Introduction

There were various astonishing and mysterious myths about monsters back in medieval times, they were described as living creatures with bizarre and unnatural characteristics, usually can be observed by appearance and abilities.

This digital exhibit will discuss that, rather than judging a living creature’s moral identity with its unusual appearance, virtuous attributes are the core of the moral identity of humanity, supported by the chosen monster and passage in Literacy Monster, the three artefacts with their significances and how they related to each other in Artefacts, and overall connections to the bisclavret and the argument in Analysis.

The chosen medieval monster is the bisclavret in Maire de France’s Lais, Bisclavret. The chosen passage lines 160-184 in Bisclavret, demonstrates how self-disciplined and loyal the bisclavret is to his king in daily life, revealing his humanity despite his monstrous appearance (Gilbert lines 160-184). The primary artefact is a miniature of Werewolves of Ossory in Topographia Hibernica illustrating the acknowledgement of the humanity of the two “werewolves” despite their appearance due to their gratitude and sincerity in the priest’s view and his religion (Maschio). The other two secondary artefacts, the prints, Werewolf or the Cannibal and Lycaon Transformed into a Wolf, further illustrate how monstrosity appears on a human-like being contrasts with true humanity(Cranach; The British Museum).