Vampire Fakelore

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. Most of us think of the vampire as a creature of Eastern Europe, and rightly so - the belief was so strong in some regions that graves were torn up in hunts for undead. In which of these regions would one be least likely to find vampire hunts in pre-1800 Eastern Europe? Bulgaria Serbia Transylvania Greece

2. Some Eastern European vampires are indeed shapeshifters, though their abilities in this regard tend to be greater in folktales that were never meant to be believed - as opposed to legends, which were meant to be taken as fact. Which of these forms would an Eastern European vampire be least likely to take? Bat Mist Wolf Moth

3. Much vampire “fakelore” (defined by folklorist Richard Dorson as “a synthetic product claiming to be authentic oral tradition but actually tailored for mass edification”) originates from the most influential vampire novel, Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”. Which of these elements did Stoker introduce to the popular concept of the vampire? The lack of a reflection in mirrors Destruction by sunlight Destruction by wooden stake Sexuality

4. As you may have guessed by now, the vampire in folklore is not the suave sophisticate one would find in Anne Rice or Laurel Hamilton. He’s usually a peasant, and a rather disgusting creature at that. The first aristocratic vampire appears in John Polidori’s 1818 story “The Vampyre”, and is modeled after a well-known figure of the period. What celebrity of the period was this? George Washington Casanova Napoleon Bonaparte Lord Byron

5. Did Bram Stoker base his novel "Dracula" on the vampiric legends surrounding fifteenth-century Prince Vlad III of Wallachia? Yes No

6. In 1985, Dr. David Dolphin gave a talk on vampires at the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting. His thesis was that porphyria (a metabolic disorder that causes mental disturbance, photosensitivity, and gum necrosis that may be mistaken for fangs) may have been responsible for vampire reports of the past, especially since the disorder is now treated by injections of blood products. On what grounds have folklorists rejected Dolphin’s hypothesis? The blood product that treats porphyria, heme, cannot be absorbed by drinking blood Almost all vampires are recognized as dead people, not living people acting delusionally Folkloric vampires don’t usually have fangs All of these

7. In 1997, Spanish neurologist Juan Gómez-Alonso suggested another disease as the origin of vampire belief, citing that condition’s symptoms of photosensitivity, mental disturbance, and propensity to bite. What disease was this? Syphilis Rabies Influenza Mononucleosis

8. Many vampire enthusiasts have domesticated Dracula somewhat; he has become more of a mascot in some circles than a figure of abject terror. The name of Elizabeth Báthory, however, still inspires genuine shock and fear among those familiar with her story. As most popular tellings go, Countess Báthory drained the blood of young peasant women and bathed in it to maintain her youth. Do these stories come from the facts established at Báthory’s 1611 trial? Yes No

9. In most Eastern European folklore, how old do vampires usually get? Ancient - many cultures have legends casting Cain as the first vampire, and Eastern European folklore holds that he still lives Not very old - they are usually destroyed in the months after their death Their lifespan is long but indeterminate About a century - then they despair of immortality and burrow underground, never to be seen again

10. Finally, we come to one of the most iconic of vampire images - its aversion to the cross! Is this based in Eastern European folklore? Yes - The most complete story of a Bulgarian vampire exorcism involves the exorcist “herding” the vampire into a bottle with an icon, then capping the bottle and throwing it into the fire No - in one of the best known accounts, the cross shape actually holds the evil spirit in the vampire’s body, prolonging the vampire’s unlife All of these are correct Yes - Serbs have traditionally painted tar crosses on their doors to keep vampires away