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Bisclavret

Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 11:46 pm
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?

Re: Bisclavret

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 8:06 am
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.