Modern Fantasy

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Modern Fantasy
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Tonight's Agenda

• Finish Newbery/Nutmeg books
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• Lecture Modern Fantasy
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• Share Cinderella tales
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• Timed writing comparing book to movie\
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•  Any questions?

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Definition of Modern Fantasy

• Modern fantasy is different from other genres
  because the story elements violate the natural
  physical laws of our world they always have
  elements of magic.
• - HOWEVER
• Modern fantasy HAS known authors, unlike
  traditional fantasy which has no known authors..

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• Modern fantasy can be varied in its elements of
  magic.
• However, modern fantasy that is well written and
  high quality doesnt use these elements casually.
• Fantasy may be the most difficult genre to write
  because the author must create a new set of
  physical laws.
• Unlike traditional fantasy, modern fantasy is
  held to the same standards as other genres.

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Categories of Modern Fantasy

• Animal characters Charlottes Web
• Toys and objects come to life
• Pinocchio
• Tiny humans The Littles

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• Peculiar characters and situations
  Mary Poppins
• Imaginary worlds
• Alice in Wonderland
• Magical powers Chocolate Touch

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• Supernatural powers
• Wait Until Helen Comes Home
• Time warp fantasies
• Door in the Lake,
• Magic Tree House series

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• High fantasy The Lion, the
• Witch and the Wardrobe
• Modern fairy tales
• or folktales
• also known as literary tales
• Hans Christian Anderson,
• Jane Yolen, Rudyard Kipling

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• Some fantasy stories have higher fantasy
  quotients than others. Madsen, in 1976,
  identified 6 basic fantasy motifs.
• A story has to have all 6 fantasy motifs to be
  considered high fantasy.

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They are

• 1.Magic is fantasy literatures most basic
  element.
• 2. Other worlds (secondary worlds) establishes
  magical setting. The setting is established in 2
  ways
• Set the whole story in an imaginary land.
• Have the setting begin in the real world and then
  move it into the secondary world through a sort
  of portal.

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3. Good vs. evil Good vs. evil archetype is what
myths are all about, and fantasy has strong basis
in mythology.   4.Heroism heros quest will
always be the backbone of the fantasy tale. The
heros story is always a circular journey it
always ends where it began. This is a template
for many genres, but it began with fantasy
stories.  
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Here is the template for the fantasy format

• The journey of the hero begins.
• The hero crosses the threshold into the
  otherworld or into a place that is no longer
  safe and secure.
• The hero must be able to survive various trials
  in his new environment.
• The hero is assisted by a protective figure.

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• The hero matures to become to different better
  person.
• The hero returns home. 
• __________________________________________________
  _________________________
• 5. Special characters types include fairies,
  pixies, wizards.
• 6. Fantastic objects include magic cloaks, flying
  broomsticks.
• Some fantasy books use only 1 magic motif, some 4
  out of 6, some all six.

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Science Fiction

• Science fiction differs from fantasy         not
  in subject, but in the storytelling.
• Fantasy literature uses magic motifs with no
  explanation, while science fiction has an
  explanation for how it happens.
• Sci fi also addresses the way in which science
  may affect societies of humans or aliens or both.

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Futuristic Fiction

• The focus is on dystopia
  an imaginary place where people live
  dehumanized and often fearful
  lives.
• Science fantasy loosely plays with scientific
  fact. Plots are mixed with magical occurrences,
  i.e. Star Wars.
• Fantasy literature, sci - fi literature science
  fantasy all help to develop childrens
  imaginations.

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Truth in Fantasy Fiction
Well written fantasy fiction tells the truth
about life through its use of metaphors. In
metaphoric language, its figurative nature
strengthens writing three ways  
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Metaphors

• Speed understanding
• Create interest
• Add more emotional appeal
• The metaphor is more than the sum of its parts.

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• Compared with realistic fiction, fantasy is able
  to explain difficult topics in a more
  understandable way. In explaining death to a
  child, it is sometimes easier when put in more
  abstract circumstances.
• The Lasting Endurance of fantasy books
• Peter Pan 1906
• Winnie the Pooh 1926
• Mary Poppins 1934
• Wind in the Willows 1908
• Wizard of Oz - 1900

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Next week's assignments

• Read chapter 11 Realistic fiction
• Check emails for notes on revision of Draft 1.
• Write second draft of Writing Assignment 3.
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