Fantasy Study Guide

Animal Fantasies

• Animals talk and exhibit human emotions
• A familiar theme: the magic only works if one remains childlike and innocent, untainted by the evils of adult society.
• Became popular in the 20th century
• Beatrix Potter’s picture book fantasies were among the first true examples of the genre in which animals are the chief focus
• Animal fantasy constitutes a form of literary symbolism, the animal characters symbolizing human counterparts, and these fantasies are often vehicles for exploring human emotions, values, and relationships.
• The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Wind in the Willows, Charlotte’s Web

Toy Fantasies

• Stories of toys that come to life
• Modern toy fantasies are typically found in picture-book format
• Winnie-the-Pooh, Pinocchio, Corduroy, Alexander and the Wind-up Mouse

Magical Fantasies and Tall Tales

• In many magical fantasies, the magic itself becomes the subject of the story
• In a tall tale the exaggeration is taken to absurdity
• Mary Poppins, The Five Children and It, Pippi Longstocking, Paul Bunyan, Johnie Appleseed

Enchanted Journeys and Alternative Worlds

• Enchanted journeys typically begin in the real world and then, by some device the principle character is allowed to enter the enchanted realm.
• The journey may have some purpose, but that purpose is often overshadowed by the thrill offered by the extraordinary events that happen in the fantasy world.
• Plots are usually loose and episodic - a string of events that center around the main character.
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Heroic or Quest Fantasy

• We share the exploits and adventures of the hero
• Usually tightly woven, with all of the action directed toward a single purpose – the triumph of good over evil
• Frequently features a quest for identity
• The central character acts decisively
• Plot consists of a series of adventures
• Themes: the necessity for good to overcome evil, the defense of an entire society, the search for a rightful ruler
• The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Dark is Rising series

Science Fiction and Space Fantasy

• Usually focuses on life in the future
• Can closely resemble heroic fantasy, with magic replaced by technology
• Typically does not contain humor
• When the Tripods Came, A Wrinkle in Time, The Runaway Robot