1. Descibe the picture and say what it makes you think of.

Transcription

1 1. Descibe the picture and say what it makes you think of.

2 2. List the elements typically associated with fantasy fiction Find different reasons for people to like fantasy fiction.

3 FANTASY MYTHS AND HEROES What can explain the popularity of the fantasy genre? DOC #1 1. There is a gigantic dragon standing proudly at the top of a mountain. Riding the dragon is a red-caped creature that seems to be wearing a sort of armor. In the distance we can see a castle perched on a mountain top. The scene is mysterious and the scenery looks quite unreal. It makes me think of a fantasy world that looks a little bit like our world.

4 2. Elements typically associated with fantasy fiction: new world imaginary creatures dragons elves fairies magic witches wizards casting spells weird names medieval setting unicorns goblins Reasons for liking fantasy fiction: different from other fiction takes you somewhere else transports you into a whole new world so imaginative the most creative, imaginative fiction ever makes you forget everything and dream you re in a different crazy place gives us another vision of the world we live in.

5 1- ESCAPING TO A NEW WORLD

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8 AN INTERVIEW WITH GEORGE R. R. MARTIN part 1

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12 Beowulf a legend retold A- Recycling popular myths Beowulf J.R.R. Tolkien Lord of the Rings J.K. Rowling Harry Potter The Monsters and the Critics. These writers have been directly inspired by characters and storylines from Anglo-Saxon literature.

13 BEOWULF AN EPIC POEM* UNKNOWN AUTHOR TOLD ORALLY LATER PUBLISHED IN A MANUSCRIPT ( 1,000 CE) Story of Beowulf a noble warrior who fights 3 battles He fights and kills the monster Grendel / Grendel s mother and and dragon. He then dies from his wounds. The events take place in Scandinavia not medieval England during the 6th century * Epics: focus on the adventures of a noble hero

14 AN INTERVIEW WITH GEORGE R. R. MARTIN part 2 Pick out the quote given by the journalist Find references to time and say what they correspond to. Focus on the description of the first scene, pick out as many details as you can and say what happened. What did he do after inventing that scene? Pick out information relating to maps and explain their importance when writing fantasy fiction.

15 I knew that all was lost when I began to sketch a map. He knew that when he started to draw a map it meant that he had already begun to create a new universe and that he wouldn t be able to stop until he had finished. According to George R.R. Martin, writing a fantasy novel implies a complex creative process which involves designing a whole new world for the newly-created characters. These characters need to be given a genealogy just as names need to be chosen for the places in order for everything to come to life. The author draws a map in order to show how this world is spatially organised.

16 B- A created universe References to time and what they refer to: summer of 91 = thought of scene with summer snows three days = time it took to write the first chapter rest of that summer = period spent writing Game of Thrones. First scene details: characters: medieval type people on horses Event: wolf pups are discovered next to their dead mother Time, setting: in the summer snows. The scene he imagined was some people dressed as though they were from the Middle Ages who came across some wolf pups. These baby wolves were with their mother, who was dead. The action takes place in an environment where it is snowing even though it is the summer. After inventing this scene the writer was inspired to continue writing what would become the famous novel a Game of Thrones. Information relating to maps: I did indeed stop and draw the map design the world I love to think you ve just got maps and everything s mapped out on walls. Selon la production des élèves. The author considers that maps are an essential part of fantasy novels as a whole new world with people and places needs to be designed.

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18 C- Virtual heroes and heroines Avatar days

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20 D- A magical world

21 1- Watch the video and pick out the names of any authors or book you hear mentioned. 2- Say what you understand about the role of magic in fantasy fiction.

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23 D- A magical world 2. Authors and books: Tolkien Narnia Harry Potter Pratchett 3. Although magic plays an important role in fantasy fiction, it doesn t solve all the issues that the characters have to face. It is an integral part of the plot and not a miracle solution to problems.

24 Myths and heroes Notion focus # 1 FANTASY What can explain the popularity of the fantasy genre? 1- Escaping to a new world A- recycling popular myths (Beowulf) B- A created universe C- Virtual heroes and heroines D- A magical world

25 2- throwing a light on our WORLD A- Power play

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27 1- Read the text and pick out references to people and places. 2- Select the adjectives that best describe the characters attitudes : POLITE IRONIC IMPATIENT SUSPICIOUS AFRAID TRUSTFUL Deduce how they feel towards each other. 3- Find the riddle and rephrase it in your own words. Try to answer it. 4- Pick out the verbs belonging to the lexical field of power. Say what or who these verbs are connected to. Explain why Tyrion finds it difficult to answer the riddle. 5- Find Varys answer to the riddle and comment on it.

28 A- Power play 1. People: Varys (l. 1), Minister of the Council of Westeros, in charge of the realm s intelligence service; Lord Tyrion Lannister (l. 2), the new Hand (= Prime Minister) of Westeros; John Arryn and Eddard Stark (l. 23), former (dead) Hands; Joffrey (l. 46), young king of Westeros; Joffrey s father (l. 47), former king = drunken oaf (l. 49) Places: the realm (intro + l. 22): the fictional realm of Westeros, the inn (l. 29) where Tyrion met Varys. 2. Varys: polite Tyrion: suspicious. Tyrion does not trust Varys (l.16) who seems to be overly obsequious ( May I leave l. 1, slimy little smile l ) and therefore may intend to manipulate Tyrion into serving his own interests. 3. The riddle: l A king, a priest and a rich man each ask a mercenary soldier to kill the other two. The riddle consists in guessing who the soldier is going to obey. 4. Verbs: bid (l. 8) the king, the priest and the rich man; command (l. 11) the priest; serve (l ) Varys; obey (l ) the swordsman; rule (l. 43) swordsmen (sellsword (l. 6) = mercenaries); hold power (l. 44) kings; have power (l. 51) other swordsmen. Tyrion has difficulties solving the riddle because there is no clear-cut answer: each of the powerful men may influence the soldier but none has full power over him. Indeed, no one can guess who the mercenary is going to obey.

29 5. Varys explains that the answer is a matter of belief, of faith. There is no single rational source of power: the only way to make people obey is to make them believe that you have power.

30 2- throwing a light on our WORLD B- Political games

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33 As there is no democracy, the power game in Game of Thrones is obviously quite different from politics as we know it in our Western world. However, Westeros is threatened by some sort of catastrophic event which reminds us of the problem of global warming that will never be solved if politicians keep on quarreling about irrelevant political details and do not work together to tackle this major issue.

34 C- Vampires: a recurring fantasy 1- Describe the picture and deduce the meaning of the caption. 2- Read the text and explain in your own words the probable origin of the idea of vampires. 3- Pick out elements showing the ever-growing popularity of vampire fantasy fiction.

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36 RECYCLING POPULAR MYTHS (2) C- Vampires: a recurring fantasy 1- This is a poster for a TV series about Dracula, one of the most famous vampires in literature and the cinema. We can see a stormy sky, leafless trees and bats in the background, which creates a rather gloomy atmosphere. In the middle of the poster, there is a close-up on the main actor s face who is staring at the viewers. His gaze is both disturbing and fascinating, a bit like vampires, who have always been depicted as ambiguously attractive creatures.

37 2-3- We see here that fantasy is used to explain what appears to be mysterious, to help people understand reality. The vampire is thus a truly mythical creature if we refer to the original definition of myth: a traditional story concerning the early history of people or explaining a natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events.

38 D- The power of the Ring 1- Read the text and pick out all the proper nouns. Say if they refer to places or characters. 2- Find all the characteristics of the Ring and explain Frodo s problem. 3- List all the options the characters evoke to solve the problem. 4- Focus on the end (from l.25) Pick out words related to the notions of power and wisdom. Say if they can be attributes to both characters. Deduce the two characters personalities. 5- Imagine what Frodo's mission will be. Explain why this is characteristic of the fantasy genre.

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40 D- The power of the Ring 1. Characters: Frodo, Gandalf (both present), the Enemy = the Dark Lord = Sauron (mentioned) Places: Middle-earth (intro), the Cracks of Doom, Orodruin, the Firemountain (l ). 2. Characteristics of the Ring: The Ring is plain and smooth, without mark or device (l. 2-3), its colour is rich and beautiful (l. 4), it is perfectly round, admirable and precious (l. 5-6) Frodo s problem: Frodo cannot throw it away and when he tries to do it with great effort, he unwillingly puts it back into his pocket (l. 6-13). The problem is the Dark Lord wants to get it so that he will be able to rule the world and so Frodo has to find a way to put the Ring out of Sauron s reach. 3. Gandalf explains that he could force Frodo to get rid of it but this will be extremely harmful as it will break his mind. He also reveals that it cannot be destroyed, either with powerful tools ( heavy sledge-hammer, l.18) or by any living creature s hands (l. 20). Actually, the only way to solve their problem is to throw the ring into a very specific place: the Cracks of Doom (l ).

41 4. Power and wisdom: Frodo has not been chosen for power or wisdom (l. 31); Frodo says that Gandalf is wise and powerful (l ); Gandalf explains that with the power of the Ring, he would have power too great and terrible (l. 37), power still greater and more deadly (l ). Unlike Frodo, Gandalf is described as wise and powerful. Frodo does not seem to be particularly bold or adventurous but rather a little cowardly ( I am not made for perilous quests, l. 26) while Gandalf is portrayed as a wizard who knows a lot and who is wise enough not to be tempted into taking the Ring for himself. 5. Frodo s mission will probably consist in setting on a quest: he will leave his home to start a perilous journey across dangerous territories and experience lots of trials before reaching the Cracks of Doom to eventually manage to destroy the Ring. A lot of fantasy stories are based on the pattern of the quest whose aim is generally to save the world from evil forces (as for example in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, or in Rick Riordan s novel Percy Jackson and the Olympians).

42 Myths and heroes Notion focus # 2 Throwing a light on our world A- Power play B- Political games C- Recycling popular myths : Vampires : a recurring fantasy D- The power of the Ring

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