In
mythology, and in the study of
folklore and
religion, a
trickster is a character in a story (
god,
goddess,
spirit,
man,
woman, or
anthropomorphisation), which exhibits a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge, and uses it to play tricks or otherwise disobey normal rules and conventional behaviour. It is suggested by G.P. Hansen that the term "Trickster" was probably first used in this context by
Daniel G. Brinton in 1885.