Werewolf Illness
Alex Grimes
Dr. Chewning
ENG 102-021
March 8, 2012
Paper #2: Revision The myth behind being a werewolf has been mangled throughout many decades in the many pop-culture novels printed into this world. Certain popular works that seemingly misconstrue the concept of what a werewolf really is would be the Harry Potter film and novel series by J.K. Rowling, as well as the poem Bisclavret by Marie de France. Werewolves are a prime example of the heart of mythology and should be added to the list of untouchables, along with vampires, and phoenixes. “The concept of werewolves is derived from the stories of the ancient Greeks, from the mythological story of Lycaon. In Greek mythology Lycaon is depicted as the king of Arcadia, and during the time of the ancient Greeks, known wide and far for his cruelty. By trying to buy a favor from the Greek god Zeus, with the flesh of a young child as payment, Zeus was disgusted and punished Lycaon for his crime by turning him into a wolf. “The conventional werewolf, the kind that is is spoken of in legend and folklore, is a man who is transformed, or who transforms himself, into a wolf in nature and appearance while veiled in the full moon’s glow. All the traits gained after being turned werewolf are forfeited once the full moon’s glow has ceased for the day and the sun has risen Werewolves nourish themselves primarily on meat, primarily infants and recently deceased corpses, but just as much they would feast on living prey of any age” (Lindemans 2012). There aren’t many item/weapons that can harm a werewolf, “though what does serve as lethal to them are (what can kill them) are silver objects such as silver arrows and silver bullets” (Lindemans 2012). In J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, her version of a werewolf portrays many similarities and differences to that of a conventional werewolf. They are similar in regards to transformation; both “transform immediately after having being bathed in moonlight into a
Dr. Chewning
ENG 102-021
March 8, 2012
Paper #2: Revision The myth behind being a werewolf has been mangled throughout many decades in the many pop-culture novels printed into this world. Certain popular works that seemingly misconstrue the concept of what a werewolf really is would be the Harry Potter film and novel series by J.K. Rowling, as well as the poem Bisclavret by Marie de France. Werewolves are a prime example of the heart of mythology and should be added to the list of untouchables, along with vampires, and phoenixes. “The concept of werewolves is derived from the stories of the ancient Greeks, from the mythological story of Lycaon. In Greek mythology Lycaon is depicted as the king of Arcadia, and during the time of the ancient Greeks, known wide and far for his cruelty. By trying to buy a favor from the Greek god Zeus, with the flesh of a young child as payment, Zeus was disgusted and punished Lycaon for his crime by turning him into a wolf. “The conventional werewolf, the kind that is is spoken of in legend and folklore, is a man who is transformed, or who transforms himself, into a wolf in nature and appearance while veiled in the full moon’s glow. All the traits gained after being turned werewolf are forfeited once the full moon’s glow has ceased for the day and the sun has risen Werewolves nourish themselves primarily on meat, primarily infants and recently deceased corpses, but just as much they would feast on living prey of any age” (Lindemans 2012). There aren’t many item/weapons that can harm a werewolf, “though what does serve as lethal to them are (what can kill them) are silver objects such as silver arrows and silver bullets” (Lindemans 2012). In J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, her version of a werewolf portrays many similarities and differences to that of a conventional werewolf. They are similar in regards to transformation; both “transform immediately after having being bathed in moonlight into a
Cited: Marie De France. “Bisclavret.” University of Florida. UF. 6 March. 2012. Web. 6 March 2012. Lindemans, Micha F. “Werewolf.” Encyclopedia Mythica. (No Sponsor). 27 March. 2002. Web. 7 March 2012. Rowling, Joanne. “Werewolf.” Harry Potter Wiki. (No Sponsor). 8 March. 2012. Web. 8 March 2012.