Animal+Transformations+in+Traditional+and+Children's+Literautre

Kristen Sherwood (Phoenix_Flame) Daniel Soulliere Charles Spradlin Kayla VanOrder
 * WGroup Members:**


 * Starting Points to Consider:**
 * What is a werewolf? What are the origins of the werewolf? (The lunacy/moon connection, for example.) How does one become a werewolf and what happens as one transforms? What are some ways a werewolf can be killed?


 * What are some of the underlying fears (think psychological analysis) of werewolves? What is the significance behind the transformation—what does it mean about one’s true “inner self”?


 * Where can you find werewolves in modern texts, films, music, pop culture?


 * What other kinds of animal transformation are common in literature (for children, such as fairy tales, but also teens and adults)?


 * Which characters are werewolves in Harry Potter? How are they treated, and how do they treat others? What allusions are there to prejudice and discrimination regarding the werewolf character(s)?

> one of the simplest being the removal of clothing and putting on a belt made of wolfskin, probably as a substitute for the assumption of an entire animal skin (which also is frequently described). In other cases, the body is rubbed with a magic salve To drink rainwater out of the footprint of the animal in question or to drink from certain enchanted streams were also considered effectual modes of accomplishing metamorphosis. The 16th century Swedish writer Olaus Magnus says that the Livonia werewolves were initiated by draining a cup of specially prepared beer and repeating a set formula. This is only a few ways said to be able to transform a person. > ([|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werewolf#Becoming_a_werewolf])
 * The are several ways used in fiction to become a werewolf, the classic idea is that the only way to become one is to be bitten by one. Once bitten the curse spreads through your body eventually taking it over and every full moon you will transform into the beast of legend however this idea is more of a recent fictionalization and does not exist in the origins of the myth. According to more ancient details of the myth other ways to become a werewolf are,In Italy, France and Germany, it was said that a man or woman could turn into a werewolf if he or she, on a certain Wednesday or Friday, slept outside on a summer night with the full moon shining directly on his face
 * Werewolves have been around for a long time a so there many legends of how they transform. One of the main ones is that they are normal humans and they turn into "wolf-like" creatures on full moons. A person becomes a werewolf when they are by another one but they have to be in their werewolf form. They are slightly different from real wolves and it is said that they can be distinguished from them quite easliy. After transforming they can not control their actions and can become harmful to anyone they come in contact with. (Oswa Maryam, 2010)
 * In the wizarding world nothing has ever been discovered to cure a person after being bitten. There is a potion however, that enables them to maintain their human mind while in wolf form and in using this they may be able to not harm others. (Oswa Maryam, 2010)


 * [[image:Lupin-boggart.jpg width="375" height="286"]]
 * Remus Lupin is a closet werewolf while teaching at Hogwarts. This moon-shaped boggart gives us a glimpse of what he really is. While his secret is kept, he doesn't have any problems with students and is actually pretty well-liked for his active lessons. His peers accept him and Professor Snape even makes him a complicated potion that allows him to keep his right mind about him during transformation, which renders him harmless. However, Snape is prejudiced and wants Lupin's true nature outed and gives the students plenty of clues, however, the only one who manages to figure this out is Hermione. Once the school knows Lupin's actually a werewolf, he resigns, knowing that he won't be allowed to teach anymore because people are prejudiced against his kind and think he's too dangerous to teach children. Most of the wizarding community thinks of werewolves as savages that are unable to control themselves. It's obvious Lupin himself is all too aware of this stereotype because of the guilt he feels in having a child with his wife Tonks, a child that he feels will face discrimination because of what his father is. (Rowling) (Werewolf characters and prejudice 9/12/2011-Phoenix_Flame)
 * [[image:greyback.jpg width="265" height="348"]]
 * Fenrir Greyback is another prominent werewolf in the Harry Potter series. Unlike Lupin, Greyback is very much a villain and likes nothing more then to feast on humans and change them to be like himself. His allegiance can be bought, and he functions as a type of mercenary for Voldemort in the later books. He hates wizarding kind and specializes in biting magical children young and raising them to align with his way of thinking so that eventually they can rule. He was the one that infected Lupin with the lycanthropy virus and maimed Bill Weasley. (Rowling) (Werewolf characters and prejudice 9/12/2011-Phoenix_Flame)

Works Cited:

[]
 * Rowling, J. K., and Mary GrandPré. //Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows//. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine, 2007. Print.
 * Rowling, J. K., and Mary GrandPré. //Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban//. New York: Scholastic, 2001. Print.
 * Brandi L. Morris, Thomas Abrahamsson and helpful assistants and moderators, owned by the Elfwood corporation.
 * Ray Frenden,February 27th, 2009. []
 * Oswa Maryam, August 28, 2010. []