Shapeshifting
Category:Shapeshifting
Shapeshifting or
transmogrification refers to a change in the form or shape of a person. It primarily refers to either:
- a change from human form to animal form and vice versa, OR\n* a change in appearance from one person to another
Although shapeshifting is not believed to be scientifically or medically possible, it is a common theme in
myth and a popular theme in
science fiction and
fantasy stories.
Shapeshifting in myth
Shapeshifting to the form of a different species is specifically known as lycanthropy, and is frequently used in association with myths and legends pertaining to such creatures as werewolves and vampires, the faerie of Celtic folklore and the Leopard or Hyena men of Central Africa.
Other terms for a shapeshifter include doppelganger, metamorph, skin-walker, mimic, and were.
Examples of shapeshifting in classical literature include many examples in Ovid's Metamorphoses and Apuleius's becoming a donkey in The Golden Ass.
Notable shapeshifters in fiction
Shapeshifters appear in many fantasy and science fiction stories.
Notable shapeshifting characters include:
- Morph (Marvel Comics)\n* Mystique (Marvel Comics)\n* Odo (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)\n* T-1000 (Terminator 2)
In the story of
Puss in Boots, the hero (a
cat) tricks an
ogre into becoming a
mouse; he then eats it.
In
The Metamorphosis by
Franz Kafka, Gregor Samsa wakes up to find himself transformed into a large insect.
Many of
Jack L. Chalker's novels involve one or more transformations; he wrote an essay on physical transformation as a metaphor for various psychological changes, included in his short story collection
Dance Band on the Titanic.
Transmogrification is not a theme used several times in the
Jerry Cornelius stories by
Michael Moorcock. The word has been popularized by the
transmogrifier used in
Calvin and Hobbes.
See also
External Links
