Fantasy
What is fantasy?
- Its surface is UNREAL: in an extraordinary world the laws of nature are suspended.
- Its depths are REAL: these books reveal basic, balanced truths about people and life.
- Fantasy presents writing that has a strong narrative, which is often more important than characterisation.
- There is a “quest” element with a journey and goal, often epic in nature.
- Fantasy contains twists and turns in the plot and unexpected events.
- Enchantment and spells are cast and broken (e.g. toads and beasts are restored to human form; princesses sleep until woken with a kiss).
- The protagonists make moral decisions in a world in which goodness has been violated through mindless and willful (i.e. thoughtless, dishonorable, or treacherous) behaviour.
- The main characters’ object is transformation of evil so that the old (virtuous) order is restored.
- It creates a universe of its own, an imaginary world. There is close attention to detail in describing the setting.
- The terminology and names and places are extraordinary and often use created names.
- Magical objects abound (e.g. rings, stones, swords, cloaks, sandals, potions).
- Characters move from the ordinary to the magical realm, and back again.
- Challenges, obstacles, setbacks for characters are present in this genre; characters are focused on overcoming these obstacles.
- Magical creatures with diverse roles are prevalent (e.g. dwarfs, witches, giants, trolls, wizards, fairies, elves)
- The protagonists usually do not possess supernatural powers, unless such powers are temporarily needed to complete a quest or overcome evil.
- Supernatural beings are rarely the protagonists; they help or hinder the main characters.
- Strong emphasis on good versus evil, with eventual triumph of good.
- Magical or supernatural powers are usually seen as evil, and they exert influence on evil territory.
- The author draws on folklore (e.g. myth, legend, fable) which is literally untrue, and which readers immediately recognize to be larger than life and therefore fictional