undead

Undead is a broad term used in folklore, mythology, and fiction to describe beings that remain animate after death or are not fully alive in the ordinary sense. They typically interact with the living and are sustained by supernatural forces, disease, or magical means rather than normal biological processes. The concept appears in many cultures and genres, and its specifics vary widely.

Common forms of the undead include zombies, vampires, revenants (or ghosts), and liches. Zombies are usually portrayed as reanimated corpses driven by hunger or compulsion and often lack autonomy. Vampires are undead beings that feed on blood or life force and may retain some intelligence or charisma, depending on the tradition. Revenants are the restless souls of the dead that return to the living world, sometimes corporeal and sometimes ethereal. Liches are typically powerful spellcasters who preserve their life through magical means and often seek continued knowledge or domination. Other undead creatures appear in folklore and fiction, such as mummies, draugr, ghouls, and wights, each with its own rules and lore.

Different traditions depict undeath with varying mechanisms and moral implications. Common explanations include necromantic magic, curses, viral or magical infection, and unfinished business. Undeath is frequently used as a narrative device to explore themes of mortality, fear of contagion, and the ethical boundaries between life and death. In modern media, undead stories span horror and fantasy, adapting to the tone and rules of each setting while retaining core ideas about beings that persevere beyond death.