Settings transcends the world of reality.

The fantasy world is vividly and convincingly described, regardless of

how fantastical it may be.

Characters are well developedand behave in believable ways.

Plots are well structured and believable too.

They have logical actions.

Themes reflect the same

universal ideas presented in other forms of children’s literature.

Themes are woven into the story and developed metaphorically through the

characters and their actions.

Tone is often serious, though stories are often light, airy and

humorous.Fantasy is perfectly suited to the

thoughtful exploration of philosophical issues at a level that can be understood

and appreciated by the child reader.

originated orally has no author

For example:

“Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and “Little Red Riding

Hood.”

Peculiarities of Traditional Fantasy

Traditional stories differ in various ways from modern writings, and therefore, are held to a different critical

standard.

Characters must be well developed in modern stories, but in traditional tales character development is lean

and spare.(Ex. Cinderella)

Traditional tales, then, are stories of the human experience told in primary colors.

Plots are also simple and direct in Traditional Fantasy. They are often stories that show the

underdog making good and success is often obtained against overwhelming odds, such as accomplishing

an impossible task.

Story lines are accompanied by typical themes, such as the rewards of mercy, kindness, and

perseverance; justice particularly the punishment of evil; and the power of love.

Peculiarities of Traditional Fantasy

Another hallmark of traditional fantasy is repeated patterns or elements.

Ex. The magical number three appears frequently in tales: Rumpelstiltskin’s three evenings of spinning straw

into gold, Cinderella’s three visits to the ball

Peculiarities of Traditional Fantasy

1.Folktales or Stories of the People

They are called "folk" because they are part of the oral tradition handed down

from generation to generation by the folk.

A. Cumulative TalesThese stories are added upon as the

telling unfolds. The story is told up to acertain point, then begun again from nearthe beginning and told until a new segmentis added.

Ex. “I know an Old Lady”

1. Folktales or Stories of the People

A. Cumulative TalesEx. “I know an Old Lady”

I know an old lady who swallowed a cowI don't know how she swallowed the cowShe swallowed the cow to catch the goatShe swallowed the goat to catch the dogShe swallowed the dog to catch the catShe swallowed the cat to catch the bird

She swallowed the bird to catch the spiderThat wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside

her

1. Folktales or Stories of the People

B. Pourquoi Tales These folktales answer questions

or give explanations for the waythings are, particularly in nature.

Ex. “Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ear”

1. Folktales or Stories of the People

C. Beast Tales- are stories with animals as the

principal players.Ex. “The Three Little Pigs” and “The Three

Billy Goats Gruff”

1. Folktales or Stories of the People

D. Noodlehead or Numbskull TalesThese humorous stories center on theescapades of characters who are not toobright.

Ex. “Epaminondas” and “Hans in Luck”

1. Folktales or Stories of the People

E. Trickster TalesOften a variety of beast tales, the trickstertale features a character who outsmartseveryone else in the story.

Ex. “Br’er Rabbit from the Uncle Remusstories”

1. Folktales or Stories of the People

E. Realistic TalesRealistic tales seem to have their basis in anactual historical event or an actual figurefrom history.

Ex. “Dick Whittington’s Cat”

1. Folktales or Stories of the People

E. Fairy TalesOf all the folktales, the fairy tale, or wondertale, is the most magical. In fairytales wesee enchantments that go beyond talkinganimals to fairy godmothers, wickedwitches, magical objects and the like.

Ex. “Snow White”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp”

2. Tall Tales

Exaggeration is the major stylistic element in tall tales. Tall characters were

based either on actual people or on a composite of rough-and-tumble

lumberjacks, sailors, or cowboys.Ex. “The Seven Chinese Brothers”

3. Fables

Fables are brief stories meant to teach a lesson, and they usually conclude with a

moral such as “Haste makes waste.”Ex. “ Collection of Aesop’s Fables”

4. Myths

Myths grew out of people’s need to understand and explain the world around

them and their own existence; they therefore recount the creation and tell of the gods and goddesses who control the

fate of human.Ex. “In the Beginning: Creation Stories from

Around the World (1988)”

5. Epics, Ballads, and Legends

Epics are lengthy hero tales or even a series of tales focusing on a hero.

(Ex. “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey”)

Ballads are typically hero stories in poetic form.

(Ex. “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey”)

Legends. The heroes in legends are rooted a bit more firmly in history.

Ex. (“The Iliad” and “The Odyssey”)

So, The Iliad could be considered an epic and a legendary ballad. Another example, King

Arthur also lives in epic, ballad, and legend.

6. Religious Stories

Stories derived from the sacred writings of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism,

Islam, and other religions of the world contribute to this arena of traditional

literature.Ex. “Baboushka and the Three Kings”

“Buddha Stories (1997)” “And the Earth Trembled (1996)”

Modern fantasy is often categorized by the type of fantastic story element

employed.

1. Toys and objects imbued with life

(Ex. “Pinocchio” by Carlo Collodi)

2. Tiny humans(Ex. “The Borrowers” by Mary Norton)

3. Peculiar characters and situationsEx. “Mary Poppins” by P.L. Travers

4. Imaginary worldsEx.“Alice in the Wonderland” by Lewis

Carroll

5. Magical powersEx. “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” by

J.K. Rowling

6. Supernatural TalesEx.“Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story” by

Mary Downing

7. Time-warp fantasiesEx. “Tom’s Midnight Garden” by Philippa

Pearce

8. High fantasyEx.“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”

by C.S Lewis

1. Magic

Magic is fantasy literature’s most basic element

2. Other worlds or Secondary

Worlds

In much of fantasy, a special geography or universe is established,

a place wherein magic may freely operate.

2. Other worlds or Secondary Worlds

Authors employ two common methods of incorporating a secondary world to their

stories.

1. The first and most common is simply setting the entire tale in an

imaginary place.Ex. Middle Earth in “The Hobbit” by J.R.R

Tolkien

2. The second method takes the character from our primary world

into a secondary world through some sort o portal.

Ex. Through the wardrobe in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis

3. Good versus Evil

This basic theme gives rise to the conflict in a story.

4. Heroism

The hero’s quest will always follow an old-age pattern that is the backbone of

many of today’s fantasy stories.

5. Special Character Types

Fantasies may include characters who come from either our legendary past

or an author’s vivid imagination.

6. Fantastic Objects

Characters in fantasy stories often employ magical props in

accomplishing heroic or evil deeds. These objects (magic cloaks, swords,

staffs, cauldrons, and mirrors) are imbued with power.

Ex. Harry Potter’s flying broom

1. It gives readers the sheer delight of “let’s pretend”.

2. Fantasy has the ability to work our emotions with the same vividness as a dream.

3. Another value of fantasy is its ability to develop a capacity for belief.

4. Fantasy casts light on the realities of life much as a metaphor illustrates truth in general communication. In its broad definition, metaphor is a figurative language and strengthens writing in at least three ways:

A. Metaphor speeds understanding.B. Metaphor creates interest.C. Metaphor adds emotional appeal.

End.