Boggart (also called a bogey, bogeyman, bogle or bugbear) is a term used for a creature in English folklore. It is generally a household spirit turned malevolent trickster or mishcevious goblin-like creature. The name is derived from the Welsh "bwg".
Myths & Legends[]
When a hobgoblin is teased or misused excessively, it will become a Boggart — creatures whose sole existence is to play tricks and cause trouble for people. They can be mischievous, frightening, and even dangerous, and they are very difficult to get rid of. Boggarts also tend to punish those who offend them and in some cases are trying to punish a human for injustice.
Household boggarts can cause things to disappear, milk to sour, and dogs to go lame. Boggarts thought to live in marshes or swamps caused the disappearance of children.
In some cases, boggarts were thought to be "buried", similar to vampires, with a stake driven through the body.
The boggarts in Lancashire, England, were believed to have a leader known as Owd Hob, a horned, hooved creature similar in shape to a satyr.
The Farmer and the Devil[]
In one story, known sometimes as "The Farmer and the Devil", a farmer bought a patch of land that was inhabited by the boggart. When the farmhe attempted to cultivate the field the boggart got angry, but after much arguing they decided to work the land together and share the bounty. The farmer, however, being greedy, began to ponder a way to cheat the boggart out of his share. When they were debating what to plant, he asked the boggart, "Which half of the crop do you want for your share, the part below the ground or the part above it?" The boggart thought for a while before answering "The part below the ground". The farmer sowed the field with barley. At harvest time the farmer boasted a big pile of barley while all the boggart had to show for his work was stubble. It flew into a rage and screeched that next time it would take what lay above the ground.
The next time the farmer sowed the field with potatoes. At harvest time the farmer laughed as he claimed his massive pile of potatoes while the boggart was yet again left with nothing to show for his efforts. Simmering with rage, the boggart stormed off, never to return again.
Appearance[]
Boggarts vary in size and general appearance but many are depicted with humanoid features. Boggarts, though usually small, could be as big as a small calf. Some boggarts could take on the form of animals, such as horses.
Modern Depictions[]
A boggart as a full moon in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Literature[]
- One appears frequently as a main character in the Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black.
- They are known as "Boggles" in the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.
- In the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, boggarts change form depending on the greatest fear of the nearest person.