- Jenny Greenteeth
Jenny Greenteeth is a figure in
English folklore . A riverhag , similar toPeg Powler , she would pull children or the elderly into the water and drown them. She was often described as green-skinned, with long hair, and sharp teeth. She is called Jinny Greenteeth inLancashire , but inCheshire andShropshire she is called Ginny Greenteeth, Wicked Jenny, or Peg o' Nell.She is likely to have been an invention to frighten children from dangerous waters similar to the Slavic
Rusalka , the Kappa in Japanese mythology, or Australia'sBunyip , but other folklorists have seen her as a memory of sacrificial practices. [Carole B. Silver, "Strange and Secret Peoples: Fairies and Victorian Consciousness", p 155-6 ISBN 0-19-512100-6]The name is also used to describe pondweed or
duckweed , which can form a continuous mat over the surface of a small body of water, making it misleading and potentially treacherous, especially to unwary children. With this meaning, the name is common aroundLiverpool and south westLancashire [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0015-587X(1983)94%3A2%3C247%3ALMAJG%3E2.0.CO%3B2-A]In popular culture
Jenny Greenteeth inspired the lake monster (Meg Mucklebones) in the
Ridley Scott fantasy film "Legend".Jenny Greenteeth made an appearance in the
Hellboy short story "The Corpse".She also made an appearance in
Terry Pratchett 's "The Wee Free Men " as well asChristopher Golden 's "The Myth Hunters ".Jenny Greenteeth has made an appearance as one of the leading characters in
London Falling , a short story in 2000AD.The English comedian Dave Spikey mentions Jenny Greenteeth in his stand up act though he was told she would come up through the cracks in the pavement and suck out their bone marrow if you stayed out after dark.
Jenny Greenteeth makes an appearance in the fictional children's story "Nellie Longarms will get you if you don't watch out". [ [http://www.nellielongarms.co.uk Nellie Longarms ] ]
Jenny Greenteeth features as one of the mythical animated creatures in 'Rumpus Mansion', a haunted house attraction at the Isle of Wight theme park, Blackgang Chine.
In Jim Butcher's
Dresden Files , Jenny Greenteeth appears in the form of a beautiful young woman, the handmaiden ofMaeve , Winter Lady and youngest of theUnseelie Queens of Faerie.The first issue of the comic book anthology PopGun contains a story called "Jenny Greenteeth" by Derek McCulloch and
Shepherd Hendrix . [ [http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11982 Comic Book Resources - CBR News: "POPGUN" - The Ultimate Comics Mixtape ] ]Jenny Greenteeth is
Monster in My Pocket #108.Jenny Greenteeth is referred to in the Torchwood novel "Something In The Water" by Trevor Baxendale (BBC Books / Ebury Press) along with other ideas about the Water Hags.
Jenny Greenteeth appears as a character in "Ink Exchange" by Melissa Marr. She is part of the Dark Faery Court.
Jenny Greenteeth appears as a minor antagonist in Mike Mignola's Hellboy story "The Corpse".
References
*Katharine Briggs, "An Encyclopeidia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Boogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures," "Jenny Greenteeth", p242. ISBN 0-394-73467-XShe may also be the inspiration for the character in Ridley Scott's "Legend".
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