Bisclavret

The place to talk about where a lot of things started. Stories and history, references, etc.
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Kelpten
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Bisclavret

Post by Kelpten »

Guess what! You know how we all assumed (at least I did) that the middle ages were filled with nothing but negative publicity for the werewolf? Well it turns out that Marie de France wrote about a good werewolf way back in the 12th century! You can read a synopsis of the story at Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisclavret

I always thought that the concept of a good werewolf was a recent invention. Yes, other cultures have had benevolent shapeshifters, but not in most Western mythology. The werewolf isn’t even under a curse. He’s a wolf that retains his human intellect and nobility and shapeshifts at will (so long as he retains access to his clothes). What do you guys think? Amazing or what?
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alphanubilus
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Re: Bisclavret

Post by alphanubilus »

Bisclavret isn't the only story in the 12th century that featured a good werewolf...

There is also King Aurther and Gorlagon, Melion, and Guillueme De Parlne...

"Metemorphises of the Werewolf" by Leslie Sconduto is a great resource for studying these tails as well as the ancient ones.
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