Dracula 26

Study Guide Questions for Ch. 26 "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)

Prudence, Love, Faith

Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)

1. What things did Mina see and hear under hypnosis that differed from her previous accounts in the last chapter?

2. What is becoming the case with every successive attempt to hypnotize Mina?

3. According to Donelson, the captain of the Czarina Catherine, why did the ship not make port at Varna as planned?

4. What had the Romanians wanted to do with Dracula’s box?

5. What became of Petrof Skinsky, who received Dracula’s box?

6. In her memorandum, how did Mina attempt to figure out what Dracula would do next?

7. What did Lord Godalming (Arthur) and Mr. Morris acquire to help them pursue Dracula at this point in the chase?

8. How did the group divide itself at this point and what did each party purpose to do?

9. What item did Jonathan and Lord Godalming acquire which further aided them while on their steam launch?

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

1. Why is hypnosis becoming more and more difficult to achieve with Mina?

2. Why couldn't the Romanians convince the captain to do away with the mysterious box?

3. Mina makes use of Inductive logic when trying to determine Dracula’s next steps and how to find him. Inductive reasoning involves moving from particular information to a general or probable conclusion. To the best of your ability, explain in what way Mina uses inductive reasoning to come to her conclusion about Dracula’s plans. What was the process which led to her conclusion?

4. Why did Mina struggle to write the word “Vampire” when writing about their plan?

5. Do you agree with Van Helsing's reasons as to why Jonathan should go on the steamship rather than stay with Mina? Why or why not?

6. Why was flying the Roumanian flag helpful to Jonathan and Lord Godalming?

7. Reflecting upon not only this chapter but the whole story up to this point, what are some things which factor into making this particular group of people ideal vampire hunters?

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

1. Consider the old saying, “Divide and conquer.” What does this mean? How do we see this principle at play in our present reading? How does this concept relate to the seemingly opposite claim, “United we stand, divided we fall?” Can both of these ideas be true at the same time or are they contradictory? If they can be true at the same time, explain how. If they are contradictory, explain why.

2. Mina wrote, “Oh, it did me good to see the way that these brave men worked. How can women help loving men when they are so earnest, and so true, and so brave!” In our own day there is much ado about the problem of sexism and men oppressing and keeping them from having equality. How might Mina’s words provide a clue as to how men might avoid such charges if they are leading well? What is the proper relationship between good leadership and service? Conversely, what kind of behavior among men might fuel (or even justify) the claim that men are oppressing women?

Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)

1. Read John 13:1-20. What does this passage teach us about true leadership? How does this relate back to our present story?

2. Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 and relate it  to the present story.