A: Ghoul.
A Ghoul is thought to be a despicable creature who robs graves and feeds off the corpses. Ghouls are a part of ancient Arabic folklore, and it's thought that this is where they were first mentioned. Ghouls are the lowest of the low when referring to the spiritual world. In The Graveyard Book, ghouls are described as "...parasites and scavengers, eaters of carrion" (82). It is also thought that ancient ghouls are the inspiration to today's zombies - both have to eat other beings to survive.
Q: According to The Graveyard Book, what creatures "have hairless wings, and they fly low and fast. They do not visit this world, but they fly the red skies above the road to Ghulheim" (72)?
A: Night-Gaunts
Nightgaunts seem to be good creatures in The Graveyard Book; they help to rescue Bod from the evil ghouls (93). Doing some research on Nightgaunts, I found that they are not always portrayed this way. When they appear in H.P. Lovecraft's Dreamcycle, they are quite terrifying. Lovecraft has said that the nighgaunt was inspired by his childhood nightmares.
Q: Which monster got it's characteristic traits from a famous book written in 1897?
A: The vampire.
Dracula was written by Bram Stroker in 1897. While there were previous myths about creatures that could have been considered vampires, Stroker brought all of the characteristics we now associate with vampires together and created an image of the classic vampire. He is seduces his victims before drinking their blood; he is immortal, but has weaknesses like garlic and crucifixes; he can transform into a bat or sometimes a wolf; and of course, they have fangs that they use to feed on the blood of the living.
Q: What is the general term for a supernatural entity that supposedly possesses energy, yet don't have any material substance?
A: Ghost.
The existence of ghosts has not been proven by science, yet many people still believe in them. Some people think ghosts can be harmful, while others believe they are simply trying to communicate with the living world. They are believed to posses energy, yet they have no physical body. Ghosts are thought to be able to possess humans, and use their bodies as sort of vehicles to communicate. Ghosts are also thought to be responsible for haunting. In The Graveyard Book, we can observe lots of classic traits of ghosts, but the most obvious is that they cannot be seen by most humans.
Q: What is the term for a specific type of spirit that interferes with the human world in malicious and haunting ways?
A: Poltergeist.
A poltergeist is a spirit thought to interact with the human world with the intention of scaring and haunting people. They typically can move objects, make noises, and sometimes even hurt people. Poltergeists are also very ancient creatures, most likely appearing in early myths and legends about demons. There is a a case that supposedly proves poltergeists exist that occurred in England in the 1970s. (I think that is what the movie is based on). A scientist named Vladistav Bukreev claimed to have documented severe poltergeist activity in the home of an English family. He reports broken windows, flying bricks, injuries to the children, and floating objects. The film Poltergeist (1982) is a good example of what is believed about poltergeists.
Q: How was Liza Hempstock (and many other "witches") killed?
A: Drowning.
Liza Hempstock was executed in a way that countless other people accused of witchcraft were during the witch hunts at different points in history. She was dragged from her home because someone accused her of witchcraft, and then put on trial. She was strapped to a stool and forced beneath the water where she eventually "got a lung full of water" and died (110). This was a classic way for the accusers to see if the accused were guilty or not. If the "witch" did not drown, he/she was confirmed as a witch. This is because of their magic and their immunity too baptism (and water, apparently). However, an innocent person would simply drown - thus proving their innocence. Of course, by that time it would be too late to do anything to save them.
Q: What monster is known in The Graveyard Book as the "Hounds of God" and who is a Hound of God in the novel?
A: Werewolves & Miss Lupescu
"Those that men call Werewolves or Lycanthropes call themselves The Hounds of God, as they claim their transformation is a gift from their creator, and they repay the gift with their tenacity, for they will pursue an evildoer to the very gates of Hell" (97). In this book, werewolves are good creatures who protect others and take revenge on evil spirits or people. However, in popular culture, werewolves are evil creatures who will surely eat you if you ever encounter one. They transform from human to werewolf because of a full moon, and they roam the night ravaging people, and sometimes even graves. In Gaiman's story, however, the Hounds of God seem to be the most noble and protective creatures in the supernatural world.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ghoul
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightgaunt
http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/strange-creatures/vampire.htm
http://www.scientificpsychic.com/esp/ghosts-spirits.html
http://www.trueghosttales.com/poltergeist.php
http://www.yourdiscovery.com/best_of/true_horror/witches/index.shtml
http://alam25.tripod.com/index.htm
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