Today I’ll be considering the virtues of the Questing Beast for my fantasy squad; a creature from Arthurian legend. It has been referred to by other names, including the Barking beast; an intriguing monster and the subject of many a quest!
by Grifforik – Anthro / Digital Media / Drawings©2008-2015 Grifforik
Depictions of the Questing Beast are conflicted, but my favourite is probably the version in which the creature has the head of a snake, the body of a leopard, haunches of a lion and the feet of a stag. It is said to emit a sound from deep within its belly, which is akin to barking.
Its origins are varied, but one tale involves the Questing Beast being born of a human princess, one who lusted after her brother and made a deal with the devil because her love was rejected. She clearly didn’t think this through, because everybody knows you should never make a deal with the devil if you’re not prepared for the consequences! I’m paraphrasing, but basically her brother was killed by a pack of dogs, and the princess gave birth to a monstrosity which reflected the sounds of the pack – serving as a symbol of the unjust death.
As interesting as the creature is, let’s relate it to media:
- The Questing Beast appears in Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur
- T.H. White gave a more humerous account of the beast in his novel The Once and Future King.
- In the final episode of Merlin, Season 1, the Questing Beast appears – reminiscent of the earlier descriptions.
- The Questing Beast has appeared in many stories, including those written in French, Spanish and Italian.
There are so many others, but I’d like to hear from you. Have you read any stories featuring the Questing Beast? Are you a fan of Arthurian legend? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for stopping by.
Until next time.
Mel
Melissa Barker-Simpson 
I think I remember reading that the Questing Beast is also an omen of death or loss. Seems to fight that origin story.
Yes, and incest and violence, so a pretty chaotic beast!
Although I’ve read a ton of Arthur stories, I always thought the questing beast, by that name at least, was a product of T.H. White’s imagination.
The beast has made several appearances, but T.H. White changed things up a bit in The Once and Future King, and added a humerous slant. It appeared in a few thirteenth century texts including the Prose Tristan and Perlesvaus.
I think T.H. White did such a great job with it that i think of him. I’m sure I saw it referenced elsewhere and just skimmed over it. Of course I read The Once and Future King for the first time when I was 9 or 10 so it was the first time I saw it 😉
I think he did an excellent job too. I especially liked how the beast was feeling ‘unloved’ and needed to be brought back from the edge! I haven’t read it for many years either. Writing this post makes me want to drag out all my favourite stories 😀
It’s been many, many years. I should pull it back out again.
I love it when that happens – when we can revisit a book we’ve enjoyed. It will be like experiencing the journey again in many ways. I think I might join you – or certainly the quest between the pages!
I didn’t know a lot about this one either. Another interesting myth, that’s for sure!
I agree! I was actually dreading Q, but the more I remembered, the more fun I had!
I loved Sam Neil’s Merlin and Colin Morgan’s, but my husband is a Excalibur fan – he tried to make me watch it the other day but bits of it make me want to stick my fingers in my ears and sing even with Helen Mirren as Morgana 🙂
Tasha
Tasha’s Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
lol! I’ve had that kind of reaction a time or two. Love the image!
I haven’t heard of the questing beast before. Interesting creature.
Yeah, I think so. Though I’m not sure about where a Questing Beast would fit in the squad!
I’ve never heard of a Questing Beast. I was wondering what you’d come up with for Q. I have a few ideas for Z…
BTW, this sounds like a short story collection. A-Z of mythical creatures.
I have a fantasy novella coming out at the end of April, which is an introduction to the series. I’m also in the process of creating serialised fiction and will endeavour to fit a few of these lovely creatures within a season or two! What are your ideas for Z? All I have is zombies and that’s so predictable!
This is actually my first time hearing about this one… I’m more familiar with the chimera. But this sounds like a backwards chimera, so that’s amusing! 😀
I never thought about that – you’re so right! Imagine if the two met…now that would be interesting 😀