History Literature / TheWerewolf1890

* AnAxeToGrind: White Fell's signature weapon in human form is a small axe she wields with equal amounts ferocity as grace.

* AdultFear: For all that White Fell is a werewolf, her true threat lies in the charm with which she hides her lethal intentions, emphasized by the fact that she marks her victims by kissing them. She is furthermore a stealthy murderer, stalking her prey until they are alone and leaving not one clue for family and friends to even begin guessing what happened to their loved ones.

"The Were-Wolf" is one of several works in the course of the 19th Century that draw inspiration from "Literature/TheWhiteWolfOfTheHartzMountains". Specifically, both stories feature a white-furred female werewolf who uses her human form to access her victims and whose human enabler is guilty of domestic abuse. Following the positive reception of the 1896 publication of "The Were-Wolf", Clemence Housman went on to write "The Unknown Sea", a mermaid-centric piece with thematic similarities to "The Were-Wolf", the most blatant of which being that the male lead is also called Christian.

* MustBeInvited: There is one detail to White Fell's modus operandi that suggests she needs her victims' permission and another one which meaning is unclear. White Fell marks her victims by kissing them, but of the three of them that have the kiss described, it's the victim that kisses White Fell first. And before White Fell ever sets foot inside the homestead, the residents are creeped out thrice by a visitor at the door that isn't there when the door is opened. The identities of the three visitors and their order match White Fell's victims, but whether the visitors are a warning by an unknown party or part of White Fell's hunting claim and the door being opened for them what allows her access to her victims is unclear.

"The Were-Wolf" is a ShortStory written by Clemence Housman for inclusion in Volume IV of ''Atalanta'', a British magazine for girls, which left print in December of 1890. The text was accompanied by six illustrations by Everard Hopkins that emphasized the story's [[UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}} Christian]] elements and the werewolf's unfeminine threat. For half a decade, the ''Atalanta'' publication was all "The Were-Wolf" existed as. Yet in 1895, Clemence Housman came in contact with The Bodley Head through her brother Laurence, who worked for the company as a designer and illustrator. Under The Bodley Head, "The Were-Wolf" was republished in book form in January of 1896, reaching a new and wider audience than before. For the book version, Laurence produced six illustrations of his own to replace those of Hopkins. This second set favors the two main characters, Christian and White Fell, as well as the juxtaposition that exists between them.

One winter evening in Ireland, just over a three-mile radius from Cairn Hill, the residents of a farmstead are surprised by a huntress seeking shelter. She introduces herself as White Fell and she is welcomed by all except for Christian. He recognizes White Fell as being a werewolf, but as is can't do anything. White Fell bonds with the young Rol, but disappears ere midnight strikes. Days later, Rol goes missing in the woods with not even a corpse left to grieve over. White Fell resurfaces thereafter and during her second visit bonds with the elderly Trella. Christian tries to protect the family by throwing holy water at White Fell, but she dodges and leaves hastily. This attack in particular draws the ire of Christian's twin brother Sweyn, who fancies White Fell and doesn't want Christian's superstition to poison White Fell's standing at the farm. Still again, days later Trella goes missing just as Rol did. Returning from a hunt one night, Christian witnesses a kiss between Sweyn and White Fell and realizes his brother is next. Intent on keeping Sweyn safe, Christian goes after White Fell, but finds himself unwilling to kill her as a woman. What follows is a three-hour chase until midnight, when White Fell is to turn back into a wolf. White Fell injures Christian badly, but doesn't go for the kill until the cusp of midnight. Neither of them survives this final attack, because Christian's blood spilled for Sweyn's sake puts holy water to shame when it lands on White Fell. The next day, Sweyn discovers the dual tracks in the snow and follows them to his brother's frozen corpse and that of a giant white wolf where White Fell's prints end. He has a breakdown upon realizing that Christian had been truthful and died protecting him, and with no better amends to make, he lifts Christian's corpse on his shoulders and begins the journey back home.

* DueToTheDead: As the only thing Sweyn can do to repay Christian for his salvation, he takes his corpse home with him through the winter night over a distance that prior took him from dawn to dusk when he was well-rested and did not have a corpse to carry. Everard Hopkins contrasts the respect from human to divine human in one illustration to an illustration of White Fell's monstrous wolf corpse surrounded by the pack of normal wolves from earlier with the implication it'll be consumed.

* DePower: A method brought up on how to break a werewolf's power is to witness their obligatory change to wolf form at midnight. If seen by human eye during the transformation, they no longer have access to their human form. The method is never put to the test, but there's some implication that de-powering White Fell is Christian's backup plan if he fails to kill her at midnight.

* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: As a werewolf of unknown origin, White Fell may take human form by day but must resume wolf form at midnight. It isn't confirmed that she needs the fur cloak for which she is named to become a wolf, but she is never not dressed in it. It is suggested but not confirmed that if a human witnesses the transformation a werewolf gets locked in wolf form permanently. To kill a werewolf, their paws or feet and hands need to be sprinkled with holy water, though as it turns out blood sacrificed to save another works even better. Normal wolves are as afraid of werewolves as humans are, with the added benefit that unlike humans (experienced) animals can spot a werewolf at a glance. White Fell mentions that "White Fell" is not her true name, which remains unrevealed because it supposedly sounds off-putting in (Irish) English. White Fell also mentions having a meeting with another party, apparently also a hunter or hunting group, at Cairn Hill at night and that she's awaiting the sound of a sea-horn as her signal, but whether this is truth or a lie to excuse her leave before midnight is left ambiguous.
* PolarOppositeTwins: Sweyn and Christian are two of the finest men the region has to offer, but Sweyn is so all-around superior and more masculine that his brother that Christian's accomplishments don't draw the admiration they would've if Sweyn hadn't been around. Christian is also far more empathic and believes in the supernatural, while Sweyn is selfish and abhors superstition.

* GreenEyedMonster: Sweyn accuses Christian of being in love with White Fell too and jealous that she does not return the interest while Sweyn lays on the charm with success. He does not actually believe his own accusation, but it gives him something grounded to hold onto in the face of Christian's airy insistence that White Fell is a werewolf. When Christian becomes upset that Sweyn and White Fell kissed, Sweyn is almost relieved that his accusation seems to be true after all. And when the next day he discovers Christian's and White Fell's tracks in the snow, his conclusion before learning the truth is that Christian hunted her down and killed her for rejecting him.

One winter evening in Ireland, just over a three-mile radius from Cairn Hill, the residents of a farmstead are surprised by a huntress seeking shelter. She introduces herself as White Fell and she is welcomed by all except for Christian. He recognizes White Fell as being a werewolf, but as is can't do anything. White Fell bonds with the young Rol, but disappears ere midnight strikes. Days later, Rol goes missing in the woods with not even a corpse left to grieve over. White Fell resurfaces thereafter and during her second visit bonds with the elderly Trella. Christian tries to protect the family by throwing holy water at White Fell, but she dodges and leaves hastily. This attack in particular draws the ire of Christian's twin brother Sweyn, who fancies White Fell and doesn't want Christian's superstition to poison White Fell's standing at the farm. Still again, days later Trella goes missing just as Rol did. Returning from a hunt one night, Christian witnesses a kiss between Sweyn and White Fell and realizes his brother is next. Intent on keeping Sweyn safe, Christian goes after White Fell, but finds himself unwilling to kill her as a woman. What follows is a three-hour chase until midnight, when White Fell is to turn back into a wolf. White Fell injures Christian badly, but doesn't go for the kill until the cusp of midnight. Neither of them survives this final attack, Christian's blood spilled for Sweyn's sake puts holy water to shame when it lands on White Fell. The next day, Sweyn discovers the dual tracks in the snow and follows them to his brother's frozen corpse and that of a giant white wolf where White Fell's prints end. He has a breakdown upon realizing that Christian had been truthful and died protecting him, and with no better amends to make, he lifts Christian's corpse on his shoulders and begins the journey back home.

[[caption-width-right:350:]]

"The Were-Wolf" is one of several works in the course of the 19th Century that draw inspiration from "Literature/TheWhiteWolfOfTheHartzMountains". Specifically, both stories feature a white-furred female werewolf who uses her human form to access her victims and whose human enabler is guilty of domestic abuse. Following the positive reception of the 1896 publication of "The Were-Wolf", Clemence Housman went on to write "The Unknown Sea", a mermaid-centric short story with thematic similarities to "The Were-Wolf", the most blatant of which that the male lead is also called Christian.

"The Were-Wolf" is a ShortStory written by Clemence Housman for publication in ''Atalanta'', a British magazine for girls. Its inclusion occurred in Volume IV, which left print in December of 1890. At the time, it was accompanied by six illustrations by Everard Hopkins that emphasized the story's Christian elements and the werewolf's unfeminine threat. For half a decade, the ''Atalanta'' publication was all "The Were-Wolf" got. In 1895, Clemence Housman came in contact with The Bodley Head through her brother Laurence, who worked for the company as a designer and illustrator. Under The Bodley Head, "The Were-Wolf" was republished in book form in January of 1896, reaching a wider audience than before. For the book version, Laurence produced six illustrations of his own to replace those of Hopkins. This second set favors not only the two main characters but also the juxtaposition inevitable from depicting them together.

"The Were-Wolf" is part of a minor tradition in werewolf literature in the second half of the 19th Century started by "Literature/TheWhiteWolfOfTheHartzMountains", namely that of a female werewolf with white fur. Housman followed the 1896 publication of "The Were-Wolf" up with the 1898 publication of "The Unknown Sea", which has thematic similarities, not in the least that the male lead is also called Christian.

* {{Bookends}}: The first illustration of Everard Hopkins is a historiated initial. It's the image of Christian when he discovers the werewolf's tracks with a "T" glowing in his shadow to serve as the first letter of the opening "The". The final illustration depicts Sweyn carrying Christian while he's frozen solid in a crucified pose. This time, there's a "✝" glowing behind Christian, which symbolizes his spiritual ascension.

* WouldntHitAGirl: The whole reason Christian doesn't attack White Fell but chases her for three hours up to midnight through the snow is because he wants her to have the form of a wolf when he kills her and not that of a woman. He acknowledges that his inability to hurt a woman whom he knows is A.) not actually a woman, and B.) a filthy murderer is a flaw in his character.
* WouldHurtAChild: White Fell not only murders Rol, the youngest resident at the farm, who expresses nothing but admiration for her, he also is the very first one she targets.

"The Were-Wolf" is a ShortStory written by Clemence Housman. Its original publication occurred in December of 1890 in Volume IV of ''Atalanta'', a British magazine for girls. At the time, it was accompanied by six illustrations by Everard Hopkins. With support from her brother, Laurence Housman, Clemence got the opportunity to republish "The Were-Wolf" in book form in January of 1896. Publication and distribution were handled by The Bodley Head, where Laurence worked as an illustrator. He also created a new set of six illustrations for "The Were-Wolf".

%%* PolarOppositeTwins:

%%* SavageWolves:

%%* MiddleOfNowhereStreet:

%%* MustBeInvited:
%%* MyGodWhatHaveIDone:

%%* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent:

* RuleOfThree: Three spirit visitors come by the farmstead to seek entrance with the phrase "Open, open; let me in!" The terrified residents leave answering the door to Sweyn, who finds no trace there ever was someone on the other side each time. The first visitor has the voice and soft knocking of a child while the latch rattles as if he person outside barely reaches up to it. The second visitor's voice is old, their tread sounds feeble, and the tapping on the door appears to be made with a walking cane. The third visitor is the only one with a specified gender, as his is the forceful voice of a man in his prime whose strength rattles the door. As White Fell's hunt commences, it becomes clear that these three voices represent the identities and order of her victims. The first to die is Rol, the youngest of the household. The second is Trella, the oldest of the household. Sweyn, as the protector of the household, is the intended third victim. However, he is spared because his twin brother Christian steps up as Sweyn's protector and effectively takes his place.

* FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon: The social favor White Fell enjoys among humans is largely due to her beauty that obscures her off demeanor, a folly on their part that is highlighted by the line about how Rol approaches her with "a child's full confidence in the kindness of beauty". The truth is that she is a werewolf out for victims, whom she marks by kissing them.
* HolyWater: During White Fell's first visit, Sweyn mockingly mentions that sprinkling a werewolf's hands and feet with holy water will kill them. During her second visit, Christian rushes out to the church almost three leagues away to fetch holy water. When he returns his hesitation allows White Fell to escape the house before he can hit her with the water and he hits the door instead. Despite his understanding that White Fell will be back, he does not get any more holy water, but this is not an issue when White Fell slashes his neck and his blood spills onto he feet. His blood, spilled in an attempt to save his brother, is even better than holy water for killing werewolves.

%%* KissOfDeath:
%%* MessianicArchetype:
%%* MaliciousMisnaming:

* BloodMagic: Christian knows that holy water will work against White Fell, but the one time he gets his hands on some she dodges his attempt to hit her with it. He has none with him during their final confrontation, but this proves irrelevant when White Fell hits him in the neck with her axe to be rid of him, causing his blood to come gushing out and land on her. To the surprise of the both of them, blood spilled in an act of self-sacrifice is even more potent than holy water. As a result, Christian gets to see White Fell perish before he falls dead himself in peace.

%%* FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon:

%%* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter:

%%* DueToTheDead:

%%* AnAxeToGrind:

%%* TheHunterBecomesTheHunted:

%%* MirrorCharacter:

* DehumanizingInsult: Christian knows White Fell's name and that she's a werewolf, but he pointedly never refers to her by name and only uses "werewolf" for her when it's imperative to specify the danger to the household. Most often, he refers to her as the Thing, of which thrice as the Fell Thing.

%%* WeakerTwinSavesTheDay:

* AmbiguousSituation: Before White Fell enters the farm hall, thrice a spirit visitor knocks on the door begging to be let in. The door is opened for all three only for no one and nothing to be there, not even footprints in the snow. The first visitor has the knocking and voice of a child, the second of an elder, and the third of a man in his prime. This matches with the identities and order of White Fell's (intended) victims: young Rol, old Trella, and strong Sweyn. It is left open to interpretation whether these spirit visitors warn of the doom to befall the household or if by opening the door for them White Fell's claim is let in. Following from this, it is possible White Fell's hunt was fulfilled by her murder of Sweyn's twin Christian and while she perished too, it is suggested she's not operating alone due to her nightly meetings at Cairn Hill. In fact, it's technically not confirmed

%%* AdultFear:
%%* AngstySurvivingTwin:

* AmbiguousSituation: Before White Fell enters the farm hall, thrice a spirit visitor knocks on the door begging to be let in. The door is opened for all three only for no one and nothing to be there, not even footprints in the snow. The first visitor has the knocking and voice of a child, the second of an elder, and the third of a man in his prime. This matches with the identities and order of White Fell's (intended) victims: young Rol, old Trella, and strong Sweyn. It is left open to interpretation whether these spirit visitors warn of the doom to befall the household or if by opening the door for them White Fell's claim is let in. Following from this, it is possible White Fell's hunt was fulfilled by her murder of Sweyn's twin Christian and while she perished too, it is suggested she's not operating alone due to her nightly meetings at Cairn Hill.

"The Were-Wolf" is part of a minor tradition in werewolf literature in the second half of the 19th Century started by "Literature/TheWhiteWolfOfTheHartzMountains", namely that of a female werewolf with white fur.

* {{Bookends}}: The first illustration of Everard Hopkins is a historiated initial. It's the image of Christian when he discovers the werewolf's tracks with a "T" glowing in his shadow to serve as the first letter of the opening "The". The final illustration depicts Sweyn carrying Christian while he's frozen solid in a Jesus-on-the-cross position. This time, there's a "✝" glowing behind Christian, which symbolizes his spiritual ascension.

%%* HolyWater:

%%* SacredHospitality:

* {{Bookends}}: The first illustration of Everard Hopkins is a historiated initial. It's the image of Christian when he discovers the werewolf's tracks with a "T" glowing in his shadow to serve as the first letter of the opening "the". The final illustration depicts Sweyn carrying Christian while he's frozen solid in a Jesus-on-the-cross position. This time, there's a "✝" glowing behind Christian, which symbolizes his spiritual ascension.

%%* AmazonChaser:

%%* BloodMagic:

%%* DePower:

* MysteriousAnimalSenses: All of the animals in the story are canines: the old wolf-hound Tyr, an unnamed puppy that's Rol's companion, and a pack of wolves. The puppy has no remarkable reaction to White Fell, but both Tyr and the wolves can tell that White Fell is bad news.
%%* NowThatsUsingYourTeeth: