The Werewolf by Eugene Field (1895)
The Werewolf is a classic children's poem by Eugene Field. It tells the story of a young boy who is terrified of a werewolf that lives in the woods near his home. The boy is so scared that he can't even go outside at night. One night, he decides to brave the darkness and venture into the woods to confront the werewolf. He finds the werewolf and is surprised to discover that it is actually a friendly creature who just wants to play. The boy and the werewolf become friends and the boy is no longer afraid of the dark. The poem is a charming and humorous tale that teaches children to not be afraid of the unknown.
By Eugene Field · First published 1895 · Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Mystery · 2,565 words
First lines
IN the reign of Egbert the Saxon there dwelt in Britain a maiden named Yseult, who was beloved of all, both for her goodness and for her beauty. But, though many a youth came wooing her, she loved Harold only, and to him she plighted her troth.
Among the other youth of whom Yseult was beloved was Alfred, and he was sore angered that Yseult showed favor to Harold, so that one day Alfred said to Harold: "Is it right that old Siegfried should come from his grave and have Yseult to wife?" Then added he, "Prithee, good sir, why do you turn so white when I speak your grandsire's name?"
What this Textopian page supports
The Werewolf is listed on Textopian as a short story by Eugene Field, dated 1895 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Eugene Field
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance
- Length: 2,565 words
- Structure: 1 section, 85 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Werewolf by Eugene Field
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Werewolf?
- How does this short story by Eugene Field fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Horror — The Werewolf is a horror story about a man who turns into a werewolf.
- Fantasy — The Werewolf contains elements of fantasy, such as the transformation of a man into a werewolf.
- Mystery — The Werewolf contains elements of mystery, as the protagonist attempts to uncover the truth behind his transformation.
- Romance — The Werewolf contains elements of romance, as the protagonist falls in love with a woman who is unaware of his true identity.
Tags
werewolf · horror · fantasy · poetry · mythology · supernatural · dark · folklore · transformation · fear · nature · legend