Introduction

Monsters come in all shapes and sizes when observing folklore. Many of them are some variation of humanoid with animal-like features such as the centaur or entirely formed of multiple animals found in the world like the griffon. Yet one of the most interesting monsters to observe is the werewolf, second only to the vampire in modern popularity. Known as a shapeshifting monster, controlled by the moon and threatens to unleash a bloodthirsty rage on unsuspecting bystanders, the modern perception of the werewolf can be viewed as an allegory for suppressed rage and sometimes an allegory for coming of age and times of transition (Otten). Additionally modern folklore would present the werewolf as primarily a hybrid creature of human and wolf that is both stronger and faster than either man or beast. Clearly a nightmarish creature that would properly be considered as a monster to many.