The Story of Dracula: Key Plot Points and Characters
Chapter 1: Jonathan Harker's Journey
- Who is Jonathan Harker and where is he going? Jonathan is a young English lawyer traveling through Transylvania to meet with Count Dracula.
- Why do the people at the hotel look frightened? Because Jonathan mentioned Castle Dracula.
- What does the old woman give Jonathan? She gives him a gold cross.
- Why is Jonathan keeping a diary? Because he wants to share his experiences with Mina.
- How does Jonathan feel while traveling towards Castle Dracula? He is increasingly frightened and begins to have a terrible feeling about going to the castle.
Chapter 2: Meeting Count Dracula
- What does Dracula look like? He is an old man, but very strong. His ears are pointed, he has very red lips and sharp white teeth. His hands are large, with long, pointed nails like an animal's claws. There is hair on the palms of his hands. The Count's skin is very pale, and his breath has a foul smell.
- What does Count Dracula's house in England look like? Carfax is a dark old house with a high wall and big trees around it. There is a small chapel in the house.
- What does Dracula try to do when Jonathan cuts himself while shaving? He reaches for Jonathan's throat.
- What does Jonathan realize when Dracula leaves the room? He realizes that within the castle's high walls, he is a prisoner.
Chapter 3: Captivity and Discovery
- Why does Dracula want Jonathan to stay longer with him? Because Dracula wants Jonathan to help him prepare for his new life in England.
- What piece of advice does Dracula give Jonathan? He warns that it is dangerous to fall asleep in some parts of the castle; Jonathan must only sleep in the living room or his bedroom.
- What does Jonathan discover in one of the rooms a few days later? He discovers a box with the Count in it.
Chapter 4: Whitby and Mina's News
- What is on the Russian ship which comes into the harbor at Whitby? On the ship are 50 large wooden boxes full of earth.
- Who is Mina's letter from and what does it say? The letter states that Jonathan is suffering from a terrible brain fever and has been in the hospital for six weeks.
- What relationship do Mina and Jonathan have when they return to England? They are going to be married.
Chapter 5: The Unusual Case
- Why does Dr. Seward send for his friend Professor Van Helsing? Because he thought that the case (Lucy Westenra's illness) was very unusual.
Chapter 6: The Vampire's End
- What strange thing happens after Lucy's funeral? Children disappear from a large park in the evening. The next morning, the children are found, but they are very weak and pale.
- How do Van Helsing, Dr. Seward, and Arthur kill the vampire? Van Helsing and Seward say the prayers for the dead while Arthur puts the stake over Lucy's heart and hammers it in.
Chapter 8: Planning the Attack
- What are Van Helsing's plans to fight Dracula? He plans that they must take the Host (consecrated wafer) and put some of it in each box of earth. They must do this to all the boxes before Dracula gets to them.
Chapter 10: Dracula's Demise
- How does Dracula die? Jonathan stabs his knife into the Count's throat while Quincey sinks his knife into the Count's heart.
