1. Werewolves

2. Questions to answer after you read…
An Introduction to the argument of Lycanthropy
Questions to answer after you read…

3. Questions Intro to Lycanthropy
What was the significance of the Malleus Maleficarum?
What was the view of Satan and his power according to the authors of the Malleus?
What was Reginald Scot’s view of Satan and his power? (include a discussion of human form vs. spirit form)
What was King James’ take on the role/power of Satan?
What was his view of werewolves?
Who was John Darrel?
How did Deacon and Walker explain werewolves?

4. The big question…
The Intro to Lycanthropy sets up our big question about werewolves: are these things real or not??

5. History of the Werewolf
2,000 BC – first literary evidence of werewolves, found in the Epic of Gilgamesh
1020 – first use of the word “werewulf” in recorded English
1486 – Malleus Maleficarum published
1812 – Grimm brothers publish “Little Red Riding Hood”
there were over 30,000 werewolf trials in France alone

6. The Damnable Life and Death of Stubbe Peeter
1589

7. Questions What was this testimonial about?
What is the purpose of the author’s testimonial? Why is he writing it?
How was it believed that Stubbe Peeter became a werewolf?
How was Stubbe caught? What was Stubbe’s punishment? Punishment for daughter and lover?
How much of this story do you believe? What don’t you believe? Why?

9. Jean Grenier

10. Evaluating Jean Grenier, a French Werewolf
With a partner: read the story abstract of Jean Grenier.
Discuss:
What are the similarities you see between the story of Jean Grenier and Stubbe Peeter? Differences?
Which of the categories set out in Cohen’s thesis 4 do we see influencing the fear of werewolves thus far?

11. Werewolf Fears Hyper-sexuality of man
Men simply cannot control themselves
Puberty and the changing teenage body
Fear of the unknown (the woods/forest)
Fear of the lower class (many of those put on trial for werewolves were poor)

12. The Wolf man (1941)

13. The Wolf Man (1941) Released in 1941, Universal Studios
Had a great deal of influence on later werewolves in film
Despite the prior release of “A Werewolf in London”
Began a franchise, in which Lon Chaney continued to play the Wolfman
One of the few monsters that does not have an origin in literature (though a similar idea is seen in the Grimm’s fairy tales)

14. As you watch…
What different folk lore and legend surrounds the Werewolf?
What symbols are used to represent the Werewolf?
What fears are being accessed here?

15. Symbols Gun Wolfsbain Silver Bullet Pentagram
Silver is to werewolf as garlic is to Vampires
Pentagram
Satanic emblem that pointed to the werewolf’s next victim
Movies cemented these ideas for us, and simplified for us the characteristics that made up werewolves

16. Fears
Sexual themes are common, sexual jealousy, uncontainable sexuality
Seductive femme fatale
Cannibalism
“The beast within every man”

17. Case studies

18. Case Studies In groups of 3, read the individual case studies.
Discuss your case studies, looking at patient symptoms, medical history, and any possible causes you believe led to the lycanthropy

19. Case Studies: Surgeon General Warning
Cases of Lycanthropy have been cropping up at an unusually high rate on the Plateau… the surgeon general has commissioned you to create a public service announcement, warning the public about the dangers of Lycanthropy, as well as the possible causes and potential cures.

20. Reflection
Why does it seem that mentally insane people (like our cases), or people with troubled family lives, think they are possessed by the devil or transforming into werewolves?
How does our society handle individuals like them?
Is lycanthropy real?

21. The Lay of the werewolf
Marie de France

22. Discussion Questions
According to the narrator, what is the single aim/purpose of the werewolf?
Who in this story, is the most monstrous? Explain why?
How does Bisclavaret change to and from werewolf form?
How does Bisclavaret differ from the description of werewolves that we are given at the beginning of the story and the unit?
What are the lessons to be learned by this story? Give at least two.

23. The She Wolf
Jackson Pollock

24. The She Wolf
Around the time of Stubbe Peter, 300 women were said to have terrorized the town of Augsburg (Germany)
They attacked men, boys, and cattle and were eventually burned at the stake
The She Wolf has always been seen as a “man eater”

25. She Wolf
How does Shakira’s “She Wolf” represent the myth of the Werewolf for us?
What symbols and imagery does she use to do so?
S-O-S she is in disguise S-O-S she is in disguise There's a she wolf in disguise, Coming out, coming out, coming out
A domesticated girl that's all you ask of me, Darling it is no joke, this is lycanthropy Moon's awake now, with eyes wide open My body is craving, so feed the hungry

26. Evolution of the Werewolf
1940s – 1960s
Cursed and not redeemable
Servants of vampires, lower on the rung of monsters
Solitary creatures
Terrorized the countryside
All about the death, destruction, and chaos they caused

27. Evolution of the Werewolf (cont’d)
More recently the portrayal of werewolves has take a more sympathetic turn
Rise of environmentalism, seen as a representation of a man more allied with nature
Remus Lupin vs Fenrir Greyback
Conservation groups fight for the protection of the beast and the protection of the environment
Tending more towards the introspective anti-hero
“the more civilized we are, the more we need to at least fantasize about not being civilized”

28. Exit Ticket
In the form of a thesis statement, explain why the portrayal of the Werewolf has changed over time.
Things to think about:
How has it changed?
How has society changed?
What is the function of this monster?