My favourite fictional books about witches

  • Stardust by Neil Gaiman
  • A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
  • Wicked by Gregory Maguire
  • The mortal instruments and the infernal devices by Cassandra Clare
  • Harry potter series by J.K. Rowling

Tuesday 14 January 2014

Typical characteristics of a witch

Question 6 of my survey was:
What are the typical characteristics of a witch?

The words that were repeated throughout the responses were stereotypical of a witch in a Disney film such as;
1. Female
2. Pointed hat
3. Pointed nose
4. Boils/warts on face
5. Broomstick
6. Cackly voice
7. Dark clothing
8. Couldrons
9. Potions
10. Evil
11. Mean
12. Cats
13. Powerful
14. Black magic
15. In touch with nature

Apart from 13 or 15, to me these seemed a bit childish and it was evident that the image of a witch is what films and literature have made them appear to be, which is an old woman who makes potions and has an evil laugh. This however is not how witches that I have been in contact with would describe themselves. It was surprising to me that throughout the entire survey, there was not one mention of wizards or warlocks at all from any responses.

Other words that were used to describe witches int his question but not repeated in other peoples answers were;
Green complexion
Bent double
Spiritual
Strong sense of wrong and right
Isolated
Witchcraft
Sacrifices
Whatever the establishment wants them to be
Devil worship
Healers
Destroyers
Eccentric
Occult
Alternative
Supernatural
Square feet
Threatening
Religious
Ordinary
Mediums
Hairy chin
Spells
Long. Fingernails

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