"The Werewolf"

1. What tool does the grandchild take with her to visit her
grandmother?
2. What does the grandchild discover when she reaches
grandmother's house?

"The Werewolf" By Angela Carter

Biography of Angela Carter
Born in England in 1943
Attended the University of Bristol
Interested in re-interpreting folk tales for modern times
explores themes of gothic and horror, and wants to
challenge readers' expectations of how men and women
are "supposed" to act in these stories
books include The Bloody Chamber in 1979
Questions about traditional folk tales (copy)
1. What is the P.O.V. in traditional folk tales?
third person omniscient "and they lived happily ever
after."
2. What are some of the standard gender roles in fairy
tales?
nave beauty versus wily cunning beast
morals that emphasize passivity in women as a good
quality ("some day my prince will come!")
women are either totally innocent or wholly wicked
innocent women are walking targets in fairy tales
unless rescued by strong men (e.g. Little Red Riding
Hood)

Reading of "The Werewolf" from The Bloody Chamber

1979
Questions on "The Werewolf (please copy)
1. How is "The Werewolf" different from a traditional
fairy tale?
Dark, gothic opening of the story
Introduction of first person narration. Who is the
narrator?
A blurring of "good" and "evil." The werewolf is a sad
and scared character. The young girl seems almost
brutal and coldly efficient in killing her grandmother
and taking over her house. Is this "blurring" a good
thing in fairy tales (think of "Hansel and Gretel" is it
good to push someone into an oven and turn it on ?)
2. Why is the werewolf also the grandmother (a witch)?
The grandmother is both a werewolf and a witch. This
is a combination of traditionally stereotyped villains
into one character who is defeated by a young girl (Red
Riding Hood) who is also strong, skilled and
experienced in self defense (the woodcutter).
Angela Carter's point? Gender roles no longer confine
fairy tale characters.
Writing Assignment
Re-write two paragraphs of a gothic story or fairy tale
you know. You may start in medius res (in the middle
of the action) Leave us to guess which one it is

Some Possible fairy tales

Rapunzel
Hansel and Gretel
Sleeping Beauty
Snow White
Your choice