| Revision as of 19:20, 27 May 2020 editBender the Bot (talk | contribs)Bots1,008,858 editsm →John Bisagno version: HTTP → HTTPS for Wayback Machine, replaced: http://web.archive.org/ → https://web.archive.org/Tag: AWB← Previous edit | Revision as of 23:04, 8 June 2020 edit undoTantek (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers1,021 edits NPOV: s/History/Similar Stories. There is no evidence of historical lineage, asserting "History" even as a heading is a biased framing. Better to label "Similar Stories" (factual) instead. Since these are indirect variants (dogs), moved Similar Stories to below actual direct references to Two Wolves in media etc. Restore cat per cited references in intro, better to surface this article among other Native American culture articles for wider review and iteration.Next edit → | ||
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| The story of the '''Two Wolves''' is a popular legend of unknown origin, sometimes attributed to the ]<ref name="firstpeople.us">{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/TwoWolves-Cherokee.html |title=Cherokee Legend - Two Wolves |publisher=Firstpeople.us |date= |accessdate=2016-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sapphyr.net/natam/two-wolves.htm |title=Two Wolves - A Cherokee Parable : Pearls Of Wisdom |publisher=Sapphyr.net |date= |accessdate=2016-02-09}}</ref> or ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.native-languages.org/legends-wolf.htm |title=Native American Indian Wolf Legends, Meaning and Symbolism from the Myths of Many Tribes|publisher=Native-languages.org |date= |accessdate=2016-02-09 }}</ref> that is also known as "Which one do you feed",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nativeamericanembassy.net/www.lenni-lenape.com/www/html/LenapeArchives/LenapeSet-01/feedwich.html |title=Which One Do You Feed? |publisher=Nativeamericanembassy.net |date= |accessdate=2016-02-09}}</ref> "Grandfather Tells",<ref name="firstpeople.us"/> "The Wolves Within",<ref name="firstpeople.us"/> and "Tale Of Two Wolves".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nanticokeindians.org/page/tale-of-two-wolves|title=Tale of Two Wolves - Nanticoke Indian Association|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=Nanticokeindians.org|accessdate=2016-02-09}}</ref> It is a story of a grandfather using a metaphor of two ] fighting within him to explain his inner conflicts to his grandson. When his grandson asks which wolf wins, the grandfather answers whichever he chooses to feed. | The story of the '''Two Wolves''' is a popular legend of unknown origin, sometimes attributed to the ]<ref name="firstpeople.us">{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/TwoWolves-Cherokee.html |title=Cherokee Legend - Two Wolves |publisher=Firstpeople.us |date= |accessdate=2016-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sapphyr.net/natam/two-wolves.htm |title=Two Wolves - A Cherokee Parable : Pearls Of Wisdom |publisher=Sapphyr.net |date= |accessdate=2016-02-09}}</ref> or ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.native-languages.org/legends-wolf.htm |title=Native American Indian Wolf Legends, Meaning and Symbolism from the Myths of Many Tribes|publisher=Native-languages.org |date= |accessdate=2016-02-09 }}</ref> that is also known as "Which one do you feed",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nativeamericanembassy.net/www.lenni-lenape.com/www/html/LenapeArchives/LenapeSet-01/feedwich.html |title=Which One Do You Feed? |publisher=Nativeamericanembassy.net |date= |accessdate=2016-02-09}}</ref> "Grandfather Tells",<ref name="firstpeople.us"/> "The Wolves Within",<ref name="firstpeople.us"/> and "Tale Of Two Wolves".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nanticokeindians.org/page/tale-of-two-wolves|title=Tale of Two Wolves - Nanticoke Indian Association|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=Nanticokeindians.org|accessdate=2016-02-09}}</ref> It is a story of a grandfather using a metaphor of two ] fighting within him to explain his inner conflicts to his grandson. When his grandson asks which wolf wins, the grandfather answers whichever he chooses to feed. | ||
| == History == | |||
| ⚫ | === John Bisagno version === | ||
| ⚫ | The earliest known variation of this story was published by the Baptist pastor John R. Bisagno in the book ''The Power of Positive Praying'' (Xulon Press, 1965). In this version, a missionary is told by a Mohave Indian convert named Joe that he has a black dog and a white dog always fighting inside him, and that the dog which Joe feeds the most will win.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bisagno |first=John |date=1965 |title=The Power of Positive Praying |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-d5l0nMuTZIC&pg=PA55&dq=%E2%80%9CAn+old+missionary+returned+to+the+home+of+a+convert+among+the+Mohave+Indians.+%22&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiArp6l_-XlAhWhVt8KHc7FCbMQ6AEwAHoECAAQAg#v=onepage%20%22&f=false |location= |publisher=Xulon Press |page= |isbn=1-59781-421-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite-web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113005855/https://poetic-poppy.tumblr.com/post/17650658915/the-history-of-the-two-wolvestwo-dogs-story|title=The History of the 'Two Wolves/Two Dogs" story}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | === Billy Graham version === | ||
| ⚫ | A later variation of this story was published by the Reverend ] in his book ''The Holy Spirit: Activating God's Power in Your Life'' (W Publishing Group, 1978) about an Inuit with a black dog and a white dog that he used for ] by only feeding the one he wanted to win.<ref>{{cite book |last=Graham |first=Billy |date=1978 |title=The Holy Spirit: Activating God's Power in Your Life |url=https://archive.org/details/holyspiritactiva00grah/page/92|location= |publisher=W Publishing Group |page=92|isbn=978-0849900051 |author-link= |url-access=registration }}</ref> | ||
| == In media == | == In media == | ||
| Line 34: | Line 27: | ||
| * "Feed the Wolf", the second song on ]'s 2018 album, '']''. | * "Feed the Wolf", the second song on ]'s 2018 album, '']''. | ||
| * The marquee of the Roma theatre in '']'' advertises a performance titled "A Dance of Two Wolves." | * The marquee of the Roma theatre in '']'' advertises a performance titled "A Dance of Two Wolves." | ||
| == Similar Stories == | |||
| There are similar stories to Two Wolves that refer to dogs instead of wolves. It is unknown whether these similar stories had any impact on the existing popular legend, or whether they were early examples of ] from ]. | |||
| ⚫ | === John Bisagno version === | ||
| ⚫ | The earliest known variation of this story was published by the Baptist pastor John R. Bisagno in the book ''The Power of Positive Praying'' (Xulon Press, 1965). In this version, a missionary is told by a Mohave Indian convert named Joe that he has a black dog and a white dog always fighting inside him, and that the dog which Joe feeds the most will win.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bisagno |first=John |date=1965 |title=The Power of Positive Praying |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-d5l0nMuTZIC&pg=PA55&dq=%E2%80%9CAn+old+missionary+returned+to+the+home+of+a+convert+among+the+Mohave+Indians.+%22&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiArp6l_-XlAhWhVt8KHc7FCbMQ6AEwAHoECAAQAg#v=onepage%20%22&f=false |location= |publisher=Xulon Press |page= |isbn=1-59781-421-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite-web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113005855/https://poetic-poppy.tumblr.com/post/17650658915/the-history-of-the-two-wolvestwo-dogs-story|title=The History of the 'Two Wolves/Two Dogs" story}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | === Billy Graham version === | ||
| ⚫ | A later variation of this story was published by the Reverend ] in his book ''The Holy Spirit: Activating God's Power in Your Life'' (W Publishing Group, 1978) about an Inuit with a black dog and a white dog that he used for ] by only feeding the one he wanted to win.<ref>{{cite book |last=Graham |first=Billy |date=1978 |title=The Holy Spirit: Activating God's Power in Your Life |url=https://archive.org/details/holyspiritactiva00grah/page/92|location= |publisher=W Publishing Group |page=92|isbn=978-0849900051 |author-link= |url-access=registration }}</ref> | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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Revision as of 23:04, 8 June 2020
The story of the Two Wolves is a popular legend of unknown origin, sometimes attributed to the Cherokee or Lenape people that is also known as "Which one do you feed", "Grandfather Tells", "The Wolves Within", and "Tale Of Two Wolves". It is a story of a grandfather using a metaphor of two wolves fighting within him to explain his inner conflicts to his grandson. When his grandson asks which wolf wins, the grandfather answers whichever he chooses to feed.
In media
The story is frequently quoted in various forms in media articles, a podcast called The One You Feed, and was summarized in the 2015 film Tomorrowland. From Wikiquote:
Casey Newton: "There are two wolves" ... You told me this story my entire life, and now I'm telling you: There are two wolves and they are always fighting. One is darkness and despair, the other is light and hope. Which wolf wins?
Eddie Newton: C'mon, Casey.
Casey Newton: Okay, fine, don’t answer.
Eddie Newton: Whichever one you feed.
Casey Newton: Good. Eat.
- In the television series Luke Cage (Season 2, Episode 2, at time-index 48:06) a pastor tells the story of a "Cherokee Legend", with the metaphor of two wolves fighting, where the boy in the story asks "Which wolf is stronger?" and his grandfather responds: "It's the one you feed."
- In an issue of the Daredevil comic series, the character Echo encounters Wolverine while on a vision quest. He tells her a version of the Two Wolves story he learned from the Chief, albeit referring to them as dogs. Echo then reveals that her late father was the one who originally told that story to the Chief.
- In Knightfall (TV series) (Season One, Episode Four, "He Who Discovers His Own Self, Discovers God) Godfrey tells the story to Landry in a flashback.
- In the BBC series Death in Paradise DI Humphrey Goodman garbles the story in his final episode as he tries to explain his feelings to the woman he loves.
Likely references
The names and phrases from the following are likely referring to this legend:
- The album Wolves Within by After the Burial
- "The One You Feed", the fifth track on the Crown the Empire album The Fallout
- "The One I Feed", a charity event put on by the Kirov Academy of Ballet
- The 11th episode of Star Trek: Discovery, "The Wolf Inside", is in part about inner struggle
- Lyric of "Chemical Prisoner" by Falling in Reverse
- "Feed the Wolf", the second song on Breaking Benjamin's 2018 album, Ember.
- The marquee of the Roma theatre in John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum advertises a performance titled "A Dance of Two Wolves."
Similar Stories
There are similar stories to Two Wolves that refer to dogs instead of wolves. It is unknown whether these similar stories had any impact on the existing popular legend, or whether they were early examples of cultural appropriation from Native American culture.
John Bisagno version
The earliest known variation of this story was published by the Baptist pastor John R. Bisagno in the book The Power of Positive Praying (Xulon Press, 1965). In this version, a missionary is told by a Mohave Indian convert named Joe that he has a black dog and a white dog always fighting inside him, and that the dog which Joe feeds the most will win.
Billy Graham version
A later variation of this story was published by the Reverend Billy Graham in his book The Holy Spirit: Activating God's Power in Your Life (W Publishing Group, 1978) about an Inuit with a black dog and a white dog that he used for match fixing by only feeding the one he wanted to win.
See also
References
- ^ "Cherokee Legend - Two Wolves". Firstpeople.us. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
- "Two Wolves - A Cherokee Parable : Pearls Of Wisdom". Sapphyr.net. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
- "Native American Indian Wolf Legends, Meaning and Symbolism from the Myths of Many Tribes". Native-languages.org. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
- "Which One Do You Feed?". Nativeamericanembassy.net. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
- "Tale of Two Wolves - Nanticoke Indian Association". Nanticokeindians.org. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
- "Which wolf are you feeding? - Salisbury Post". Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- "Editorial: A message of hope". PostIndependent.com. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
- "Do You Feed the Good Wolf or the Bad?". Huffingtonpost.com. 2015-08-27. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
- "A podcast about feeding your good wolf". The One You Feed. 2013-09-15. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
- Author Interviews (2015-05-22). "The Future Is Bright In The Time-And-Space Twisting 'Tomorrowland'". NPR. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - "Tomorrowland (film) - Wikiquote". En.wikiquote.org. 2016-01-24. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
- Daredevil vol.2. #54.
- Bisagno, John (1965). The Power of Positive Praying. Xulon Press. p. 55. ISBN 1-59781-421-0.
- "The History of the 'Two Wolves/Two Dogs" story".
- Graham, Billy (1978). The Holy Spirit: Activating God's Power in Your Life. W Publishing Group. p. 92. ISBN 978-0849900051.