Chapter 22 Practice Quiz — Dracula
by Bram Stoker — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter 22
How is Renfield found dead at the beginning of Chapter 22?
His face is all bruised and crushed in, and the bones of his neck are broken. An attendant heard him crying out "God! God! God!" before the sound of falling.
What official cause of death does Dr. Seward give for Renfield?
Death by misadventure in falling from bed, to avoid an inquest that would require revealing the supernatural truth.
What decision does the group make about Mina's involvement in their plans?
They decide Mina must be kept in full confidence — nothing shall be concealed from her, reversing their earlier disastrous policy of secrecy.
How do the men sterilize Dracula's earth-boxes at Carfax?
They open each box with a screwdriver and wrench, place a piece of Sacred Wafer on the earth inside, then screw the lid back on.
How many boxes of earth are found at the Piccadilly house?
Eight boxes out of the nine expected — one box remains missing and unaccounted for.
What items are found on the dining room table at Piccadilly besides the earth-boxes?
Title deeds to properties at Piccadilly, Mile End, and Bermondsey; notepaper, envelopes, pens, and ink; a clothes brush and comb; a jug and basin with blood-reddened water; and a heap of keys.
What does Mina declare she will do if she finds any sign of harm to those she loves?
"I shall die!" She states it as a simple fact, saying she would kill herself rather than endanger her loved ones.
Why does Van Helsing forbid Mina from killing herself?
If Dracula still lives as Undead when Mina dies, her death would make her a vampire too — "your death would make you even as he is."
Why does Mina insist that Jonathan join the expedition rather than stay to guard her?
She argues his legal expertise may help with the Count's papers, and that all their strength is needed against Dracula's extraordinary power. She says God can guard her as well alone.
Who suggests using cabs instead of Lord Godalming's carriages for the mission?
Quincey Morris, who points out that heraldic carriages would attract too much attention in working-class neighborhoods like Walworth or Mile End.
What does the Sacred Wafer burning Mina's forehead symbolize?
It symbolizes Dracula's spiritual corruption of Mina — holy objects that should protect the faithful instead mark her as tainted, making the vampiric violation visible.
How does Van Helsing frame the group's struggle in religious terms?
He compares their suffering to bearing the Cross as Christ did — enduring "stripes and shame, through tears and blood, through doubts and fear" — casting their mission as divine service.
What does sterilizing the earth-boxes represent thematically?
It represents reclaiming sacred ground from evil. Van Helsing says the Count chose the earth because it was holy, and by adding the Communion wafer they "make it more holy still," defeating him with his own weapon.
How does the chapter explore the theme of secrecy versus openness?
The group explicitly reverses their policy of keeping Mina in the dark. Mina says "there must be no concealment — we have had too much already," directly blaming secrecy for their earlier failures.
Who says "Unclean! Unclean! Even the Almighty shuns my polluted flesh!" and when?
Mina, immediately after the Sacred Wafer burns a red scar into her forehead, echoing the biblical cry of lepers.
What biblical allusion is contained in Mina's cry of "Unclean"?
It echoes Leviticus 13:45, where lepers were required to cry "Unclean, unclean" to warn others of their contamination.
What does Van Helsing promise about the red scar on Mina's forehead?
"That red scar, the sign of God's knowledge of what has been, shall pass away, and leave your forehead as pure as the heart we know." He promises it will vanish when God lifts their burden.
What anecdote does Van Helsing tell to justify their plan to break into the Piccadilly house?
He tells the story of a burglar who broke into an empty London house, opened the shutters, held an auction of the owner's goods, then sold the house to a builder — all "en regle" (by the rules) under the eyes of the police.
What moment of dramatic irony occurs when Van Helsing comments about Dracula's feeding?
Van Helsing remarks with "actually a smile" that Dracula "banqueted heavily and will sleep late" — forgetting that Mina is present and that the "banquet" was the forced blood exchange with her.
What physical changes does Harker notice in Mina that he does not mention to her?
She is very pale and so thin that her lips are drawn away showing her teeth in prominence — recalling what happened to Lucy. Harker says there is no sign yet of the teeth growing sharper, "but the time as yet was short."
What does "en regle" mean as Van Helsing uses it?
It is a French phrase meaning "according to the rules" or "properly done." Van Helsing uses it to say their break-in will follow proper procedures so no one will interfere.
What does "sterilize" mean in the context of the earth-boxes?
To make the boxes spiritually unusable for Dracula by placing Sacred Wafer inside — purifying the consecrated earth so the vampire can no longer rest in it.