WereWolf
Werewolves which are also known as “lycanthrope’s” continue to endure in the fiction of today’s modern culture. The werewolf is often shown as a figure of horror in books and movies. The lore of the werewolf is usually associated around European folklore although through out the years its lore has spread. Werewolves are usually considered to be folkloric humans with an ability to shape shift into wolf like creatures. Most believe that these werewolves would be in human form during the day and transform into the wolf like creature during the night time. This transformation is usually associated with a full moon.
There were many legends and beliefs as to how a person would become a werewolf. Some believed that you could become a werewolf by drinking water from a werewolves paw print , being born the seventh son , by being cursed , or by actually being bitten by another werewolf. There were also many beliefs as to how to determine if a person was a werewolf like hair found in a cut or wound , curved fingernails , eyebrows that met over the nose, low set ears , a swinging stride when walking, and even bristly hair under a persons tongue.
There were also many beliefs as to methods of killing werewolves. One of the most popular ways in the modern day era is that of silver - most notably the silver bullet. In early centuries silver in other forms such as stakes , mountain ash , and even rye were thought to be effective ways to kill and even cure a person of the werewolf traits. Surgery and exorcism were also at one time thought to be effective measures to rid the werewolf trait from infected people although many times the surgical methods were deadly to the patient.
With man having a fear of wolves far far back into history it is likely that the werewolf will remain a big part of folklore in years to come. The idea and legend of a man half human and half wolf like creature having extra-human strength and cunning will always remain a fearsome foe.
“The Search Never Ends” - Monsters and Myths
