MODERN FANTASY

A PowerPoint presentation for

CIED 4023

Have You Seen This Movie?Here are a few fantasies that have been turned

into movies.The Chronicles of NarniaHarry Potter SeriesCharlotte’s WebWhere the Wild Things AreWinnie the PoohThe Golden CompassMr. Popper’s PenguinsElla EnchantedTuck EverlastingThe Wizard of OzPippi LongstockingCoralineInkheart

A Series of Unfortunate EventsWind in the WillowsStuart LittleEragonMatildaThe Percy Jackson SeriesAlice in WonderlandCharlie and the Chocolate FactoryJames and the Giant Peach

Literary Fairy Tales

Similar in form to traditional fairy tales, but have an identifiable author

Animal Fantasy

Characterized by talking animals, but differs from Beast Tales because the

author is identifiable.

The World of Toys and Dolls

These stories bring inanimate objects to life.

Eccentric Characters and Preposterous

SituationsThese are situations and characters that are “over

the top”!They may occur in

realistic settings, making them more believable.

ExtraordinaryWorlds

These tales may start out in our world, but quickly move into an

extraordinary, yet believable world.

Magical Powers

Children in these stories possess a magical object, know a magical saying, or have magical powers

themselves.

Suspense and the Supernatural

Spooky, scary stories, full of suspense and often touching on the occult.

Time-Shift FantasyBased on

characters who seem to move easily from their

own time to a long-lost point in time. Time-

travel is typically

linked to a tangible object or

place common to both eras.

Imaginary RealmsThese stories are set in

imaginary societies which resemble the Middle Ages. They may contain a quest, the struggle between good

and evil, or a human character’s search for identity. They are less

complex and lighter in tone than High Fantasy.

High FantasyThese consist of complex

narratives, often connected to sequels, which contain

recurring themes and motifs. They may be set in a created

world, and characters may call on ancient or fundamental powers, good or evil. The

focus of the story may be a quest, or the struggle between

good and evil, light and darkness. High Fantasy is

serious in nature, and deals with cosmic questions and

ultimate values.

Science

Fiction

Speculates on a world that

may someday be real in

light of current scientific

understanding.

Different from Science

Fantasy, which may use

some accurate scientific

information, but is set in an

unrealistic world.

Characteristics of Modern Fantasy

• Themes in fantasy usually deal with real world issues, such as good vs. evil, what it means to be human, and the meaning of life and death.

• Many characters, places, and motifs in fantasy are often taken from older folktales.

• The author makes the story believable in many ways:– The story is often grounded in reality before moving

into fantasy.– The setting is very detailed, especially the fantasy

worlds.– The story must be consistent for it to be believable.

Quality Fantasy Endures!• A contemporary realistic novel

may be outdated in five or ten years, but well-written fantasy endures the test of time.

• Fantasy is often timeless because of the universal questions it asks and the make-believe worlds on which the stories are based.