Chapter 6: Fantastic Literature Fantasy & Science Fiction
Defining Fantastic Literature
- Fantastic Literature includes folklore, fantasy, and science fiction - Seeks to explain and explore the mysteries of the world, the universe, and the behavior of we humans who inhabit it - Allows authors to explore ideas that would be difficult to confront through realistic fiction - Writers of fantastic literature often grapple with issues and ideas so serious that they would be difficult to explore in realistic fiction for children o The consequences of war, cruelty, enslavement, and greed History of Fantastic Literature - Children in the mid-nineteenth century had little time to be children so literature provided a fantasy escape from harsh reality - Alices Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking Glass (1871) by Charles Dodgson are the first significant words of fantasy for children - Flourished in the twentieth century o Peter pan (1904), the Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902), the Wizard of Oz (1900), The Chronicles of Narnia (1950) Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings - Science fiction was introduced by Hugo Gernsback in the late 1920s o escapist literature o Rocket Ship Galileo (1947) o Today, there is still a debate whether fantasy and science fiction are one genre Quality in Fantastic Literature - Setting o Becomes believable when an author provides which details that enable a reader to envision them o In fantastic literature, effective setting are detailed and believable with the context of the story - Plot o The story events are imaginative, yet logically consistent within the story world - Characters o Have multidimensional personalities who behave consistently, respond to events in a believable fashion, and grow and change across the course of the story - Style o How a writer chooses to tell a story Structure, syntax, word choice Rich images and vivid figurative language - Theme o The themes are meaningful, causing readers to think about life The monumental struggle between good and evil, what is means to be human, and the consequences of pride Fantasy - Explores the struggles between good and evil - Depicts a quest for personal identity - Animal characters - Magic and magic realism - Discusses complex issues Quests & Fantasy Worlds - Many fantasy stories are quest tales set in a well-developed fantasy world, where a protagonist leaves home to accomplish a goal, find him/herself and returns a wiser, better person. Magic & Magic Realism - Travel through time & space - Fantastical & magical beings - Enchanted objects Literary Love - Masterful retellings that are faithful to original folktales, but are cast in a new light by inventive authors Animal Fantasy - Attributes human thought, feeling, and language to animals Science Fiction - Geared more towards an adolescent audience - Offers deep questioning, but relates to future realities based on scientific possibilities. Struggles for identity, independence, or even sense of purpose Fantastic Literature in the Classroom - First literature children grow to love - Encourage students to explore fantastic literature - Make them wonder - Discuss sensitive topics - Helps ESL and new students - Expand their imagination