Fantasy

Fantasy literature is a genre of narrative fiction that grows out of supernatural elements, like magic. Fantasy refers to the imaging of something that is not actually there. Sometimes coupled with the science fiction genre, fantasy differs in that it steers clear of scientific themes. In comparison, science fiction deals with elements that have not been proven but could potentially happen, and fantasy deals with elements thought to be generally impossible.

Some of the earliest works of the fantastic, such as the Iliad and the Odyssey, contributed prominent elements to the modern day fantasy, including themes of transformation and journeys to exotic lands. Because of its lengthy and rich heritage, fantasy is believed to be the antecedent from which all other genres came.

Fantasy is notable as the only form of literature that consistently blurs the boundaries between adult fiction and children’s fiction. In recent years, fantasy has conquered box offices and best seller lists with novels and novel based films, like the Harry Potter and the Lord of the Ring series. Fantasy also plays a major role in the video gaming world where players potentially write their own storylines through interactions made within the game.

Origins

Fantasy dates as far back as the third century B.C. Alexander Romance, with its earliest versions appearing in the third century, is a Greek novel about the mythical adventures of Alexander, the Great. The romance is fantastical in nature because he “battles with non-human opponents--the giant crabs, monstrous beasts, dragons or pygmy people of the lands beyond the world".

These heroes with higher powers and mythical creatures are written about even centuries later in Classical, Celtic, and Norse mythology. However, it is Greek mythology that has made the most impact on fantasy. The works all involve elements of other worlds, gods, dragons, and monsters. Greek mythology introduced other elements, including the tortured hero, like Heracles, prophecies, and monsters and beasts, like Cyclopes and Pegasus. Sphinx, Centaurs, and evil sorceress were prevalent in Greek mythology and fantasy borrows from these creatures as well.

Gillian Polack writes “if speculative fiction includes all fiction that pushes the boundaries of the known and the experience and incorporates elements of the numinous, the magical, and the inexplicable, than a range of medieval texts are readable as science fiction or fantasy”. Some of these texts might include Beowulf (ca 700 AD) and Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur (ca 1470; printed 1485), notable for the legend of King Arthur.

Other worlds are important in the plot of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels (1726) and instrumental in the development of fantasy. Brothers Grimm, with their grotesque fairy tales published between 1812-15,contributed to the genre as well.

It was during the 18th Century that contemporary fantasy first appeared in fictional traveler’s tales. In the late 19th Century, it gained popularity as its own distinct genre. For example, it was in 1977 when Brooks’ The Sword of Shannara made the bestseller list; a story of evil warlocks, other worlds, and a powerful sword. The popularity of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings were also part of the movement into mainstream culture.

Characteristics of Fantasy

Sub-genres

• Portal

Secondary World- Secondary World consists of many different fictional scenarios and mirrors the author’s thoughts, rather than what actually happens in the world itself. In this type of world things go above and beyond measures. Different fantasies have a variety of twists and plots, but in secondary world the author puts your mind in another world. It seems unreal but it explores and unveils the rules and nature of that world. Low, High, Heroic, and Dark fantasies are some different fantasies that have secondary world. High Fantasy- High Fantasies are characterized by its setting, characters, and even the plot. In these stories characters such as dragons, elves, wizards, and dwarfs can be found all over in secondary world. “The Lord of The Rings” is one the best great high fantasy novels created In Lord of The Rings the ring symbolized power and evil. The Dark Lord Sauron created this ring to overrule all other ring of powers as the supersonic weapon to overtake middle-earth. The second fantasy characteristic is the “Eye of Sauron”. The Eye represents a dark symbol. The Eye was used to protect the surroundings of Mordor, a way for Lord Sauron to see all. Heroic Fantasy- Heroic Fantasies is like a timeline of events for a character in the secondary world. Heroic is a bit different from high fantasies, its problems are generally those of the heroes, not the world. A great example of this would be, Frodo Baggins from Lord of The Rings. Frodo is a hobbit who takes on a quest with a wizard, dwarfs, and others to destroy the “ring” in the fire of Mount Doom. The journey Frodo takes is a test of survival. Having to travel thousands of miles by foot, escaping the black riders, and fighting off Sauron’s men. With Froto holding the only Ring to control middle earth. While the journey continued he lost the urge to destroy the Ring, wanting to retain the ring for himself. Eventually he gets passed “the Eye” and reaches the volcano to destroy the Ring, but Gollum attacks and bites off his finger but loses his balance and falls off the cliff, so the ring was destroyed.

• Epic Fantasy- Epic fantasy , often mistaken for high fantasy, takes its name from the tradition of epic poetry. Like epic poetry, epic fantasy novels have many characters and long, complex plots which help shape the nature of the world. Epic fantasy tales have a high level of magic and violence. Although epic fantasy can be traced back to the epic of Beowulf and Gilgamesh, epic fantasy is still the most popular sub-genre of fantasy. Modern versions of epic fantasy tend to be more complicated and realistic. The difference between right and wrong is not as easily separated. The most popular epic fantasy novels of today are J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones.
• Sword and Sorcery- Sword and Sorcery is characterized by heroes in engaging in action and violence in fast paced stories . The tales of Sword and Sorcery are narrowly focused unlike High Fantasy.Stories focus more on personal stakes and are self-contained.
• Urban Fantasy
• Folklore- Folklore comes from tales passed down by word of mouth. It’s made up of informal expressions passed around long enough to have become recurrent in form and content, but changeable in performance. This sub-genre consist of myths, legends, fables, and fairy tales. Myth is that which occurs in time-out-of-time. A myth is concerned with why the world is the way it is, and so unfolds in a setting that is distinct from time or place as it’s currently recognized. Its 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. Legend occurs in “historical time” though it typically mixes fact with fiction. Usually with legends there is doubt about its credibility. They are unexplainable tales warped by the human imagination. A legend can be either about a person or a place. For example, King Arthur, Robin Hood, Atlantis are all types of legends. Fables are described as a didactic lesson given through some sort of animal story. In Western society, the most common fables are by Aesop, consisting of short stories like The Tortoise and the Hare, and The Ant and the Grasshopper. Fairytales are short stories, typically with no author, but it still can be recognized 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 come from historical content, and usually have a moral at the end of the story. Fairytales typically feature European folkloric fantasy characters, such as dwarves, elves, fairies, giants, gnomes, goblins, mermaids, trolls, or witches, and usually magic or enchantments. These type of stories withstand long periods of time because they are and embodiment of a culture, contain fundamental human truths by which people have lived for centuries, or they are simply entertaining.
• Magic Realism
• Gothic
• The New Weird

Ann and Jeff Vandermeer state in The New Weird, New Weird is "a type of urban, secondary-world fiction that subverts the romanticized ideas about place found in traditional fantasy, largely by choosing realistic, complex real-world models as the jumping off point for creation of settings that may combine elements of both science fiction and fantasy. The New Weird has its origins in The New Wave of the 1960s. A genre that was experimental and very political in its point of view. Characteristics include the grotesque of 1980’s literature. The genre is the mix of science fiction, fantasy, and supernatural horror.

Popular authors of the New Weird include China Mieville, Richard Calder, Jonathan Carroll, James Morrow, John Crowley, and many more.

• Grimdark
• Romantic Fantasy- Romance fantasy stories share the same basic story line. The heroine has lost her place in society and must form new relationships, including social, political, and romantic relationships, in order to gain acceptance elsewhere. The heroine usually possesses magical powers and falls in love with a man who is also capable of performing magic. However, the magic in romance fantasy is much gentler. The heroine and the hero discover together how their powers can be used in order to restore good. Unlike realistic novels, romance fantasy novels can end unhappily. Although there is little to no violence, non-graphic sex is common.