John Polidori, The Vampyre (1819)
Things to Consider:
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Characteristics of Gothic Literature
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Function of Solitude
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Relationship between Death and Sexuality
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Importance of Setting and Historical Context
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Treatment of the "Other" and Doppelgangers
Homework Questions:
Letter:
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Describe the writer's opinion of Lord Byron. Why is he taking
such pains to learn about Byron?
Introduction:
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Why is Polidori explaining the origins of his subject?
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Why is Polidori quoting Byron?
The Vampyre:
(Page #s refer to BlackMask.Com pdf)
General:
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What characteristics of Gothic Literature are employed here? Provide
examples of three different terms.
1:
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Explain: "He thought, in fine, that the dreams of the poets were the
realities of life" (1).
3:
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Explain: "All those females whom he had sought, apparently, on
account of their virtue, had, since his departure, thrown even the mask
aside, and had not scrupled to expose the whole deformity of their vices
to the public gaze" (3).
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Why exactly does Aubrey sever his ties with Ruthven?
4:
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Are we supposed to believe that Ruthven is a vampyre at this point?
Is Polidori ruining the suspense here? Explain.
5:
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How is it that Ianthe has come to be killed?
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Why is Aubrey "seized with a most violent fever" (5)?
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Is the "combination" of Ianthe and Ruthven really "unaccountable" (5)?
Explain.
6:
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Why does Aubrey swear to conceal all he knows about Ruthven's crimes
and death? How does this compare to the events described in Byron's
fragment?
7:
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Explain: "A breeze, which seemed obedient to his will, soon wafted
him to the English shores" (7).
9:
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Why is Aubrey maintaining his oath? What would happen if he broke
it?
Other Discussion Questions:
Letter:
Who is the writer?
Describe the writer's opinion of Geneva.
1:
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Explain the significance of Ruthven's "dead grey eye" (1).
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Explain Ruthven's relationship with women. Why is this discussion
included?
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Explain: "He believed all to sympathise with virtue, and thought
that vice was thrown in by Providence merely for the picturesque effect
of the scene" (1).
2:
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Why is Aubrey so attracted to Ruthven?
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Why does Ruthven give charity only to the profligate rather than the
virtuous poor? Does his explanation make sense? Explain. How
does the ultimate fate of those who have received this charity fit in?
3:
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Why is Ianthe so attractive to Aubrey?
4:
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Why does a potential marriage to Ianthe appear ridiculous to Aubrey?
6:
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Why does Ruthven have the robbers convey his body to the mountains?
8:
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Why must Aubrey leave the drawing room when he encounters Ruthven?
10:
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How exactly does Aubrey die?
Appendix:
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Why would someone find it useful to append this letter to Polidori's
text?