Views on the Transition of Werewolves in the Medieval Period

Abstract

This paper focuses on the Views on the transition of werewolves in the Medieval period. Today, werewolves are believed to be able to transform with a full moon and hurt humans. However, in the Middle Ages, werewolves in literature, such as Marie de France’s Bisclavret, were always portrayed as victims of injustice, cursed knights, or loyal companions. Although literature and folklore in the Middle Ages showed great sympathy towards werewolves, this view shifted to a darker one in the sixteenth century, marked by the execution of some werewolves, such as Peter Stuber in 1589. Such transitions with potential explanation are included in the paper. </p