Date of Award
2020
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Humanities
First Advisor
Myhill, Nova
Area of Concentration
English
Abstract
The worldwide fascination with vampires is a phenomenon that has been occurring for centuries. What many people do not realize is that one man and one novel are responsible for this dramatic shift in the representation of “the vampire” in literature and all resulting media. This thesis is an exploration of historical and literary adaptation and appropriation regarding the life of Dr. John William Polidori, and his novel The Vampyre. Specific focus is brought to the year he spent in service as the personal physician to Lord Byron, including the infamous evening in June of 1816, during the “Year Without a Summer” in Geneva, that culminated in the creation of both The Vampyre and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The research of this thesis applies adaptation theory on a selection of existing adaptations, focusing on how different mediums interpret and appropriate early 19th century aesthetics, themes, and storytelling approaches. A creative portion of the thesis is a scripted appropriation of the relationship between Lord Byron and John William Polidori, as detailed from biographical sources and reverse engineered from Polidori’s novel, The Vampyre. Then adaptation theory will be used to discuss my own creative work and process.
Recommended Citation
Solum, Kari, "“ON THE SUBJECT OF VAMPYRES”: AN ACADEMIC AND CREATIVE EXPLORATION OF JOHN WILLIAM POLIDORI’S LIFE AND LEGACY" (2020). Theses & ETDs. 6002.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/6002