Vlad Tepes:

A Trip to Romania and the Legend of Dracula

Introduction
Before reading Dracula by Bram Stoker, you will travel through time back to 15th century Romania. You are a new journalist for the international "Rolling Stone" magazine. Your assignment is to travel through time to interview Vlad Tepes about his life and to find out about the legend surrounding vampires. The Time Machine is already set up with all of the necessities for your trip. Be sure to read the tasks carefully before you start your journey. Have a safe trip and Beware of Vampires.

Task Description
Your travel through time will take you to many different places where you will experience the atrocities that Vlad Tepes (The Impaler) inflicted on the people of Romania. For each task you will record your thoughts, eye witness accounts, and pictures that you have taken in your own travel diary, which will be published, when (or if) you return, as the actual magazine article. After you have answered the questions to both tasks, you can decide which task you would like to write your magazine article about.

Task One: Interview Vlad Tepes And The People Who Knew Him Well
Obviously your journey back in time was successful and you are now in Romania during the 15th century. You will need your camera and journal in order to interview the fearless Vlad The Impaler. There are resources (links) to help you find the information you need. Answer these questions for the interview:

Who is Vlad Tepes? You will need to include pictures of Vlad in your article.

When and where was Vlad born?
How many siblings did he have and what were their names?
For what purpose was Vlad educated?
How did Vlad's father gain the Wallachian throne?
How many impalements were credited to Vlad?
What was Vlad's preferred method of torture and execution?
What are some thins that motivated Vlad's acts of torture?
Who were among Vlad's victims?
What was the purpose of "the Forest of the Impaled"?
What act led to Vlad's characterization as a vampire?
Where did the name Dracula originate from?
What name did Vlad often use when signing important documents?
How long did Vlad's reign last?
How did Vlad's wife die?
Where and when did Vlad die?
What are some of the theories surrounding Vlad's death?
What is the one disputed fact about Vlad's death?
What is know about Vlad's burial site?
How does the Romanian view of Vlad differ from that of the West?
What is it that sparked interest in Dracula in the West?

Web Sites

Vlad Tepes The Historical Dracula: The Life of Vlad III
Dracula: The History of Myth and the Myth of History
The House of Ice

Task Two: Background on Myth Surrounding Vampires
Congratulations, you have successfully reached the final stage of your journey. You are going to interview several experts in the area of vampire myths and superstitions. This information will help you with your article and also keep you safe from a disastrous end.
There are links below to help you answer the questions and complete your journal. Don't let any evil force lead you astray, be sure that your sources are accurate.

How Can I Protect Myself From the Evil Forces of the Unknown?

Why aren't religious articles always helpful in killing vampires?
How does sunlight affect vampires?
List the forms into which vampires are able to transform?
When are vampires most active?
How did bats become associated with the vampire?
According to "Man, Spirit, or a Devil", what do the three types of vampires have in common?
How was the word "vampyre" first defined in the English language?
Why was the Slavic vampire so important?
Why can't see the reflection of a vampire in a mirror?
List some of the best ways to kill a vampire?
Why is it necessary for vampires to drink blood?
Why is a vampire's sight and hearing so acute?
What can you say about the strength of vampires?
How did the Romanians use garlic as protection?
How does Bram Stoker use garlic in his novel Dracula?

Web Sites

Myths
Myth of The Vampire
Vampire Club: Man, Spirit, or Devil?
Vampire Origins
Vampire Physiology
Vampires and Garlic

Conclusion

The goal of this Web Quest is to have students research the background for the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. Students will connect the real life character of Vlad Tepes with the fictional Dracula. They will come away with a better understanding of the events and people in history who helped to create the story behind Count Dracula.

Students will create a magazine article from their interviews with Vlad and the people who know him well. They will investigate the facts in history and the myths surrounding the legend of Dracula. Students will also learn how to use technology in order to make their journey into the past possible. They will learn how to incorporate pictures into their document and transfer information from the internet.

This Web Site was created by Amy Penner-Walker and Kathy Salzano
Lakeland High School