Fantasy: Difference between revisions

The earlier works of fantasy, such as the [[Iliad]] and the [[Odyssey]], contributed prominent elements to the modern day genre, such as  themes of transformation and journeys to exotic lands.<ref>Kelleghan, 2002</ref> Because of its lengthy and rich heritage, fantasy is believed to be the antecedent of other literary genres.<ref>Kelleghan, 2002</ref>  

One of the defining traits of the genre of fantasy is magic. It’s the most basic element of fantasy. Magic is something humans can’t perform, which makes the task intriguing to readers. Magic is that in which charms, spells or rituals are used in order to produce a supernatural event.<ref>McGowen, Karlene. "Fantasy Books: There's a Whole Other World Out There". Web. 7 July 2015. <http://teachers.yale.edu/curriculum/viewer/initiative_06.03.08_u >.</ref> For example Harry Potter finds out at the age of eleven he has magical abilities.  

Other worlds are an imaginative creation by the author of a place that is nothing like earth. It is a completely imagined world where anything can happen and is only limited by the author's imagination. The characters can also have the ability to jump between two worlds.<ref>McGowen, Karlene. "Fantasy Books: There's a Whole Other World Out There". Web. 7 July 2015. <http://teachers.yale.edu/curriculum/viewer/initiative_06.03.08_u >.</ref> For example, in C.S Lewis The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe the characters are able to [[Narnia]] from England through a magical wardrobe.

Universal themes are also needed. The most basic of these is good versus evil. There's always a good guy trying to fight for what is right against the powerful force of a bad guy.<ref>McGowen, Karlene. "Fantasy Books: There's a Whole Other World Out There". Web. 7 July 2015. <http://teachers.yale.edu/curriculum/viewer/initiative_06.03.08_u >.</ref>  For example, in the Harry Potter series the good and evil could be Harry and [[Voldemort]]. Other themes include Love and Friendship, Death, Isolation, etc.  

Special character types are abundant in fantasies. Some examples are fairies, giants, ogres, dragons, witches, unicorns and centaurs. A good author can shape the character in such a way that the reader has no problem believing that such a being could exist.<ref>McGowen, Karlene. "Fantasy Books: There's a Whole Other World Out There". Web. 7 July 2015. <http://teachers.yale.edu/curriculum/viewer/initiative_06.03.08_u >.</ref>  

The use of talking animals or [anthropomorphism] in fantasy stories can be used for several purposes. Sometimes the animals can talk to humans, as in [[James in the Giant Peach]] or The Chronicles of Narnia. Then sometimes the animals only talk amongst each other and are incapable of talking with humans, as in [[Charlotte's Web]], [[Redwall]] or [[Rabbit Hill]]. The need and use for communication is prevalent in both types.<ref>McGowen, Karlene. "Fantasy Books: There's a Whole Other World Out There". Web. 7 July 2015. <http://teachers.yale.edu/curriculum/viewer/initiative_06.03.08_u >.</ref>

Fantastic objects help the characters perform their task. Many times these objects become almost a character in themselves. Many times characters need such an object to make themselves complete.<ref>McGowen, Karlene. "Fantasy Books: There's a Whole Other World Out There". Web. 7 July 2015. <http://teachers.yale.edu/curriculum/viewer/initiative_06.03.08_u >.</ref> In Harry Potter, J. K Rowling writes, “…the wand chooses the wizard.” The wand has emotions and can feel, making it a character. Also in the series, [[The Sorting Hat]] chooses the house to which each wizard or witch belongs.

Portal fantasy begins with a magical doorway connecting two worlds separated by space and time. The hero passes through a portal, willingly, or is summoned to the other world. Plots usually consist of the protagonist trying to return home.<ref> "Portal Fantasy." Best Fantasy Books. Web. 7 July 2015 http://bestfantasybooks.com/portal-fantasy.html</ref>However, this is not always the case. In ''Harry Potter'', the main characters prefer to be in the magical world versus the Muggle world.  

Portal fantasies are often about ensuring that multiple worlds stay divided.<ref> "Portal Fantasy." ''Best Fantasy Books''. Web. 7 July 2015 http://bestfantasybooks.com/portal-fantasy.html</ref> In the ''Harry Potter'' series, it is a priority that Muggles have no idea the wizard world exists. Ultimately, portal fantasy is a versatile and an open-ended genre where anything is possible. <ref>"Portal Fantasy." ''Best Fantasy Books''. Web. 7 July 2015. http://bestfantasybooks.com/portal-fantasy.html</ref>

Folklore comes from tales passed down by word of mouth. It is made up of informal expressions passed around long enough to have become recurrent in form and content, but changeable in performance.<ref>Grey, Elspeth. "Folklore: An Appeal to Fantasy Authors to Get It Right." That Character Dies. 16 Dec. 2013. Web. 2 July 2015. <https://thatcharacterdies.wordpress.com/2013/12/17/folklore-an-appeal-to-fantasy-authors-to-get-it-right/>.</ref> This sub-genre consist of myths, legends, fables, and fairy tales.  

A myth is that which occurs in time-out-of-time. It is concerned with why the world is the way it is and unfolds in a setting that is distinct from time or place as it is currently recognized.<ref>Grey, 2013</ref> Myths are stories from every culture that, for centuries, have explained natural phenomena and answered questions people have about the human condition; origin and creation stories, stories about life, death, and life after death.<ref>"The Fable, Folktale, Myth, Legend: Differences and Examples-Video and Lesson Transcript." Study.com. 2003-2015. Web. 7 July 2015. http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-fable-folktale-myth-legend-differences-and-examples.html</ref>  

Fairytales are short stories, typically with no author. It is still recognizable despite many variations of the story. A fairytale is similar to myths, legends and fables. It can be either told orally or in text. The content of the story can be historical, and usually has a moral lesson. Fairytales typically feature European folkloric fantasy characters, such as dwarfs, elves, fairies, giants, gnomes, goblins, mermaids, trolls, or witches, and magic or enchantments.<ref>"Fairy Tale." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 5 July 2015. Web. 7 July 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_tale</ref> These type of stories withstand long periods of time because they are an embodiment of a culture, contain fundamental human truths by which people have lived for centuries, or they are simply entertaining.<ref>http://www2.nkfust.edu.tw/~emchen/CLit/Folk_lit.htm</ref>

Magical realism is a subgenre of fantasy that fuses realistic fiction with magical elements that creates a mythical perception of the real world.  Alejo Carpentier refers to magical realism as “unexpected alteration of reality … and unaccustomed insight that is singularly favored by the unexpected richness or an amplification of the scales categories of reality”.<ref>"Magical Realism." Magical Realism. Web. 3 July 2015. <http://www3.dbu.edu/mitchell/magical.htm></ref> Unlike most science fiction or fantasy genres, magical realism is not speculative.<ref>"Magical Realism." Magical Realism. Web. 3 July 2015. <http://www3.dbu.edu/mitchell/magical.htm></ref> Magical realists tell stories from a real world perspective, but the reader is to experience a different reality rather than the objective. <ref>

Magical realism does not use imaginary or unseen devices such as angels or ghosts to make the story fanatical. Magical realism stresses normal elements of the world. This type of setting is intended to make the reader feel as if they are in a different world. Readers can often view the reality in two different ways. With magical elements amplifying the state of mind of the reader, time and space are often challenged, and the identity is often broken.<ref>"Magical Realism." Magical Realism. Web. 3 July 2015. <http://www3.dbu.edu/mitchell/magical.htm></ref>