Stephen King’S IT is one of horror’s most iconic tales, and much of its terrifying appeal comes from the creature Pennywisea monstrous entity that takes on various terrifying forms, but the clown is the one we all know him as.
With the upcoming EN: Welcome to Derry upcoming series, I thought it would be fun to explore how Pennywise came to be.
At the heart of the story is the chilling idea of a creature that preys on children’s deepest fears, relentlessly hunting them with the ability to adapt its shape to what scares them most.
When IT targets Eddie, a young germophobe, who manifests as an infected leper. When he chases Mike, he appears as a bird inspired by a movie that recently terrified him.
Pennywise even takes on human forms like Beverly’s abusive father, going from physical abuse to an open attempt on her life. This versatility allows it IT ambush children anytime, anywhere.
King found the spark of inspiration for Pennywise in 1978 while he was writing his other epic novel, The Stand. As he crossed a bridge, a memory of a classic children’s story came to mind.
King calls back Stephen King: A Comprehensive Exploration of His Work, Life, and Influences (via Entertainment Weekly).
He said: “I thought about the story of Billy Goats Gruff, the troll who says, ‘Who’s that trapper on my bridge?’ and the whole story bounced in my head on a pogo-stick. Not the characters, but the divided time frame […] all the monsters that were a monster […] the troll under the bridge.”
The story of “Three Billy Goats Gruff” is a Norwegian folk tale first published in 1841, although its roots go back much further.
In the story, three goats try to cross a bridge under which a troll is hiding, who threatens to devour them one by one. The smaller goats manage to convince the troll to wait for the larger goat, promising it the bigger meal. When the larger goat finally crosses, he easily wins the troll:
“He flew at the troll, gouged out his eyes with his horns, tore him to pieces, body and bones, and threw him into the waterfall.”
This story has been passed down from generation to generation with slight variations and serves as both an exciting children’s tale and a lesson in how to face fear with strength.
In some versions, multiple monsters reside under the bridge, and sometimes the monster symbolizes Death itself. Other retellings omit the happy ending for the smaller goats.
Like the troll, Pennywise is the embodiment of hidden threats, a creature waiting for the right moment to unleash terror on the unsuspecting.
I like that Pennywise is an age-old fear that connects both the supernatural and folklore that have haunted people for centuries.
In ITPennywise is a nightmarish predator, a shape-shifter who taps into the primal fears of childhood. It is a manifestation of evil that, like the troll under the bridge, is always lurking, waiting for its next victim to enter its dark territory.
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
