Fantasy Literature: Term, Origin and Concept
Term: Fantasy literature is a genre of fiction that creates imaginative and often magical worlds. This realm of storytelling typically includes fantastical elements such as mythical creatures, supernatural abilities, and invented settings that defy the laws of our reality.
Origin and Concept
- Rooted in Folklore and Mythology: The essence of fantasy literature stems from ancient folklore, myths, and legends passed down across cultures. Think of tales filled with dragons, fairies, gods, and heroes.
- Medieval Romances: Medieval works like the tales of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, with their chivalric quests and magical elements, established a foundation for the rich tradition of fantasy.
- 19th-Century Romanticism and Gothic Literature: This period brought on a sense of wonder and the exploration of the uncanny and supernatural, further shaping the themes that define fantasy.
- The Birth of Modern Fantasy: Authors like George MacDonald, Lord Dunsany, and later J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis created iconic fantasy worlds, solidifying the conventions of the genre.
- Ongoing Evolution: Today, fantasy continues to branch out into various subgenres, exploring diverse magical systems, social themes, and complex characters.
Features of Fantasy Literature
- Magic and the Supernatural: Fantasy worlds often incorporate magic as a fundamental element. This could include spells, potions, magical artifacts, or supernatural beings with extraordinary abilities.
- Example: The wizarding world of Harry Potter, with its wands, charms, and magical creatures.
- Mythical Creatures: Fantastical beasts are a staple of the genre. They range from dragons and unicorns to goblins, trolls, and creatures entirely dreamed up by the author.
- Example: Smaug the dragon in Tolkien’s The Hobbit.
- Invented Worlds (World-Building): Fantasy often takes place in detailed, imaginary worlds with their own unique histories, geographies, societies, and even laws of physics.
- Example: The elaborate world of Middle-earth in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings
- Quests, Journeys, and Prophecies: Heroes in fantasy stories frequently embark on quests, whether driven by a prophecy, destiny, or a desire to overcome evil.
- Example: Frodo’s perilous journey to destroy the One Ring in The Lord of the Rings.
- Good vs. Evil: The conflict between good and evil is a recurring theme, often on a grand scale with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.
- Example: The battle against Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter series.
- Themes of Growth and Self-Discovery: Fantasy heroes often experience tremendous personal growth and discover hidden strengths as they face challenges.
- Example: The coming-of-age journeys of characters like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson.
Critical Approaches to Study Fantasy Literature
| Literary Theory | Application to Fantasy Literature |
| Psychoanalytic Criticism | Explores the unconscious desires, motivations, and symbolism represented in fantasy worlds, creatures, and characters. For example, analyzing the dragon as a symbol of repressed desires. |
| Feminist Criticism | Examines the portrayal of women and gender roles within fantasy. Questions traditional tropes like the “damsel in distress” and explores portrayals of female power and agency. |
| Marxist Criticism | Analyzes fantasy settings through a lens of class struggle, power dynamics, and societal structures. Examines how fantasy worlds may reflect or critique real-world social hierarchies. |
| Structuralism | Focuses on underlying patterns and structures within fantasy narratives, such as the recurring motifs of good vs. evil or the hero’s journey. |
| Postcolonial Criticism | Explores themes of colonialism, power imbalances, and cultural representation within fantasy settings. Investigates how fantasy worlds might appropriate or subvert real-world cultural influences. |
| Reader-Response Criticism | Considers the reader’s role in creating meaning from a fantasy text. Examines how a reader’s personal experiences and beliefs shape their interpretation of fantastic elements and themes. |
Examples of Fantasy Literature
- The Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien): This monumental work established many conventions of high fantasy: an epic struggle between good and evil, richly detailed invented languages, and a sweeping sense of history within its meticulously crafted world, Middle-earth.
- The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis): A classic series seamlessly blending Christian themes with timeless fantasy figures and magical adventures. Narnia invites readers to explore concepts of courage, faith, and the enduring battle between light and darkness.
- The Harry Potter Series (J.K. Rowling): A contemporary cornerstone of the genre, this series reawakened global interest in fantasy. Its accessible setting of a magical world intertwined with the familiar and emphasis on school life, friendships, and overcoming dark forces captivated a vast audience.
- A Song of Ice and Fire (George R.R. Martin): This series is noted for its subversion of traditional fantasy tropes. By focusing on political maneuvering, stark violence, and blurring the lines between heroes and villains, it popularized the ‘grimdark’ subgenre.
- The Earthsea Cycle (Ursula K. Le Guin): Le Guin’s seminal work presents a unique approach to magic rooted in the balance of nature and the concept of true names. Her focus on social and philosophical issues, alongside rich characters and vivid world-building, elevated the literary quality of the fantasy genre.
Keywords in Fantasy Literature
| Keyword | Brief Definition |
| Magic | Supernatural forces or abilities that defy natural laws |
| Quest | A journey or mission undertaken by a hero |
| Prophecy | A prediction of future events, often with great significance |
| Mythical Creatures | Imaginary beings rooted in folklore or invented by the author (e.g., dragons, elves, etc.) |
| World-Building | The creation of a fictional setting with its own history, geography, and societal rules |
| Epic | A grand-scale narrative, often centered on a high-stakes conflict |
| Good vs. Evil | The clash between opposing forces representing morality |
| Hero | A protagonist who embarks on a journey, often facing great challenges |
| Transformation | Significant change or growth experienced by a character |
| Wonder | A sense of amazement evoked by fantastical elements and the unknown |
Fantasy Literature: Suggested Readings Books
- Chokshi, Roshani. Aru Shah and the End of Time. Rick Riordan Presents, 2018.
- Gaiman, Neil. Neverwhere. William Morrow and Company, 1996.
- Le Guin, Ursula K. A Wizard of Earthsea. Parnassus Press, 1968.
- Martin, George R.R. A Game of Thrones. Bantam Books, 1996.
- Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Scholastic, 1998.
- Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings. Houghton Mifflin, 1954-1955.
Anthologies
- Datlow, Ellen, and Terri Windling, editors. The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror. St. Martin’s Press (Published annually). Note: The most effective way to locate a desired edition is through an online search or via a bookstore’s website.
- Jones, Diana Wynne, and Peter S. Beagle, editors. The Oxford Book of Fantasy Stories. Oxford University Press, 1994.
Articles
- Clute, John, and John Grant, editors. “Fantasy.” The Encyclopedia of Fantasy. Orbit, 1999. [Available online: https://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/fantasy]
- Mendlesohn, Farah. “Towards a Taxonomy of Fantasy.” Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts, vol. 13, no. 2 (50), 2002, pp. 118-132. Note: Likely requires access through a university library or a research database (e.g., JSTOR, Project MUSE).
- Spivak, Emily. “World-Building in Fantasy Fiction.” Children’s Literature in Education, vol. 14, no. 2, 1983, pp. 85-96. Note: Likely requires access through a university library or a research database.