonde girl who goes into a dark alley and gets killed in every horror movie’
‘the supernatural elements in the series stood as metaphors for personal anxieties associated with adolescence and young adulthood’

15. Buffy: The Vampire Slayer
post-modern Gothic
pastiche
an examination of the facts and fiction
playful take on the traditions
asks the question: ‘What is a monster?’
inner / outer demons

16. Activity 3:
What themes / issues have been explored in our discussions of vampire fiction and film?
Create a mind map that shows the interconnections between these themes / issues
Use these to write a condensed lesson plan that explores how you would take vampire fictions into the classroom in order to explore one of these themes / issues