Fantasy
Traditional Fantasy
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Background:
Traditional tales started around the campfire and
were entertainment for adults.
Details were altered as stories were retold.
Children listened in but now these traditional
tales are geared toward children.
Definition:
The literature originated orally and has no author.
It’s typically associated with a collector or reteller.
ie. Grimm Brothers
Tales from oral tradition are a part of every culture.
Clarification:
Hans Christian Anderson & Rudyard Kipling are
modern authors who pattern their work after
traditional tales.
These are “literary tales”- modern fantasy because they
originated in written form.
Traits of Traditional Fantasy
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Characters development is lean
-not expected to develop like modern fantasy
More archetypes- symbolic of certain basic human traits.
Focus- basic human experiences= love, fear, greed, jealousy…
Plots- simple and direct, success of underdogs, overcome odds
Themes- typical and predictable ie. power of love
Settings- quickly established & in distant past; time passes fast
Patterns- ie. magical #3, refrains repeated throughout
ie. “Fee, fi, fo, fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman”
Values
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2.
1.
2.
Delight of the “let’s pretend” mode
Ability to work our emotions
-as vivid as a dream
Capacity for belief
Offer us hope
Types
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Cumulative tales- “The House that Jack Built”, “I Know an Old
Lady Who Swallowed a Fly”
Pourquoi Tales:“why”- answer questions or give explanations for
the way things are.
-“Why Bees Buzz in People’s Ears”
Beast Tales: stories with animals as main characters.
-“The Three Little Pigs”
Trickster tales: character who outsmarts everyone else.
-sly and mischievous -wise and helpful
-“Gingerbread Man”
Noodlehead/Numbskull tales- humorous stories with main
characters who aren’t so bright.
Realistic tales- basis in an actual historical event or figure
More types
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Fairy Tales- most magical, enchanted beyond animals talking,
fairy godmothers, wicked witches, magical objects…
Tall Tales- exaggeration is the key word! “Johnny Appleseed”,
“Paul Bunyan”, “Pecos Bill”
Fables- brief stories that teach a lesson and end with a moral
Myths- recount the creation of the world & tell of gods and
goddesses who control fate of humans
-Greek Mythology
-Indian Myths
Epics, Ballads and Legends-Epic: focus on hero “Beowulf”
-Ballads: hero stories in poetic form “Illiad”
-Legend: rooted more firmly into history “Robin Hood”
Religious Stories- parables and Old Testament stories
Modern Fantasy
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Working definition:
Story elements that violate the natural, physical
laws of our known world; known authors.
Background:
Difficult genre to write- author must create a
new set of physical laws and conform to them
Must have strong, believable characters; a
strong, credible plot; and examine universal
truths
Categories
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Animal Fantasy- “Charlotte’s Web”
Toys and Objects with life- “Pinocchio”
Tiny Humans- “Borrowers”
Peculiar Characters- “Mary Poppins”
Imaginary Worlds- “Alice in Wonderland”
Magical Powers- “Harry Potter”
Supernatural Tales- ghost stories
Time warp- “Tom’s Midnight Garden”
High Fantasy- “The Lion, Witch & The Wardrobe”
Modern Fairytales/Folktales- fractured fairytales
6 Basic Motifs
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Magic- main element
Other worlds-entire setting in imaginary place
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4.
-travel from our world through portal
Good vs. Evil- how it manifests in individuals
Heroism
-called to adventure, crosses into unsafe world, survive trials, assisted by
protective figure, matures and returns home
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Special character types- legendary past or author’s imagination
Fantastic Objects- employ magical props
-cloaks, swords, cauldrons, mirrors…
What about Science Fiction?
Usually put into this category
Aim:
To suggest real hypotheses about mankind’s future
or about the nature of the universe.
Futuristic fantasy- “The Giver”, “City of Ember”
Science fantasy- “Star Wars”
Metaphors:
Used often to:
-speed understanding:
make abstract more concrete with images
-create interest:
creates vivid mental images
-add emotional appeal
goes beyond intellect to emotions