16Nov2015

1) What is your impression of rats? What has informed that opinion? What could change it in the future?

My impression of rats is that they are small, grimy animals that are disgusting in nature. I do not like looking at rats or thinking about them. Rats get the reputation of not being a good animal because it always comes back, they never go away no matter what you do to extinguish them. They hide and they are small so you never see them. Rats can go into almost any space. In the future, rats may lose their disgusting reputation if people figure out how to get rid of them.

2) We know that, so far in the novel, rats and wolves have both made an appearance. When have they been present? What have they represented? What do they foreshadow? Do the wolves that attack Harker's carriage as he is going to meet Dracula for the first time have the same meaning and symbolism as the wolf that crashes through Lucy's window? What other animals could be used to convey the same meaning that the rats and wolves do?

Bats have constantly been present in Dracula. When a bat is present around the house, one person will try to kill it but the bat does not die, because it is Dracula. Dracula is only able to die in the case of garlic around him, crucifixes, and holy water. The wolves have separate meanings when they attacked Harker's carriage and when the wolf crashes into Lucy's window. Deer or foxes could be used to convey the same meaning of rats and wolves in Dracula.

3) Does a vampire count as a creature/animal or as a person in a novel? What factors define it as either? How can a reader decide, when reading something in the horror genre, whether a creature such as a vampire, zombie, or monster, is a human character or an animal character?

In Dracula, a vampire counts as a person because this novel is full of supernatural events. Dracula is a human because he looks like one, he can do everything a human can do, he just has supernatural powers. Count Dracula would be considered a creature in this story because he can change his shape into a bat and also does not come out during the day time as Dracula. Readers can decide whether a creature in a story is a human or not by depicting their intro into the story, the author will usually describe the character and within those lines there are answers of your questions.

4) What do you think has happened to Renfield based on the way Chapter 20 has ended? Why? 

I believe Renfield was killed by Dracula. He did not want Renfield to become a vampire and take away his fame of it. Dracula became jealous and killed Renfield. 

5) Renfield seems to have two personalities: one of calm and reason, and one of wild ravings and violence. Create a drawing of the two "faces" of Renfield. Describe why you chose the features you did and what Renfield's varying states of mental health convey, on the back of your drawing. Turn in.

6) List the of benefits of an author using a "crazy" character in a novel considering the following: what the benefits are, what can be done with a "crazy" character that cannot be done with a "regular" character. Then, list the negatives of an author using a "crazy" character in a novel considering the following: what the limitations are, what cannot be done with a "crazy" character that can be done with a "regular" character. 
There are many benefits and negatives of using a crazy character in a novel. The benefits are being able to have freedom with the character and it not be surprising to the reader if he does something unusual and being able to portray any image of what the character looks like. The negatives of using a crazy character are confusing readers and creating too much positive or negative emotion to the novel.

7) What has Renfield brought to the text so far? How has Stoker used him? Is he a detestable character? Does anyone feel a little sorry for him? Is there any chance he could be saved? How has Stoker used him as a literary device? What does the class think will happen to him by the end of the novel? What do they think has happened to him (given the urgent message Seward receives at the end of Chapter 20)?
Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, has used Renfield as a crazy patient in Dr. Seward's asylum. Renfield is somewhat considered a repulsive character because he lashes out sometimes, other times he is calm. He could be saved in modern times with medicine or hard work to overcome his handicappedness, but I do not think anyone wanted to put time into his well-being. Renfield was used as a literary device such as mood because he is not an ordinary man of any sort. I think Renfield will be killed by Count Dracula at the end of the story.

8) Is it fair to use "crazy" characters in a work of literature, or does doing so simply count on, and even reinforce, negative stereotypes readers may have of people with mental illness? Write at least one page presenting your position. Write this in Google Drive (LASTNAME_crazy) and share with me. MLA Format.