Folklore, history, myth and mystery Real Vampires Folklore, history, myth and mystery

Earliest times People believed soul lives after death Retain enough power to rejuvenate the body Ancient cultures used elaborate burials to make it difficult for a corpse to escape Gifts and offerings of food left at site Fear that only blood would appease them

Ancient Vampire like Creatures Babylonians- edimmu, a troubled soul that wandered and fed on veins Hebrews- Lilith, first wife of Adam banished from the garden of Eden, fed on infants and children Chinese- qiang shi,a demon that prevented a body from decaying and fed on living blood Greeks- empusa, a demonic spirit that entered the body or lamia, a young woman who fed on the blood of young men Arabs- ghoul, a spirit that wandered cemeteries feasting on blood of the dead

Folktales Vampire myths we think of came from Slavic regions of Europe in the 16th century Myth strengthened in light of plague, famine, and epidemic People believed that relatives, friends, and villagers were subject to becoming vampires Birthday, infection, affliction, irregular death, excommunication, improper burial rituals, and exposure were all common beliefs for conversion

Traits of a Vampire Fangs, elongated canines Blood trickling from corner of mouth Slow decomposition Reports of dead walking Nightmares in surrounding areas Bloodlust Need to feed on living Living Dead Nocturnal, avoidance of light Eternal youth

Folklore Vampires Simpler, more crude and less physically appealing, could feed on anything Foul Smelling, partially decomposed, a lot of time spent in the grave Not very cunning Evidence for vampires in neighborhood- death of cattle, sheep, relatives, neighbors, exhumed life like, swelled bodies, ruddy corpse complexion

Holes in ground Red faced corpse Opening coffins 3 years after death of child, 5 after young person, and 7 after the death of an adult

Hollywood vampire Well dressed, attractive looking Well spoken and cunning Feasting only on human blood Lives in society Not always evil Eternal life Dracula

Bram Stoker November 8, 1847-April 20, 1912 Irish writer Third of seven children Catholic Jesuit- interested in science Got the idea from a conversation about eastern European folklore

Richard Matheson February 20, 1926 Allendale N.J. Author, screen writer Writes horror, fantasy, science fiction WWII veteran Got Degree in journalism from Missouri and moved to California in 1951 Has four children (three are writers) Credited with influencing contemporary horror genre

I am Legend Written 1954 Marketed as a science fiction novel Appeared as several movies, Omega Man, I am Legend, and Last Man on Earth Main character Robert Neville Takes place in southern California in late 1970’s Uses science to explain condition

History of Vampires in Literature 1047 AD First mention 1819 The Vampyre John Polidori Sophisticated and Charismatic vampire 1897 Dracula Bram Stoker First widely read and accepted vampire novel

History (continued) 1908/1909 Le Prisonierre de la Plante Mars – Gustave le Rouge La Guerre des Vampires Native race of bat-winged humanoids Resided on Mars First to focus solely on the race of vampires 1954 I Am Legend – Richard Matheson Vampirism caused by pandemic Character’s search for cause and cure

History (continued) 1966-1971 Barnabas Collins Series – Marilyn Ross Gothic fashion Vampires as poetic tragic heroes 1976 The Vampire Chronicles Anne Rice Tried to understand needs, wants, love

History (continued) 1981 Present Day The Hunger Twilight Series Biology to explain vampire behavior Blood as a power source Evolved alongside humans Present Day Twilight Series Human qualities, tormented, not evil

The Future of Vampires What we will crave (pun intended) in the future? Vampire shift Other shifts in literature