Boggarts

Boggart drawing from the Spiderwick Chronicles

Evil, nasty creatures, these beings in classic folklore are rarely seen. In the few times that they are, they are usually described as fat, squat little devils.

They wreck havoc in a poltergeist-like manner. In folktales, one instance detailed the haunting of a family. It hid in the cupboard and stole food from the children, tied their bed sheets together, shoved them in tight spaces, and knotted their hair all without showing itself. The children would often tease it by shoving a shoehorn into a hole in the door of its cupboard, to which it would thrust it back. This angered it more and it preceded to escalate its antics. When the family couldn't tolerate it anymore, they tried to leave. A neighbor surprised by their packing, asked why. Before the father of the family could reply, a deep voice replied for him. It was the Boggart making it clear that if the family moved, he would follow. The family gave up and decided to stay.  

Common misdeeds by this creature include opening and closing doors, burning the cooking, pinching babies, trying to smother children, scaring cats, consuming smooth wood (I assume this means anything sanded by humans, IE: tables, chairs, house beams etc... ), rapping on doors and walls, spoiling food, taking food, taking other items such as combs or keys, ruining housework, and many other demonic actions. 

In some tales, Boggarts have been seen as shapeshifters. 

In one folktale, called the Boggart of the Brook, it takes the shape of a woman hooded in a cloak (add some tense music strings and you've got the seemingly harmless beginning of a horror flick). She would stand by the road in the apparent effort to hitchhike. A person naive to the dramatic music and misty surroundings would take pity and open his carriage for her. Once on  board, (duh-duh-duuuh!) she would whip off her hood and reveal her skeletal face, clawing at the driver who would then increase his speed in terror. The ride would usually end in the poor soul's death or injury. (Which is exactly why you don't go travelling on deserted roads and be friendly to creepy people wearing cloaks - unless you're the hero of a Stephen King novel.)

A story which defies the previous, details a Boggart horse who is hardworking, good, and loyal. He even has his own fireplace in the barn. He is the Boggart of Hackensall Hall. 

In many instances, Brownies who have been wronged will turn into Boggarts (such as in the Spiderwick Chronicles). Which begs the question, why in the world would someone ever bother a Brownie? To create a novel antagonist!

He is a malleable character for authors. His broad spectrum of attributes make him available to whatever you want him (or her) to be. Such as, a friend turned evil, a bothersome spirit, or, someone who's not so bad at all. 

I recommend thumbing through the first book of The Spiderwick Chronicles to see Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi's take on this classic bogey in the night.


The information gathered I found in Katharine Briggs' book An Encyclopedia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Bogies, and other Supernatural Creatures, and Carol Rose's Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins.