Magic item

Fairy tales

Certain kinds of fairy tales have their plots dominated by the magic items they contain. One such is the tale where the hero has a magic item that brings success, loses the item either accidentally (The Tinder Box) or through an enemy's actions (The Bronze Ring), and must regain it to regain his success. Another is the magic item that runs out of control when the character knows how to start it but not to stop it: the mill in Why the Sea Is Salt or the pot in Sweet Porridge. A third is the tale in which a hero has two rewards stolen from him, and a third reward attacks the thief.

Types of magic items

Many works of folklore and fantasy include very similar items, that can be grouped into types. These include:

• Magic swords
• Sentient weapons
• Magic rings
• Cloaks of invisibility
• Potions
• Magic carpets
• Seven-league boots
• Fairy ointments
• Wands

Artifacts

In role-playing games and fantasy literature, an artifact is a magical object with great power. Often, this power is so great that it cannot be duplicated by any known art allowed by the premises of the fantasy world, and often cannot be destroyed by ordinary means. Artifacts often serve as MacGuffins, the central focus of quests to locate, capture, or destroy them. The One Ring of The Lord of the Rings is a typical artifact: it was alarmingly powerful, of ancient and obscure origin, and nearly indestructible.

In fiction

In ''Dungeons & Dragons''

Main article: Magic item (Dungeons & Dragons)#Artifacts

In Dungeons & Dragons, artifacts are magic items that either cannot be created by players or the secrets to their creation is not given. In any event, artifacts have no market price and have no hit points (that is, they are indestructible by normal spells). Artifacts typically have no inherent limit of using their powers. Under strict rules, any artifact can theoretically be destroyed by the sorcerer/wizard spell Mordenkainen's Disjunction, but for the purposes of a campaign centered on destroying an artifact, a plot-related means of destruction is generally substituted. Artifacts in D&D are split into two categories. Minor artifacts are common, but they can no longer be created, whereas major artifacts are unique – only one of each item exists.{{cite book

In ''Harry Potter''

Main article: Magical objects in Harry Potter

In the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, several magical objects exist for the use of the characters. Some of them play a crucial role in the main plot. There are objects for different purposes such as communication, transportation, games, storage, as well as legendary artifacts and items with dark properties.

References

References

1. Ogden, Daniel (1999). "Binding Spells : Curse Tablets and Voodoo Dolls in the Greek and Roman Worlds". ''Witchcraft and Magic in Europe. Ancient Greece and Rome.'' London: Athlone. {{ISBN. 0-485-89002-X
2. Shippey, T. A. (2003). ''The Road to Middle-earth : How J.R.R. Tolken Created a New Mythology.'' Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. {{ISBN. 0-618-25760-8, page 77
3. Stith Thompson, ''The Folktale'', p 70-1, University of California Press, Berkeley Los Angeles London, 1977
4. Stith Thompson, ''The Folktale'', p 73, University of California Press, Berkeley Los Angeles London, 1977
5. Stith Thompson, ''The Folktale'', p 72, University of California Press, Berkeley Los Angeles London, 1977