The Medieval Podcast Medieval Wolves with Elizabeth Marshall
Oct 9, 2025
Join independent scholar Elizabeth Marshall, an expert on wolves in medieval literature, as she delves into the fascinating role of these magnificent predators in English culture. Discover how medieval wolves were depicted in stories, language, and traditions. Elizabeth discusses everything from their habitats and stealthy predatory nature to their connections with battle and outlaw imagery. She also examines how wolves symbolize various themes, such as loyalty and ferocity, and their surprising presence in iconic texts like Beowulf.
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Wolves Known Through Human Records
- Most knowledge of medieval wolves comes filtered through human cultural sources like literature, art, and place names.
- Place-name evidence shows wolves retreated northwards as habitat shrank and persecution increased.
Wolves Beyond Fairy-Tale Forests
- Wolves were not confined to deep woodlands and thrive in varied habitats like fens and uplands.
- Fens offered shelter, prey, and protection from humans, reflected in many East Anglian place names.
Wolf-Strike Speech Taboo
- A long-lived superstition held that if a wolf sees you before you see it, you'll be struck dumb and lose your speech.
- This belief traveled from classical authors into medieval England and shaped idioms.
