ReadWriteThink: November 8, 2009: Bram Stoker, the author of <i>Dracula</i>, was born in 1847.

November 8, 2009

		Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, was born on this date in 1847. Dracula, originally published in 1897, has become the basis for many films, TV shows, and other novels over the more than 100 years since its publication. image © 2009 www.clipart.com

Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, was born in 1847.

CLASSROOM ACTIVITY

In this novel, Bram Stoker depicted many of the superstitions about vampires that were prevalent in his era. Today, we have superstitions about many things besides vampires. Brainstorm with students the superstitions they know. Begin by offering some that will be familiar to many students, such as bad luck symbols (e.g., black cats, breaking a mirror, walking under a ladder) or good luck symbols (e.g., finding a penny, four-leaf clovers) and ask students to discuss how these superstitions might have had a basis in reality (for instance, it is good sense NOT to walk under a ladder, for safety’s sake). Break students up into small groups and have them research one of the superstitions to determine its country of origin and its original meaning or purpose. Then, students can use the interactive Mystery Cube to write a mystery story featuring their superstition. A Tool Tip Sheet offers instructions on how to use the Mystery Cube.

Lesson Plans

Ghosts and Fear in Language Arts: Exploring the Ways Writers Scare Readers
This lesson plan invites high school students to explore scary short stories and books. The activities culminate with a “Fright Fair.”

Thrills and Chills! Using Scary Stories to Motivate Students to Read
This lesson taps into middle school students’ desire to read scary stories and helps them explore story structure and develop critical-thinking skills.

Lights, Camera, Action...Music: Critiquing Films Using Sight and Sound
In this lesson, high school students explore the connection between visuals and music in film. They use a scene-analysis framework to identify ways a director can create a particular tone in a film. This lesson uses the film Good Morning, Vietnam, but could easily be adapted for use with a scary movie.

Web Links

Dracula’s Homepage
This site provides information on Bram Stoker and brief essays on his sources and influences. The site also includes resources on vampires, Vlad the Impaler, and Van Helsing.

Stoker, Bram
This page, from The Literary Gothic, provides biographical information on Stoker, links to other sources on the author, and a collection of e-texts of his writings. Many other authors and their works can be found on this site.

Ghost Stories
This page, from author S.E. Schlosser’s American Folklore site, features a collection of folk tales focused on the supernatural. The stories are part of a large collection of folk tales from throughout the United States.

Thumbnail Images of Bram Stoker’s Dracula Editions
This site lists versions of Dracula from the original in 1897 through editions printed in the 1990s. Thumbnail images of the cover of each edition show how the depiction of Dracula has changed.

Texts

Hautman, Pete. 2003. Sweetblood. Simon and Schuster.
In this novel, a young diabetic girl becomes obsessed with vampires and vampire lore.

Anderson, M.T. 2003. Thirsty. Candlewick Press.
Chris has the usual problems: fighting, parents headed for a divorce, estranged best friends, oh . . . and he’s becoming a vampire!

Atwater-Rhodes, Amelia. 2000. In the Forest of the Night. Laurel Leaf.
Risica is the second-most powerful vampire in the world. Now she has to do battle to the death with another vampire. The author wrote this novel at the age of 13.

Greenburg, Martin H., and Charles G. Waugh, eds. 1993. A Newbery Halloween: A Dozen Scary Stories by Newbery Award-Winning Authors. Delacorte Books.
This collection of thirteen stories gives elementary students a wide range of tales of the supernatural from which to choose.