Stories About Magic

This collection of stories about magic offers a range of tales that feature mythical creatures, enchanted lands, and magical occurrences. The stories cover diverse themes of transformation, love, and adventure, each containing unique magical elements.

Transformation and Curses

Several stories explore the theme of transformation through curses, where characters are changed into different forms as part of a magical spell. One such tale is The Frog Princess, where a prince is cursed to become a frog until he is kissed by a princess. Similarly, The Six Swans tells the story of a king’s sons who are turned into swans by a wicked stepmother, and their sister’s quest to break the spell. The White Doe follows Princess Desirée, who is cursed to live hidden from the sun and later transformed into a deer, only to be saved through her journey and reunion with her true love.

In another tale, Princess Miranda and Prince Hero, Princess Miranda is pursued by an evil sorcerer who casts a spell over her people. Prince Hero eventually kills the sorcerer, and their love triumphs as they are reunited. The Raven narrates a queen’s wish for her daughter to become a raven, leading to a long adventure for a man to break the enchantment and restore her human form.

Talking Animals and Magical Companions

A significant number of stories in this collection involve magical animals that play important roles in the lives of the human characters. In The Wonderful Toymaker, a young boy, Martin, embarks on a journey to Fairyland where he encounters magical toys, and the character of the toymaker helps him fulfill his quest. The White Cat tells the story of a prince who seeks a suitable successor and, with the help of a talking cat, wins through a series of magical tasks, ultimately finding happiness.

The Milk-White Horse and the Prince is another story where a magical horse helps a prince on his journey to rescue a princess from three monsters. Similarly, in The Magic Flower, the magical transformation of a neighbor’s garden through the care of a special flower brings about a change in the lives of the characters involved, highlighting the role of magic in altering reality.

Uncle Wiggily And The Magic Bottles introduces a magical bottle that changes size, which allows the titular character, Uncle Wiggily, to escape from various threats. In The Wonderful Dog and the Miraculous Cat, an old wizard befriends a dog and a cat, teaching them magic and embarking on an adventure to undo a curse on a king.

Magical Objects and Wishes

Many of the stories in this collection involve magical objects or wishes that lead to great adventures or transformations. The Box of Flames follows Joga, a poor peddler, who unlocks a magical box and finds riches that lead to further magic. In The Legend of Oliver’s Adventure, a young boy named Oliver is turned into a frog by a witch, and after many years, he regains his human form and reunites with his mother.

The story of The Poppies features a magical spell cast on a king who is placed into an eternal slumber, only to be awakened through the efforts of a young man and a witch. The enchanted flower, in this case, plays a crucial role in helping restore the king to his throne. The Magic Bonbons also introduces a magical gift, which when consumed, gives individuals extraordinary talents in performing arts, leading to unintended consequences and a whimsical exploration of magic’s power.

The Sorceress And The Pearl shows how a good king is transformed into a toad by a wicked sorceress, and with the help of a magical pearl, he regains his original form. The The Master And His Pupil is a tale about a book containing spiritual secrets, with a pupil who inadvertently summons a demon by opening it, setting off a magical crisis until the master recites the proper words to banish the demon.

Love and Relationships

Another common theme in the stories involves romantic relationships where magic plays a central role in the union or separation of lovers. In The Prince and the Ogre’s Castle, a prince and a princess are forced to confront an ogre’s curse in order to be together, overcoming magical challenges. The Golden Chain tells of a prince who is transformed into a lion on his wedding day and is later restored by his princess’s efforts, symbolizing the strength of love in breaking magical barriers.

How The Camel Got His Hump presents a different take on magical transformation, where a lazy camel is punished with a hump by a djinn, causing a shift in his character and actions. Similarly, in The Groac’h Of The Isle Of Lok, Houarn Pogamm is transformed into a frog by a fairy who offers him riches and marriage, but he is ultimately saved by his true love, Bellah, which leads to their eventual marriage.

The Legend of the Enchanted Moura is a romantic tale about the curse of the Enchanted Moura, who can only be freed by a prince speaking the right words, leading to a union based on true love and understanding. The Enchanted Boat tells of a princess who flees to an enchanted boat, where she meets a leopard-man cursed into his form, and after retrieving a golden root, breaks the spell, leading to their marriage and the restoration of the kingdom.

Mythical Creatures and Magical Beasts

Lastly, the collection includes several stories that feature mythical creatures and magical beasts that are both awe-inspiring and dangerous. How Thor Went to Jotunheim recounts the tale of the Norse god Thor and his journey to the land of giants, where he faces powerful opponents in a test of strength and wit. The Crab That Played With The Sea is a story about Pau Amma, a crab whose disobedience leads to chaos in the tides, and how a compromise is reached with a magician to restore order.

In The Enchanted Elm, a prince is turned into a tree by a witch’s curse, and through the help of a wizard, he is transformed back into human form. The characters of magical creatures like the wild man and various animal spirits, such as the magical frog in The Well Of The World’s End, also play central roles in breaking curses and helping humans achieve their destinies.

These stories about magic not only entertain with their enchanting plots but also present valuable lessons about kindness, bravery, and the power of love. Through their diverse themes and imaginative characters, they provide readers with a deep exploration of magic’s role in shaping lives and destinies.