Week 3-4 Fantasy

How does Attebery (1980)define Fantasy? Find at least five definitions.

Attebery defines fantasy in a few ways. He believes it to be something that one must fully immerse in and accept that it can be different but also similar to real life. Also it’s something that pushes the boundaries of reality while creating something new and intriguing.

·        “Any narrative which includes as a significant part of its make-up some violation of what the author clearly believes to be natural law – that is fantasy”(Attebery, 1980).

·        “Fantasy is a game of sorts, and it demands that one play whole-heartedly, accepting for the moment all rules and turns of the game”(Attebery, 1980).

·        “Fantasy, then, presupposes a view of exterior reality which it goes on to contradict”(Attebery, 1980).

·        “There are various ways a story can proclaim its fantastic nature. It can involve beings whose existence we know to be impossible, like dragons, flying horses, or shape-shifting men. It can revolve around magical objects: rings, hats, or castles posessing wills, voices, mobility, and other attributes inanimate objects do not, in our experience, posess”(Attebery, 1980).

·        “Fantasy invokes wonder by making the impossible seem familiar and the familiar seem new and strange”(Attebery, 1980).

What are some archetypes (e.g. common character types)of fantasy fiction?

“Traditionally there are only four possible roles for women in this sort of book: absent beloved, evil witch, damsel in distress and girl warrior”(Tax, 2002).

I really find this to be interesting. I have never thought about the common types of female characters in any kind of media let alone fantasy fiction. Thinking about traditional roles makes me wonder if there are any fantasy novels that contain female characters that do not conform to these traditional standards. Also it makes me consider what the main kind of roles male characters traditionally play. The main ones that come to mind are wizards, warriors, and heroes. Specifically in fantasy novels like The Lord of the Rings and The Wizard of Earthsea. The protagonist almost always seems to be a man in the form of a wizard or a warrior alongside single or multiple companions that must defeat the evil villain and save the people.

Attebery, B. (1980). The Fantasy Tradition in American Literature: From Irving to Le Guinn. Bloomington: Indiana U P, 1980.

Tax, M. (Jan 28, 2002). Year of Harry Potter, Enter the Dragon. In The Nation.