What Are Boggarts?

So when I found out that house elves in Harry Potter stories are Brownies in English stories, I also discovered that Brownies and Boggarts are related. I wouldn't have guessed that when boggarts jumped out of closets and turned into dementors, Snape, spiders, and other things. Did you?

Here is a description of Boggarts from Creatures of English Folklore:

Brownie
A generic term for fairies in England and Scotland, they were generally benevolent but could turn bad if they were neglected. They were small in appearance and wore brown clothing.

Boggart
A type of brownie, who caused poltergeist activity, they were common in Lancashire, and many places are named after them. Boggart Clough, near Manchester, The Boggart Stones, Boggart Lane etc.

Dobby
A hobgoblin belonging to Yorkshire and Lancashire. Dobby stones were stones onto which fairy offerings were placed.

Dobie
A type of Brownie.


Now, let's see what else I can find out about Boggarts!

cool nice thanks.

Hmm... I was going to look up House-Elfs and Boggarts in Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them, to compare the discription with the ones you gave, but they aren't there. I wonder why.

Interesting. I just went and looked for myself. I see Boggarts listed as:

Boggart: A shape-shifting monster; takes the form of whatever it thinks will frighten those near it.

But I don't see house elves listed (which is the name JKR uses instead of the traditional Brownie.)

wow how interesting this is the end o my brownie eating days!!!!!!!!!!!

That's so funny! I never really made that connection between the food, and not the food.

i will eat no more brownies!!!!!!!!!. Boggarts are suppose to be ugly and nasty right?

ok food?

We are talking about the creaters. She just mentioned food, because the creature and the food have the same name.

yeah that's why i mentioned it.