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.

Little Red Riding Hood Movies

What movies do you know that are based on Little Red Riding Hood? Describe each one.

There are several movies that are based on the classic fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood". Here are a few examples:

"Red Riding Hood" (2011) - This movie is a dark fantasy horror film directed by Catherine Hardwicke. It stars Amanda Seyfried as Valerie, a young woman who lives in a medieval village that is plagued by a werewolf. When Valerie's sister is killed by the werewolf, she teams up with a young man named Peter (Shiloh Fernandez) to try and hunt down the beast.

"Hoodwinked!" (2005) - This is an animated comedy film directed by Cory Edwards. The movie tells the story of Little Red Riding Hood's encounter with the Big Bad Wolf from several different perspectives, including those of the Wolf, the Granny, the Woodsman, and of course, Little Red herself. The movie features the voices of Anne Hathaway, Glenn Close, and Patrick Warburton.

"Freeway" (1996) - This movie is a modern-day retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood story, set in Southern California. It stars Reese Witherspoon as Vanessa Lutz, a troubled young woman who is forced to hitchhike to her grandmother's house after her mother is arrested. Along the way, she meets a serial killer named Bob Wolverton (Kiefer Sutherland), who is masquerading as a psychologist. The movie is a dark, gritty thriller that explores themes of abuse and survival.  -Great movie BTW

"Into the Woods" (2014) - This is a musical fantasy film directed by Rob Marshall. The movie is based on a Broadway musical of the same name and features several classic fairy tale characters, including Little Red Riding Hood (played by Lilla Crawford). The movie follows the characters as they venture into the woods to try and fulfill their wishes, but soon realize that everything comes with a price.

"The Company of Wolves" (1984) - This is a British horror film directed by Neil Jordan. The movie is a surreal, dreamlike interpretation of the Little Red Riding Hood story, in which a young girl named Rosaleen (Sarah Patterson) dreams that she is living in a medieval village that is terrorized by wolves. The movie explores themes of sexuality and the transition from childhood to adulthood.

Little Red Riding Hood walking through the woods, wood carving.

Each of these movies puts its own spin on the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood, offering a unique perspective on the story and its themes.