If you are a student of English literature or a fan of classic ghost stories, you may have encountered the name “Wappi” in the chilling short story The Wolves of Cernogratz by Saki (H.H. Munro). While Wappi is a minor character, its reaction is one of the most significant moments in the story, serving as a supernatural “canary in the coal mine.”
Here is the authoritative breakdown of who Wappi was and the deeper meaning behind that famous shiver.
1. Who Was Wappi?
Wappi was a small, woolly lap-dog belonging to Baroness Gruebel.
In the story, the Baroness and her family are the current owners of the Cernogratz castle. They are portrayed as “nouveau riche”—wealthy people who bought the castle but have no real connection to its ancient, noble history. Wappi represents their pampered, indoor lifestyle. Unlike the wild wolves in the forest, Wappi is a creature of comfort, usually found sitting on silk cushions or near the warmth of the fireplace.
2. Why Was Wappi Shivering?
In the climax of the story, Wappi begins to shiver uncontrollably and eventually dives under a sofa to hide. While the Baroness initially dismisses this as the dog being “cold,” the true reason is far more sinister and supernatural.
A. The Supernatural Legend
According to the local legend of the castle, whenever a member of the authentic Cernogratz family is about to die, the wolves in the forest gather and howl in a grand, mournful chorus. At that exact moment, the dogs of the village and the castle are said to bay and howl in “fear and anger.”
B. Intuition of Death
Wappi was shivering because it possessed an animal instinct for the supernatural. As the old governess, Amalie (who was secretly the last true Cernogratz), lay dying in her room, the wolves began their legendary howl.
- The “Fear of the Wild”: Wappi felt the presence of the ancient spirits and the wild, predatory energy of the wolves that were gathering outside.
- The Atmosphere of Doom: In Gothic literature, animals often act as the first witnesses to death or the supernatural. Wappi’s shivering was a physical manifestation of the terror caused by the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy that the Baroness refused to believe in.
3. The Literary Significance of the Shiver
Saki uses Wappi’s reaction to create a sharp irony.
- The Baroness treats the legend as a “vulgar superstition” and mocks the old governess.
- However, her own dog’s primal terror proves that the legend is real.
The contrast between the pampered, shivering lap-dog inside the castle and the wild, howling wolves outside highlights the theme of the story: True nobility cannot be bought. The castle might belong to the Baroness, but the soul of the castle—and the loyalty of the wolves—belongs only to the true Cernogratz line.
Summary Table: Wappi’s Character Analysis
| Detail | Description |
| Species | Small woolly lap-dog |
| Owner | Baroness Gruebel |
| Trigger | The howling of the wolves outside |
| Action | Shivering and hiding under the sofa |
| Symbolism | Primal fear / Validation of the supernatural legend |
Expert Takeaway
Wappi’s shivering is a classic example of foreshadowing. It signals to the reader that something extraordinary is happening, even while the human characters are trying to ignore it. It serves as the bridge between the mundane world of the dinner party and the dark, ancient magic of the Cernogratz woods.