In popular legend, a werewolf is a human who can shape-shift into a wolf or a hybrid wolf-human form. In many werewolf stories, this transformation occurs at night, often under the influence of a full moon.
Folklore often has roots in real events, fears, or unexplained phenomena, and the legend of the werewolf is no exception. From chilling stories in medieval Europe to strange encounters reported in modern times, history is full of accounts that kept the myth alive.
The werewolf continues to evolve in modern media, often embodying the tension between civilization and wildness. At its core, the werewolf represents the struggle with our animalistic instincts—rage, lust, and violence.
A werewolf (also known as lycanthrope or wolfman) in folklore is a person who shape-shifts into a Gray Wolf or wolf-like creature, either purposely, by using magic, or after being placed under a curse, often at the time of a full moon.