Things That Go Bump in the Night: Creatures of Folklore

A werewolf attacks a child. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

The possibility of chemically induced lycanthropy is interesting as it could explain the belief that a person could turn themselves into a wolf by means of a sort of magic salve. Although modern movies would have us believe that lycanthropy is contagious, caught through a bite, folklore has no such tradition and most werewolves were believed to either have developed the condition naturally or induced it by means of black magic, linking it to witchcraft and Satanic worship. One thing that movies like “the Wolf Man” and “An American Werewolf in London” did get right however was the connection between lycanthropy and paganism; we’ve already seen how Gilles was condemned for eating (human) meat on a Friday and how magic was considered the origin of the curse, but equally conversion to Christianity was considered a cure and exorcisms were frequent occurrences at werewolf trials. So, although today we think of werewolves as similar to vampires, that is to say shape-shifting supernatural monsters, they were more connected to witches and demons in previous centuries.

A brief conclusion

So why do these monstrous creatures, originally so caught up in Christian mythology and very real fears of death, witchcraft and wild animals, still captivate us today? Of course we still fear death and the unknown, and the combination of a fear of pain and a desire for immortality makes them alluring. But to me, part of the appeal is that there really is an element of truth in these macabre legends: an element of truth that not only explains the origins of such legends but actually makes them all the more immediate and frightening. We may not be able at risk from immortal monsters, but real-life vampires, zombies and lycanthropes pose far more of a threat.

Further Reading

Want to find out more about these legends and the truth behind them? For paranormal legends, ghost-stories and grim tales of walking corpses, why not try the Encyclopedia of Ghosts by Daniel Cohen. For a look at the science behind such supernatural stories, Jane Goldman’s X-Files Book of the Unexplained volumes are a great light-hearted and readable foray into a range of such tales, from vampires to UFOs, from serial killers to possession. For more on vampires, my own favourite supernatural subject, Vampires: the Occult Truth by Konstantios is a fascinating combination of ancient legends, modern occultism and vampyr culture as the author discusses not only the folklore and his own occult experiences but also interviews a  number of real blood-drinkers. Or for a more tongue in cheek discourse, try The Vampire Watcher’s Handbook by “Constantine Gregory” which is not ony very fun but beautifully illustrated.