Magic in fiction

Magic in fiction is the endowing of fictional characters or objects with magical powers.

Such magic often serves as a plot device, being the source of magical artifacts and their quests. Magic has long been a component of fantasy fiction, where it has been a mainstay from the days of Homer and Apuleius, down through the tales of the Holy Grail, Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene, and to more contemporary authors from J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis to Ursula K. Le Guin, Robert Jordan, Terry Brooks, J.K. Rowling, Mercedes Lackey or Derek Landy

Plot function

Within a work of fantasy, magic can function to move the plot forward, providing power for the hero of the story and/or power for those who oppose him/her. The use of magic is often a transformation of the character, if not the world.

In order to carry out its function, magic often carries a price, equal to its value. (See Limits to magic below.)

Historical beliefs

Historically, many writers who have written about fictional magicians, and the readers of such works, have believed that such magic is possible. In William Shakespeare's time, witches like the Weird Sisters in Macbeth and wizards like Prospero in The Tempest (or Doctor Faustus in Christopher Marlowe's play) were widely considered to be real. However, modern writers and readers treat magic as imaginary.

Magic item (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, a magic item is any object that has magical powers inherent in it. These may act on their own or be the tools of the character in whose hands they fall into. Magic items have been prevalent in the game in every edition and setting, from the original edition in 1974 until the modern fourth edition. In addition to jewels and gold coins, they form part of the treasure that the players often seek in a dungeon. Magic items are generally found in treasure hoards, or recovered from fallen opponents; sometimes, a powerful or important magic item is the object of a quest.

Categories

Magical items are classified into several categories, depending to a certain degree on the game edition. These categories include weapons, armor, potions, rings, scrolls and miscellaneous (or wondrous) items, and another category called "rods, staves, and wands", which is sometimes separated into its three stated components. With version 3.5 of the D&D rules, these item categories were associated with particular "feats", that a player character can acquire.

Magic item (disambiguation)

Magic item can refer to:

  • Magic item, items which contain magical power
  • Magic item (Dungeons & Dragons), for the magical items in the Dungeons & Dragons game

  • Podcasts:

    PLAYLIST TIME:

    Magic Time

    by: Van Morrison

    Don't lose the wonder in your eyes
    I can see it right now when you smile
    Let me go back, for a while
    Let me go back, for a while
    To that magic time
    You can call it nostalgia, I don't mind
    Standing on that windswept hillside
    Listenin' to the church bells chime
    Listen to the church bells chime
    In that magic time
    Oh the road it never ends
    Good to see you my old friend
    Once again we sit right down and share the wine
    Shivers up and down my spine
    It's a feeling so divine
    Let me go back for a while
    Got to go back for a while
    To that magic time
    Oh the road it never ends
    Good to see you my old friend
    Once again we'll sit down and share the wine
    And we'll go back in your prime
    The sun is gonna shine
    When we go back for a while
    When we go back for a while
    To that magic time
    Don't lose the wonder in your eyes
    It's right there when you smile
    Got to go back, for a while
    Got to go back, for a while
    To that magic time
    Call it nostalgia, I don't mind
    Standing on that windswept hillside
    Listenin' to the church bells chime
    Listenin' to the church bells chime
    In that magic time
    If we go back, for a while
    Let me go back, for a while




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