Christian

Christian is a Christ-like, selfless, and sensitive man. He is Sweyn’s younger twin brother, and is physically different from Sweyn; though he is weaker, he is a much better runner. He loves Sweyn without question and without expecting love back. Christian is the only character to realize that White Fell is a werewolf. Christian works throughout the story to try to stop White Fell: He tries to place holy water on her, tries to release Tyr upon her, and finally kills her through self-sacrifice. Although Christian is ridiculed and treated cruelly by his brother for accusing White Fell of being a werewolf, his death in the end changes Sweyn’s actions. Sweyn forgives his brother, and feels guilty for having not believed him. Last, Sweyn sees that Christian sacrificed himself for Sweyn’s sake in a pure act of brotherly love.

Sweyn

Sweyn is an arrogant, prideful, and attractive man. He is Christian’s twin brother. He does not love Christian as Christian loves him. In fact, Sweyn is more in love with himself and his own physical attributes. However, Sweyn is also a leader of his family, as they rely on him. Due to White Fell’s beauty and strength, Sweyn is unable to see past his attraction to her. Sweyn is affected by hubris, which pushes him to act cruelly towards his brother and to try to convince his family of White Fell’s innocence. Up until the end, Sweyn is in love with White Fell, and blames his brother for chasing and hurting her. However, when he finds Christian’s body next to a white wolf, he realizes that Christian was right. Sweyn sees that Christian sacrificed himself for Sweyn despite his sinful nature and is saved by his brother not only physically but also spiritually.

White Fell

White Fell is a beautiful, strong, and somewhat masculine woman. She wears a beautiful white robe and hunter’s boots, and carries an axe. She is unlike other females in the story in that she travels alone, appreciates fighting and violence, and speaks in an unusual way. She is a werewolf, although only Christian realizes this fact. The word “Fell” in her name can mean “fur,” or malevolence and death. White Fell is a femme fatale who brings death and destruction to those around Sweyn, whom she shows interest in. Without Christian’s interference, she would have killed Sweyn as well. White Fell represents fears around subverted gender roles and powerful women. White Fell also embodies a duality of feminine and masculine traits.

Old Trella

Old Trella is an elderly member of the family. She acts as Rol’s caretaker. Sweyn tells Christian to go to Trella to ask how to kill a werewolf, implying that Christian’s ideas are archaic and that only someone of Trella’s advanced age could understand. When White Fell sings, Trella, who is blind and nearly deaf, believes that White Fell sounds like her deceased daughter Thora. Trella shows affection towards White Fell, and she embraces and kisses her. Later, Trella goes into the woods to visit one of her friends and is killed by White Fell, whom only Christian suspects of the crime.

Rol

Rol is the youngest of the family. He is playful and curious. He shows great affection towards White Fell and appreciates her fur. After White Fell leaves, Rol disobeys Trella and runs outside to play with his puppy. He goes into the woods and is killed by White Fell. Only Christian suspects that White Fell killed him.

Tyr

Tyr, named after the Old Norse god Tỳr, is the family’s dog. He howls at the beginning of the story when the family is hearing noises outside, foreshadowing sinister events. When White Fell enters, Tyr tries to attack her. His aggression shows White Fell’s unnatural and dangerous nature, which the family is largely unaware of.