magical belt or the skin of a wolf. He or she might also rub a special ointment onto the body, recite a spell, or sometimes both. In most cases a person has to make a pact with the devil before any of these methods will work.
Actor Lon Chaney appears in the 1941 film The Wolf Man. Werewolf legends have fascinated us for centuries.
M
any horror movies show men and women changing into wolves. These frightening creatures, called werewolves, were not invented by Hollywood screenwriters, however. They are based on stories and legends that have been told for thousands of years. Since the earliest recorded times, people have believed that werewolves roam the Earth.
What Is a Werewolf?
In legend, a werewolf is a person who can change back and forth between wolf and human forms. Sometimes he or she does this willingly. For instance, a person might switch forms by wearing a
4
From Man to Beast
5