What do you know about the literary motif of the sympathetic werewolf?

In medieval literature, the werewolf was typically depicted as a monstrous and evil creature, rather than a sympathetic one. However, there are a few examples of sympathetic werewolf characters in medieval literature:

1. 

   Medieval French werewolf running through the 
   countryside.

   Bisclavret: This is a medieval French poem by Marie de France, written in the late 12th century. The protagonist of the story is a werewolf named Bisclavret, who is transformed into a wolf by magic. However, he retains his human intellect and emotions while in wolf form, and is ultimately redeemed by the love of a loyal wife.
   
2. William of Palerne: This is a medieval English romance, written in the early 14th century. The story follows the adventures of a young nobleman named William, who is transformed into a werewolf by a jealous queen. However, William retains his human emotions and intelligence while in wolf form, and eventually finds happiness with his true love.

3. 

   The saga of  theYnglings

   The Saga of the Ynglings: This is a medieval Icelandic saga, written in the 13th century. It tells the story of Sigmund, a legendary hero who is cursed to become a
   werewolf every nine nights. Despite his transformation, Sigmund is depicted as a sympathetic character who retains his heroic qualities and struggles against the curse.

In these examples, the werewolf is not merely a mindless monster, but a complex character with human emotions and a sense of morality.

Are you familiar with the Tale of Melion? Is that related to the sympathetic werewolf theme?

Yes, I am familiar with the "Tale of Melion," which is a medieval romance from the Arthurian tradition that features a werewolf character. While the story is not typically classified as an example of the sympathetic werewolf motif, it does involve some elements that are similar to that theme.

In the "Tale of Melion," the eponymous protagonist is a knight who is transformed into a werewolf after being cursed by a fairy queen whom he has wronged. As a werewolf, Melion is forced to live in the forest and becomes a feared and reviled creature. However, his fortunes change when he encounters a lady named Guenloie, who shows him kindness and compassion despite his monstrous appearance.

Guenloie's love and acceptance of Melion eventually leads to his redemption and transformation back into a human. The story thus features a sympathetic portrayal of the werewolf character, who is able to find love and redemption despite his curse.

While the "Tale of Melion" does not follow the sympathetic werewolf motif as closely as some other stories, it is an interesting example of how the werewolf has been used in medieval literature to explore themes of love, redemption, and transformation.

two fighters, young King Arthur against
a werewolf, locked in combat, muscles tense,
highly detailed woodland scene.

Any King Arthur tales related to the werewolf theme?

While the legend of King Arthur does not typically feature the werewolf as a central theme or character, there is a brief reference to a werewolf in one version of the story. In the medieval Welsh tale "Culhwch and Olwen," which is included in the collection of Welsh stories known as the Mabinogion, King Arthur is said to have encountered a werewolf named Gast Rhymhi.

According to the story, Gast Rhymhi was one of the warriors who was tasked with hunting the legendary boar Twrch Trwyth, but was cursed to become a werewolf when he ate the flesh of a young boy. When King Arthur and his companions encountered Gast Rhymhi in the woods, he was in werewolf form and attacked them. However, Arthur was able to defeat him by cutting off his paw, which caused him to transform back into his human form and flee.

While this is just a brief reference to a werewolf in the King Arthur legend, it is an interesting example of how the werewolf theme has been incorporated into various mythologies and folktales over time.