BRAVE, BRIGHT AND BEGUILING - Representations of the Witch in Young Adult Fantasy Fiction (1990s - 2010s)

Aug 27, 2026

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This dissertation demonstrates that the character of the witch has undergone a positive transformation in young adult fantasy fiction. Building on the reclamation of the term “witch” by second-wave feminists in the 1960s, it traces the shift from earlier depictions as villainous and malicious women toward anti-patriarchal, empowering symbolism. Close readings of four novel series—Tiffany Aching, Harry Potter, The Bone Witch, and Women of the Otherworld—use genre conventions to show how witches become brave, bright, and beguiling figures rather than monstrous hags.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages325

Reading Time8 h 21 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction: Young Adult Fantasy and the Witch

Research Questions and Thesis Statement

The Challenge of Defining Fantasy: An Overview of the Genre

Between Children’s Literature and Adulthood: What is Young Adult Fiction?

A Thriving Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Fiction

A Brief History Lesson: The Witch Figure in Real Life

The Literary Witch and Young Adult Fiction

Young Adult Witches: Justification of Primary Sources

CHAPTER 1. SHIFTING ROLES: REDIFINING THE WITCH ASA HEROIN TERRY PRATCHETT’S TIFFANYACHING SERIES

Imaginary Realms: Terry Pratc

BRAVE, BRIGHT AND BEGUILING Representations of the Witch in Young Adult Fantasy Fiction (1990s—2010s) LAURA LUQUE i BRUGUÉ 􀀄􀀆􀀎􀀇􀀌􀀍􀀉􀀊􀀇􀀋􀀍􀀃 Lʼaccés als continguts dʼaquesta tesi queda condicionat a lʼacceptació de les condicions dʼúsestablertes per la següent llicència Creative Commons: [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/?lang=ca](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/?lang=ca) 􀀄􀀆􀀎􀀇􀀌􀀍􀀇􀀋􀀅􀀉􀀄􀀃 El acceso a los contenidos de esta tesis queda condicionado a la aceptación de las condiciones de uso establecidas por la siguiente licencia Creative Commons: [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/?](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/?) [lang=es](lang=es) 􀀏􀀄􀀌􀀋􀀉􀀋􀀈􀀃 The access to the contents of this doctoral thesis it is limited to the acceptance of the use conditions set by the following Creative Commons license: [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/?lang=en](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/?lang=en) BRAVE, BRIGHT AND BEGUILING Representations of the Witch in Young Adult Fantasy Fiction (1990s – 2010s) LAURA LUQUE i BRUGUÉ PhD Thesis in English Studies BRAVE, BRIGHT AND BEGUILING Representations ofthe Witch in Young Adult Fantasy Fiction (1990s – 2010s) Candidate: LAURA LUQUE i BRUGUÉ Thesis Supervised by: Dr. SARA MARTÍN ALEGRE Departament de Filologia Anglesa i de Germanística Facultat de Filosofia i Lletres Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona 2023 ABSTRACT This dissertation aims to demonstrate that the character of the witch has undergone a positive transformation within young adult fantasy fiction. After second-wave feminists reclaimed the term ‘witch’ in the 1960s, more positive representations ofthe character indifferent media have appeared. Mostly depicted as a villain and a maleficent woman until the recent past, the witch has now become an anti-patriarchal symbol in many cultural expressions. The four series of novels analysed in this dissertation, namely Terry Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching series (2003-2015), J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter series (1997- 2007), Rin Chupeco’s The Bone Witch trilogy (2017-2019) and Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series (2001-2012), portray the witch under a positive light and dismantle the notion of the witch as a wicked character. Although the witch has been thoroughly researched within historical and cultural studies, there is a dearth regarding her current representation in young adult fantasy fiction. Thus, through a close reading of the selected texts and an understanding of how the witch has been previously depicted in fiction, as well as considering how the fantasy and young adult genres operate, this thesis explores how the witches present in young adult fantasy fiction are no longer monstrous hags but brave, bright and beguiling characters. By analysing how fantasy is used in each of the texts analysed, together with the conventions of young adult fiction I shall provide evidence of the character’s transformations. Keywords: witch, YA fiction, fantasy, feminism, female hero, Rin Chupeco, The Bone Witch trilogy, J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter series, Terry Pratchett, Tiffany Aching series, Kelley Armstrong, Women of the Otherworld ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Sara Martín, for her willingness to embark on this journey with me, and for the patience, understanding and encouragement she has shown me for the past 5 years. I started working with Dr. Martín for my MA dissertation and her knowledge and experience have been of the utmost importance for my own academic growth. I have learnt a great deal from her and it has been a pleasure to work with her. I can only hope to ever be as knowledgeable and experienced as she is. I would also like to extend my thanks to the other professors from the English Department. I started my English Studies degree in 2010 , and I have the utmost respect and admiration for all the professors in the department who, in one way or another, have contributed to the enhancement of m

FAQs

How does the dissertation describe changes in the portrayal of witches in young adult fantasy fiction?

It argues that witches shift from villainous, malicious figures to anti-patriarchal symbols and empowered characters, described as brave, bright, and beguiling.

Which novel series are analyzed to support the transformation of the witch character?

The dissertation analyzes Terry Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching series, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Rin Chupeco’s The Bone Witch trilogy, and Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series.

What research method and lens does the dissertation use to explain these portrayals?

It uses close reading of selected texts alongside an understanding of how witches were previously depicted, while also considering how fantasy and young adult genres operate.

Aug 27, 2026

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