Dracula 18

Study Guide Questions for Ch. 18 "Dr. Seward's Diary"

If you are looking for the beginning of the study of Bram Stoker’s Dracula then you can go HERE for a brief introduction. At the bottom of the introduction you will find the links to each section of the study guide as it becomes available. If you would like to see the growing list of available book studies available for free on this site you can go HERE. Enjoy!

Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)

Home, Duty, Freedom vs. Bondage

Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)

1. What did Mrs. Harker ask Dr. Seward for permission to do?

2. What did Renfield tell Mrs. Harker when she told him that she was staying as a guest at Dr. Seward’s house?

3. What change in Renfields behavior took place while he was speaking to Mrs. Harker?

4. What were Renfield’s parting words to Mrs. Harker?

5. Name at least three supernatural powers that the nosferatu have according to the vampire lore Van Helsing shared.

6. What strengths and advantages did Van Helsing say were on their side against Dracula?

7. Name at least three limitations that Dracula has.

8. What temporarily interrupted the meeting and gave everyone a bit of a fright?

9. What did Van Helsing say must be the group’s first steps against Dracula?

10. What did Mina describe as “a bitter pill…to swallow?”

11. About what matter did Renfield plead earnestly with Dr. Seward?

12. What was Renfield’s latter request since his former was denied?

Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)

1. Dr. Seward noted in his diary, “Mrs. Harker gave us a cup of tea, and I can honestly say that, for the first time since I have lived in it, this old house seemed like home.” Why did he say that? What did he mean?

2. Dr. Seward asked Renfield, “How did you know I wanted to marry any one?” Well, how did he know?

3. What might account for Renfields sudden change to apparent sanity? 

4. What did Van Helsing mean when he said of Dracula, “all the dead that he can come nigh to are for him at command?”

5. Why might the episode with Mr. Morris and the bat be important to the story?

6. Why do you think Renfield wanted to be dismissed from the asylum so badly and right away?

7. Do you think Dr. Seward did the right thing by retaining Renfield or should he have allowed him to leave? Explain your reasoning while making use of the text to justify your answer.

Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)

1. An idiom is a saying within a given language wherein the intended meaning is not immediately discernible from the typical usage of the words stated. As a result, the true meaning and proper usage is often lost on foreigners who attempt to make sense of it. For example, the idiom “The early bird gets the worm” is understood by English speakers to mean “Those who pursue a goal with eagerness and tenacity tend to be the most successful.” What English idiom did Van Helsing apparently understand the meaning of while still failing in his execution of the proper saying? Why do you think all languages make use of idioms? How do such sayings come to exist? Are idioms useful and good in language or are they too confusing and therefore should be abandoned for more literal usages of language? Why do you think as you do?

2. In this story the men collectively decide that, after the meeting where everyone gets a well-ordered understanding of the events that have taken place, the strengths and weaknesses of their opponent, and how they must begin to work against Dracula, Mina should take no more part in the endeavor because it is too dangerous to her physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Do you think that it is good and right that men should protect women from such potential harm or do you think that this perpetuates a false inequality between the sexes? What reasoning would you offer in defense of your position that men should, or should not, try to keep women away from such harm?

Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)

1. Van Helsing addressed his fellows in this way, “My friends, this is much, it is a terrible task that we undertake, and there may be consequence to make the brave shudder. For if we fail in this our fight he must surely win, and then where end we? Life is nothings, I heed him not. But to fail here, is not mere life or death. It is that we become as him, that we henceforward become foul things of the night like him, without heart or conscience, preying on the bodies and the souls of those we love best. To us forever are the gates of heaven shut, for who shall open them to us again? We go on for all time abhorred by all, a blot on the face of God's sunshine, an arrow in the side of Him who died for man.” Read John 6:37-40 and Romans 8:38-39 and offer a criticism of Van Helsing’s claim about the power Dracula has to condemn his victims to hell.

2. Consider Ephesians 5:22-33 and 1 Peter 3:7. What do these passages teach men to do in service to their wives? How would you relate this back to our present reading?