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  Comparison of Shapeshifter Myths in Popular Fiction
last update: 10 January 2002

This is a list I've compiled of common shapeshifter myths and how they appear in contemporary fiction. I'm down to three fictional universes here.

If a myth appears here, it means that somewhere, in some legend, movie, piece of fiction, etc. I've seen it (no matter how obscure), even if it doesn't apply to any of my examples. A question mark in place of an entry means that I don't know how or whether the myth applies. An entry with a question mark (?) next to the entry means that I gave it my best guess and an entry with an asterisk (*) indicates that the answer is too complex to put in that tiny little box and I used my best approximation. The list is grouped into subtopics, but is otherwise in no particular order.

If you'd like to be helpful, please do email me with additions or corrections and I'll put them in. (Please mention lycanthropes or myths in the subject header so I'll be sure to notice it.) Go ahead, argue with me, I'm nothing like infallible - I could easily be wrong. Also, at this stage of development, I'd love to hear about myths and legends I don't have listed yet, or any mainstream fictional universes I could use (I think this page needs just one more).

My examples are as follows: 

WoD - The "World of Darkness" 
from the Storyteller(tm) line of products published by White Wolf, 
BtVS - Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 
a television show currently on the WB network Tuesdays at 8pm.. 
AB - Anita Blake, 
a series of novels by Laurel K. Hamilton. 

I've been using the terms "shapeshifter", "were" and "lycanthrope" more or less at random while this is in draft form. I haven't settled on a preferred term yet. For those who care, "therianthrope" is another term some people use, and the World of Darkness folks tend to use "Garou" (which is half of loup-garou - the French word for werewolf).
 
  Myth
WoD
BtVS
AB
General      
  Lycanthropes are inherently evil No No *No
  Lycanthropy can be cured No No No
 
Identifying features		 WoD
BtVS
AB
  Weres have physical animal traits when in human form (e.g. extra hair, fangs, etc) *No No *No
  Weres have behavioral animal traits when in human form No No Yes
  Weres develo animal traits when angered or stressed in human form No No Yes
 
You become a shapeshifter by ...		 WoD
BtVS
AB
  ... being bitten or scratched by one No Yes *Yes
  The bite or scratch always transfers lycanthropy (i.e. 100% contagious) n/a No No
  The bite or scratch must come from the animal form to transfer lycanthropy n/a No Yes
  ... being born to into a family of weres (where all family members are weres) *No No No
  ... being born to into a family of weres (where only certain family members are weres) Yes No No
  Inherited lycanthropy runs along gender lines (i.e. only males or only females will become weres) No n/a n/a
  ... taking and wearing the skin of an animal (or were) *No No *some-times
  ... participating in some sort of ritual Rarely No maybe
  ... channeling an animal spirit No No No
  ... being the victim of an explicit curse No No Rarely
  ... wearing a magical talisman made of moonstone No No No
  ... being indirectly exposed to a cause of lyncanthropy (e.g. a bad batch of vaccine if lycanthropy is a disease) No No Yes
 
Killing/Hurting Weres		 WoD
BtVS
AB
  A were cannot be permanently harmed by mundane means Yes ? Yes?
  Weres suffer more than usual damage from silver Yes Yes? Yes
  Weres can only be harmed by silver (or specific magic) No No Yes
  Lycanthropes return to their original form upon death Yes No Yes?
  Lycanthropes return to their original form upon unconsciousness Yes No Yes?
  An injury in one form remains in either form Yes Yes Yes
  An injury in one form is completely healed upon transformation No No No
  An injury in one form is lessened upon transformation *No no info No
  An injury in one form does not appear in the other form, but is still there after the next transformation back No No No
  One form can be killed (and no longer be used), but the remaining form (or forms) can survive. No No No
  A shapeshifter can only be killed in his/her original form. No No No
  A were will eventually heal completely (scarring but no impairment counts) from anything short of death. Yes no info Yes
  A were will eventually heal from anything short of losing a limb. *Yes no info n/a
  Weres are highly resistant to poison/disease. Yes no info Yes
 
The Moon		 WoD
BtVS
AB
  Weres are called to transform by the full moon No Yes Yes
  Weres are compelled to transform by the full moon Very Rarely Yes *Yes
  Were's are compelled to transform by exposure to the full moon's light (i.e. they can hide from the transformation). No No No
  Older/more powerful weres can resist the moon (if applicable) n/a no info Yes
  Weres are affected by lunar phases *slightly Yes Yes
  The moon's got nothing to do with it No No No
 
Transformation		      
  The were can transform at will under any circumstances Yes No Yes
  The were can transform at will under special circumstances (e.g. nighttime during a full moon or while in possession of a certain object) n/a No n/a
  The were can influence but not always control the transformation n/a some
times		 Yes
  The were never has control over the timing or duration of the transformation No usually some
times
  The transformation can only occur under certain circumstances (e.g. during a full moon) n/a Yes n/a
  The transformation must occur under certain circumstances (e.g. the rise of the full moon, strong emotion or sexual arousal) n/a Yes *Yes
  Once transformed (usually in the wolf-man variant) the were never returns to the original form No No No
 
The were form		 WoD
BtVS
AB
  The alternate form is always a lupine (wolf). *Usually Yes No
  The alternate form is half-human, half-animal (e.g. the classic "wolf-man" form) *some
times		 Yes No
  The alternate form is fully animal *Usually No Yes
  The were can have more than one alternate form No No *No
  The were can choose between a half-animal form or a fully animal form. Yes No *No
  The were can pause at (and function at) various stages of transformation (i.e. animal eyes only, half form, quarter form...). *Yes No not
well
  The were can transform into a non-animal shape (e.g. mist or inanimate objects). Rarely No No
  The were can resist or reverse a transformation in process. Yes No Yes
 
Sentience		 WoD
BtVS
AB
  The alternate form is feral (that is, violent and aggressive with diminished reasoning capacity) *No Yes Yes?
  The alternate form has the mind of an animal *No No Yes?
  The alternate form retains human or humanlike reasoning ability Yes No No?
 
Supernatural Abilities		 WoD
BtVS
AB
  The were can access supernatural abilities while in human form Some No Yes
  The were can access animal traits while in human form (e.g. enhanced senses). No? Yes Yes
  Damage resistance, superhuman strength, speed, and fast healing All All All
  Superhuman perception Some Yes Yes
  Telepathy Some No No
  Telepathy (with other weres only) No No No
 
Social Structure		 WoD
BtVS
AB
  Weres are lone hunters and are territorial against other weres *No presumably No
  Weres grou themselves along a pack structure *Yes No Yes
  Weres grou themselves along a pack structure even when their animal forms are not pack animals No n/a Yes
  Weres with different animal forms can be in the same pack Very Rarely n/a No
  Weres with different animal forms (e.g. werewolves and weretigers) get along well *No n/a Usually
 
Weres and other Supernatural Beings		 WoD
BtVS
AB
  Weres despise vampires and hunt them when the opportunity arises *Yes n/a No
  Weres consider vampires as competition but have no general hatred No Yes? No
  Weres and vampires are allies Rarely No some
times 
  Weres maintain alliances with nature sprits Yes n/a some
times
 
Thanks to the following people for their feedback:
 
  • Jerome Pelletier
  • Sauron
  • Cassie Kamenitsa
  • John Neitzey
  • "Oceanbreeze"
  • Jennifer Walsh
  • demonrider
  • Raven
  • SeaJoe
  • Avangyline
  • Kristian Wichmann
  • Jacob Punke
  • CHASEStheSHORE
  • Marri75
 
  Go to S A Rudy's Simple Yet Functional Homepage to find out about me and to find links to other pages I've done.
 
 
This page is entirely the fault of S A Rudy, and she's not at all sorry.
last update: 10-Jan-02