In Stephen King’s novel It, the creature commonly uses the clown form called Pennywise.
Pennywise, often called Pennywise the Dancing Clown, is the most recognizable appearance of the entity known as It. The creature uses frightening forms tailored to its victims, but the clown persona is central to the novel’s imagery and to the character’s popular identity.
It is an ancient supernatural being that preys on the people of Derry, Maine, especially children. The story alternates between the characters’ childhood and adulthood, showing how their confrontation with the creature continues across decades. Because the entity can change shape, Pennywise is a form or persona rather than the creature’s complete nature.
The novel was published in 1986. Its adaptations have made Pennywise widely known, including the 1990 television miniseries and the two-part film adaptation released in 2017 and 2019. The adaptations emphasize the clown appearance, while the novel explores the creature’s broader mythology in greater detail.