Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1997)

Term used here for an inflicted Metamorphosis. Metamorphosis is a magic and radical change in shape experienced, normally through an act of will. by its subject. When some external agent of change is involved, the term "transformation" is preferred. The Frog Prince is transformed by a Witch; Tam Lin suffers transformation to a deer, Serpent and hot iron without breaking his Janet's grip on him; Merlin in T H White's The Sword in the Stone (1938) transforms the young Arthur into various animals as part of his education. Trent in Piers Anthony's A Spell for Chameleon (1977) is known as the Transformer for his Talent of changing any living creature into any other. [DRL/JC]

see also: Shapeshifters; Theriomorphy; Transmutation.
