What is a ghoul primarily associated with in folklore?

The association of a ghoul with consuming the flesh of dead humans is rooted in various folklore traditions, particularly in Middle Eastern and Islamic mythology. Ghouls are often depicted as malevolent beings or spirits that inhabit graveyards and desolate places, where they are known to feast on corpses. This characteristic aligns with the concept of a ghoul as a creature that not only exists in a liminal space between the living and the dead but also actively engages with the realm of death—specifically through the act of cannibalism.

This connection to flesh-eating underscores themes of decay, mortality, and the taboo associated with disturbing the dead. It reflects broader anthropological interests in how cultures conceptualize death and the undead, as well as the fears and rituals surrounding burial practices.

In contrast, other options describe characteristics that do not align with the traditional understanding of ghouls. For instance, while the idea of fighting in a berserk state relates more to warrior mythology or narratives of rage and frenzy, shapeshifting into various forms is commonly associated with shapeshifters or trickster figures rather than ghouls specifically. Lastly, haunting living people is more indicative of spirits or ghosts, which differ in function and nature from ghou