Magic in fiction

Plot function

Within a work of fantasy, magics helps advance the plot, often providing power for the hero of the story and/or power for those who oppose him/her. The use of magic frequently manifests itself in a transformation of the character, if not the world.

In order to carry out its function, magic often comes at a price that is equal to its value. (See Fictional magic below.)

Historical beliefs

Historically, witches like the Weird Sisters in William Shakespeare's Macbeth, wizards such as Prospero in The Tempest or characters like Doctor Faustus in Christopher Marlowe's play of the same name were widely considered to be real. Contemporary authors tend to treat magic as an imaginary idea, opting to world-build with a blank slate where the laws of reality do not carry as much weight.

Fictional magic

Fictional magic may sometimes be inspired by non-fictional beliefs and practices, but it may also come as an invention of the writer. Even when the writer uses non-fictional beliefs and practices, the effect, strength, and rules of the magic will often depend on what the writer requires to move the plot forward. Fictional magic may or may not include a detailed magic system, but when the author does not bother to systematise the magic or create rules, it is more likely that magic will be used simply at the author's convenience, rather than as a necessary plot element.

In any given fantasy magical system, the magical ability of the character is limited. Limitations can add conflict to the story and prevent characters from becoming all-powerful with magic. Fantasy writers use a variety of techniques to limit the amount of magic in a story, such as limiting the amount of spells a character has, restricting a character's magic to the use of a specific object, limiting magic to the use of certain materials and making the materials hard to find, or restricting the amount of magic a character can use due to negative consequences of using it.

How characters acquire magic

Authors introduce magic into their stories, and to their characters, in varying ways. Although there is great variation in how spontaneously magic occurs, how difficult it is to wield, and all the other rules that accompany magic, there are a handful of methods for introducing magic that can be found in many fictional works.

Magic as an innate talent

In many fantasy works, writers depict magic as an innate talent, equivalent to perfect pitch, and there is wide variation on how spontaneously magical abilities develop for a person or other being with such a talent. Characters with talents that occur spontaneously usually require training in order to control their abilities. Those who use such spontaneously generated powers are usually not called magicians or similar titles, since those terms are often reserved for characters who have dedicated their life learning to wield magic.

Magic acquired through studying

Some works treat magic as a force that is acquired through studying books and tomes, aquired simply by learning an equation or memorizing a story. Works which feature this concept often include a school where magic is taught as a main setting.

Magic bestowed by another

Magic may also be gained by having it bestowed upon one character by another, such as a pact with a devil or with other spirits, a characteristic common in folklore. In some cases, the demon may only provide the means for the would-be wizard to learn magic, or the pact may be for the devil to do the magic on the wizard's behalf, forcing the wizard to compel it to act. Sword and sorcery heroes are depicted as fighting against this type of wizard, along with crazed cults where gods or demons give power to their followers.

Magic via enchanted objects

In some works, such as fairy tales, magic items either endow the main characters with magical powers or have magical powers themselves. They are often used as plot devices or MacGuffins to drive the plot of a story. Such items may be created by magicians or powerful beings, often in the distant past, but aren't always possible to create at the present time of the story. Other fictional magical objects may have no explained past.

Wands and staves are often featured in fantasy works in the hands of wizards. Italian fairy tales put wands into the hands of the powerful fairies by the late Middle Ages and the concept was transmitted to modern fantasy.

Magic divided into separate areas

In some works, types of magic are divided by color. As in folkloric and occult tradition, the white and black magic dichotomy may also exist in these works.

Magic via words, names, or language

Some works feature magic that is performed through using words to cast spells. While many works use this method without offering an explanation for it, others do offer an explanation, which differs from one work to another.

Magical places

Some works feature magic that is tied to a certain area, such as an enchanted forest or an ancient battlefield. Such places are usually the homes of powerful magical beings. In these works, magic can only be accessed and performed in the area in question and runs out when all of the magic in the area is used up.