horror medieval stories

One of the well - known medieval horror stories is 'Beowulf'. It features the eponymous hero battling terrifying monsters like Grendel and his mother. Another is the story of the Werewolf of Bedburg. It tells of a man who was believed to transform into a wolf - like creature and commit heinous crimes. Also, the legend of the Headless Horseman has its roots in medieval folklore and is quite spooky.

Geoffrey Chaucer can be considered one of them. His 'The Canterbury Tales' had elements that could be considered horror - like. Another was Marie de France. She wrote some tales with elements of the supernatural and horror that were popular during the medieval era.

There is also the theme of the breakdown of society. In some obscure medieval horror stories, a town might be plagued by a series of strange events that cause chaos and make the social order crumble. This could be due to the presence of a powerful evil being. The people in the town start to turn on each other out of fear, and the normal rules and values that hold society together start to disappear. It reflects the medieval fear of the world falling into chaos and the importance of maintaining order.

One such story is 'The Werewolf of Bedburg'. It's about a man named Peter Stubbe who was believed to be a werewolf in the 16th century. He was accused of various heinous crimes like murder and cannibalism. Another is the story of the 'Gilles de Rais', a nobleman who was rumored to have dabbled in dark magic and committed atrocious acts against children in medieval France.

Typically, they have a setting in the medieval period. So, there are often castles, monasteries, and dark forests. For example, in 'The Name of the Rose', the monastery is a key setting that adds to the sense of mystery and horror.

The most terrifying aspect was probably the lack of medical knowledge. Diseases like leprosy were a horror. Lepers were often ostracized from society, forced to live in colonies away from everyone else. They were seen as cursed, and there was no real treatment for them.

One of the true medieval horror stories is about the Black Death. It was a plague that swept through Europe, killing millions. People would wake up to find their family members dead. The streets were filled with the stench of death, and there was a sense of hopelessness everywhere as no one really knew how to stop it.

Some common themes include the supernatural, like ghosts, demons, and witches. There's often a sense of dread and foreboding. Castles and dark forests are typical settings. Also, themes of death, the afterlife, and the battle between good and evil are frequently explored.

One of the best medieval stories is 'The Canterbury Tales' by Geoffrey Chaucer. It gives a vivid picture of different types of people in medieval England through a collection of tales told by pilgrims on a journey. Another great one is the Arthurian legends, filled with knights, magic, and quests for the Holy Grail. And 'Beowulf' is also very notable, which tells the story of a hero's battles against monsters.

There are several well - known authors in this genre. Edgar Allan Poe is one. His stories often have a dark and Gothic feel which can be related to medieval horror. His use of dark settings, like old mansions and crypts, is similar to the typical medieval horror settings. Another is Mary Shelley. Her 'Frankenstein' has elements of horror that can be traced back to medieval ideas of the unnatural and the consequences of playing God. These authors have all contributed to the development of the medieval horror novel concept.