Universidad de Costa Rica
English Department
LM-1220 Introduction to Narrative
Professor: Rocío Masís
Elements of Fantasy
Themes of the grand struggle against forces of good and evil
o Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Often multi-volume narratives
o Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Realistic people in fantastic places (invented or alternate world)
o Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
A portal or doorway exists to separate one world from the other
o Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Things with magical powers
o Lara Croft and the Cradle of Life
Things with human characteristics
o Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
Characters with magical powers or vision
o The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Animals with human characteristics
o Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll
Fantastic creatures (elves, dwarves, hobbits, unicorns, witches, fairies, etc.
o Thor: The Dark World
Supernatural occurrences
o A Christmas Carol (Ebenezer Scrooge)
Based on myth, legend, and folklore
o Dracula by Bram Stocker
Characters are often embarked on a spiritual/or physical journey
o The Chronicles of Prydain by C.S. Lewis (The Black Cauldron)
The best fantasy gives insights about the real world, its problems, and how to deal with them.
Note:
Science Fiction involves elements of science and technology in a “fantastic” situation. A future
setting, other galaxies, spaceships, and robots are some of its elements.
Examples:
Star Wars
Ender’s Game
Star Trek
Mortal Engines
English Department
LM-1220 Introduction to Narrative
Professor: Rocío Masís
Elements of Fantasy
Themes of the grand struggle against forces of good and evil
o Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Often multi-volume narratives
o Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Realistic people in fantastic places (invented or alternate world)
o Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
A portal or doorway exists to separate one world from the other
o Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Things with magical powers
o Lara Croft and the Cradle of Life
Things with human characteristics
o Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
Characters with magical powers or vision
o The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Animals with human characteristics
o Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll
Fantastic creatures (elves, dwarves, hobbits, unicorns, witches, fairies, etc.
o Thor: The Dark World
Supernatural occurrences
o A Christmas Carol (Ebenezer Scrooge)
Based on myth, legend, and folklore
o Dracula by Bram Stocker
Characters are often embarked on a spiritual/or physical journey
o The Chronicles of Prydain by C.S. Lewis (The Black Cauldron)
The best fantasy gives insights about the real world, its problems, and how to deal with them.
Note:
Science Fiction involves elements of science and technology in a “fantastic” situation. A future
setting, other galaxies, spaceships, and robots are some of its elements.
Examples:
Star Wars
Ender’s Game
Star Trek
Mortal Engines
