Fantasy & Science Fiction Chapter 6
Fantasy and Science Fiction Imaginative narratives that explore alternate realities. Fantasy suspends scientific explanations and natural laws and contains some element of character, setting or plot that is not found in the real world. Science fiction explores potential ramifications of scientific possibilities.
Fantasy Rooted in folklore Themes, stock plots, stock characters reflect folklore Distinctions from folklore It is not oral in nature, but written down, longer, and more complex
Fantasy vs. Folklore Folklore is black and white good guys vs. bad guys we know who is good and who is bad Fantasy is varying shades of grey it explores the ambiguities in life
Fantasy Often the first literature that children experience, through talking animal stories such as Winnie the Pooh, Olivia, Lily.
Fantasy and Science Fiction Because fantasy and science fiction often consider the complexities of life, reading it can be a significant experience, building readers values and beliefs. Grand themes good vs. evil life and death courage vs. fear love and hate what it means to be human consequences of pride
Consider Quality in Fantasy/Science Fiction The story meets the criteria for excellence in narrative fiction. The fantasy or future world is detailed and believable within the context of the story The story events are imaginative, yet logically consistent within the story world
Consider Quality in Fantasy/Science Fiction The characters are multidimensional, with consistent, logical behavior The writing is rich, and the structures are clear The themes are meaningful, causing readers to think about life
Setting Rich details that enable readers to envision time and place (usually the future in science fiction) Alternate realities (often with maps supplied) Or fantasy accepted in real world Or a combination of both Can act as antagonist, symbol, or illuminate characters
Setting Readers may be led into the alternate reality through some object Or through the belief of realistic characters in the fantasy setting Or through the extrapolation of scientific possibilities into a future world
Plot Even though events may not be realistic, what happens must be logically consistent within the story world. If characters move through time they do so for a reason. If the fantastic operates in the real world, there must be consistency in how real people are affected by the fantastic events.
Plot In science fiction, the consequences of the particular scientific advances drive the plot.
Characters Both human and nonhuman characters should be recognizable beings, with strong emotions. Main characters are multidimensional personalities behave consistently respond to events in a believable fashion grow and change across the course of the story
Characters Who they are both influences and is influenced by the plot. If a character that lives in a realistic story world enters a fantasy situation, the character remains consistent across both worlds.
Fantasy and Science Fiction The seriousness of the questions that are asked and the possibilities that are posed range from light fantasy to high fantasy, and from science fiction based on futuristic creatures or inventions to that based on profound changes in our world. Devices such as time slips, magic objects, magical beings, help create fantasy
Types of Fantasy Animal fantasy Miniature worlds Quest tales Literary lore
Common Themes in Science Fiction Mind control Sociological aspects of life in future Survival
Why Fantasy and Science Fiction? Expand imagination Consider important questions Create wonder Foster thinking about values and ideals Offer wonderful stories by outstanding writers to stretch the soul