Unveiling the Mystery of the Wampus Cat: A Closer Look at Its Origins and Cultural Significance

Essay Title: The Cherokee Legend of the Wampus Cat: Its Origins, Sightings, and Representations

About: A college research paper to help people understand the Wampus cat legend and the creature itself, its origins in Cherokee legend, the three main versions of the legend told today, sightings around the world to understand its paths, and finally how its tale is told and represented today in the media and school mascots through a questionnaire (questions can be found in Appendix A), articles, and books.

Term Paper - The Wampus Cat.docx

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Discussion Questions:

1.      Have you heard of the words Wampus, Cattywampus, or Catawampus? If so, explain. 

2.      Which version, if any, of the Wampus Cat tale of you heard of before today?

3.  What do you think the Wampus Cat is... a human-cat hybrid, panther, lion, or something else entirely?

4. People have reported the Wampus cat being a panther-like cat with four to six legs that can emit an ear and soul-piercing scream that can heard from miles away. Have you ever seen or heard a Wampus Cat based on the description and tales above?

5. What do you believe the Wampus Cat is supposed to represent?

6. Have you seen any portrayals of the Wampus cat in the media or other forms, for example as a school mascot? If yes, explain or list where you have seen the portrayals.

7. Do you believe mythical monsters such as the Wampus Cat wander the woods of Tennessee? Explain.

8. Why do you believe the Wampus Cat is a woman who has been converted into a mythological beast in the tale?

9. Depending on the story told, the Wampus Cat is a protector, an angry woman seeking vengeance, or an evil spirit in general. Do you believe the Wampus Cat is a protector of the forests and its wildlife, a woman seeking vengeance on those who transformed, an evil spirit, or merely a story created to keep children and others away from the woods?

10. What do you feel and think about the Wampus Cat story, its roots, and portrayals in television, movies, novels, and mascots?