Bear's Son Tale

Bear's Son Tales are a group of tales found from Europe, Asia and North America, with over 200 known versions.^[1] Similar characteristics include a monster to be defeated by a hero who is descended from a bear, or has attributes of a bear, usually after others fail in the attempt. In some stories the monster defeats the hero instead.

Frequently appearing characteristics include the hero pursuing the monster into an underground cavern, a captive maiden, treason by a close friend or ally of the hero, and magical weapons or talismans. Friedrich Panzer is the one who labeled stories with these elements with the name, "Bear's Son Tales."

The best known of these tales is Beowulf.^[2] Others are the story of Bödvar Bjarki in material about Hrólf Kraki and an incident in the Grettis saga.

References

1. Fjalldal, Magnús (1998). The long arm of coincidence: the frustrated connection between Beowulf and Grettis saga. University of Toronto Press. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-8020-4301-6.
2. Stitt, J. Michael (1992). Beowulf and the bear's son: epic, saga, and fairytale in northern Germanic tradition. Garland Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8240-7440-1.