Plot Summary
- Story starts with tales of how werewolves have done harm to local villages and families and the mystical nature of the creatures. For example, the hunter who set a trap for a wolf who was massacring his sheep and goats; when he killed the wolf he found: "No wolf at all lay in front of the hunter but the bloody trunk of a man, headless, footless, dying, dead."
- Main story introduced of a girl who is going to deliver a basket of gifts to her old, dying Granny on Christmas Eve, taking a carving knife with her for protection, just in case. Sexual foreshadowing: "She stands and moves within the invisible pentacle of her own virginity. She is an unbroken egg; she is a sealed vessel..."
- On the path in the forest she meets a strange man but although she was suspicious at first, "Soon they were laughing and joking like old friends." He tells her that, with his compass, they'll be able to get to the girls Granny's house much faster with his rifle for protection. She refuses to go with him and chooses to stick with the path. He bets her that he will get to her grandmother's house before her and asks for a kiss if he wins.
- The man (a werewolf) arrives at granny's house first and pretends to be the girl to get in. He eats Granny then dresses up in her clothes and waits for the girl to arrive.
- Girl arrives at Granny's house and is trapped there by the werewolf. She starts to take her clothes off and "freely gave the kiss she owed him". Knowing that she is not going to be eaten any more she starts to strip him, "Carnivore incarnate, only immaculate flesh appeases him."
- The roles are now reversed, she is in control and he is the one who is fearful: "She will lay his fearful head on her lap and she will pick out the lice from his pelt... as she would do in a savage marriage ceremony." Christmas Day (the werewolf's birthday) arrives and "sweet and sound she sleeps in granny's bed, between the paws of the tender wolf.
Intertextuality/similarities between texts
Red Riding Hood - The most obvious link of all, almost everything in the main story links to it. The girls red shawl (which is also described as "the colour of poppies, the colour of sacrifices, the colour of her menses"), her trip with gifts to Granny's house, the wolf and the lines taken straight from the original text (eg What big teeth you have!... All the better to eat you with") all link to the tale this story is based on.
The Lady of the House of Love - The girl in this story has similarities to the soldier in TLOTHOL. They are both sexually mature but virgins and their ignorance or naivety of youth leads them to trust their potential 'devourers'. However, where the soldier survives out of ignorance to what is going on, the girl here survives because of her sexuality.
The Tiger's Bride - The heroines in both these tales undress to please or relate to the beasts who are holding them captive. In the Tiger's Bride she becomes closer to the Tiger by turning into one, in The Company of Wolves, the girl becomes closer to the wolf in a different way...
The Lady of the House of Love - The girl in this story has similarities to the soldier in TLOTHOL. They are both sexually mature but virgins and their ignorance or naivety of youth leads them to trust their potential 'devourers'. However, where the soldier survives out of ignorance to what is going on, the girl here survives because of her sexuality.
The Tiger's Bride - The heroines in both these tales undress to please or relate to the beasts who are holding them captive. In the Tiger's Bride she becomes closer to the Tiger by turning into one, in The Company of Wolves, the girl becomes closer to the wolf in a different way...
Gothic features
Setting - The forest is a classic gothic setting which hides many secrets and threats in its shadows and the natural setting contrasts to the supernatural of the werewolves. Also, while the path through the forest is the safe, advised option, the forest surrounding it also represents the unexplored or forbidden aspects of life (eg the wolf & sexuality).
Blood, gore, horror - The eating of the Granny and the stories of werewolves at the beginning of the tale show this and create the atmosphere of horror for the rest of the tale as well.
Fear (and rationality vs belief) - The girl carries a long knife with her in her basket to Granny's house for safety but never seems too scared of the walk through the forest or the mysterious man, they are soon laughing together which contrasts to Granny's reaction and also links in to rationality/irrationality. The girls Granny, when the werewolf enters her home, throws her Bible and apron at him, as the werewolf mocks: "now call on Christ and his mother and all the angels in heaven to protect you but it won't do you any good." In contrast, when the girl encounters the werewolf at granny's house, she reacts completely differently - "since her fear did her no good, she ceased to be afraid". This could be read either as her ceasing to be afraid as she knows the way to combat the werewolf is with her sexuality (thus her sexuality is a positive thing), that Granny's faith did her no good in the end or that her fear and irrationality did her no good. (Or something completely different, the analysis is up to you :) )
Isolation/wilderness - The setting of the forest, where the girl is alone, gives the feeling of isolation as she is alone amongst thousands of trees (and animals). She is also alone even when she is at home, as both her mother and father are out, allowing her to take the dangerous journey to her Granny's house. The Granny, also alone, is vulnerable and preyed upon by the wolf.
Blood, gore, horror - The eating of the Granny and the stories of werewolves at the beginning of the tale show this and create the atmosphere of horror for the rest of the tale as well.
Fear (and rationality vs belief) - The girl carries a long knife with her in her basket to Granny's house for safety but never seems too scared of the walk through the forest or the mysterious man, they are soon laughing together which contrasts to Granny's reaction and also links in to rationality/irrationality. The girls Granny, when the werewolf enters her home, throws her Bible and apron at him, as the werewolf mocks: "now call on Christ and his mother and all the angels in heaven to protect you but it won't do you any good." In contrast, when the girl encounters the werewolf at granny's house, she reacts completely differently - "since her fear did her no good, she ceased to be afraid". This could be read either as her ceasing to be afraid as she knows the way to combat the werewolf is with her sexuality (thus her sexuality is a positive thing), that Granny's faith did her no good in the end or that her fear and irrationality did her no good. (Or something completely different, the analysis is up to you :) )
Isolation/wilderness - The setting of the forest, where the girl is alone, gives the feeling of isolation as she is alone amongst thousands of trees (and animals). She is also alone even when she is at home, as both her mother and father are out, allowing her to take the dangerous journey to her Granny's house. The Granny, also alone, is vulnerable and preyed upon by the wolf.