Fantasy-Chapter 5
I'm going to introduce chapter 5 in searching which named Fantasy. First I'm going to tell about fantasy in general, then I'll mention some liars throughout history, further I'll tell more about what fantasy is, and give some examples. A short summery of The Chronicles of Narnia comes then. In the end I am going to tell what the difference between fantasy and science fiction is, and even I'll tell my opinion about Fantasy. Let's start!
Fantasy in general:
The genre of fantasy is a type of fiction with magic, wizardry a super-human creature. Usually the action take place in an unreal world. In many stories you also find creatures that doesn't exist. Examples for creatures are witches, vampires, mermaids, fairies, and dragons. (Some pictures of these) It is a lot of other creatures too, but I can't mention all.
When you read fantasy, you can see that the writer has written the story in a way that you can believe in. It feels so real, that it could be true. But it isn't. Fantasy is one of the genre which lies the most. The story in a fantasy can never be real! This is what which characterizes the genre of fantasy. Other things that characteristics fantasy literature is what I mentioned earlier, the plot takes place in an unreal world, you meet creatures that doesn't exist, animals can act just like humans, and often it is third person narrative.
Liars throughout history: (pictures of each of these)
One of the most famous liars was Baron von M''nchlausen (1720-1797). First of all, he was a German ex-army captain. He is known because of his exaggerated and fantastic stories, stories about his war adventures and hunting experiences. According to these stories Baron had danced in the belly of a whale, ridden on cannonballs and even travelled to the moon! If you can get things like that, you must have a great fantasy!
A very famous fictional liar is a puppet who desperately wanted to be a real boy, probably you know who I mean, of course Pinocchio. Every time he tells a lie, which happen very often, his nose gets a little bit longer. The book is written by an Italian writer. But Pinocchio is mostly known from Walt Disney's cartoons from 1940.
Every year in November 'The World's Biggest Liar' competition is held at Santon Bridge. In London. Every competitor has five minutes to tell the biggest lie without any help. Politicians and lawyers are banned from entering, because they are too skilled at telling lies. The event draws tourists and competitors from all over the world. John Graham also called 'Johnny Liar' has won the competition five times before. He has claimed that he caught a cod which was almost three metres long. He is also registered in Guinness Book of world records as the world's biggest liar!
Many of us have learned that we are not going to lie. We have to tell the true story all the time. If you lie once, no one will trust you again. We can look closer to the fable 'The boy who cried wolf'.
There was a shepherd boy. He was really bored. To amuse himself he began to shout 'Wolf, wolf!' 'The wolf is taking the sheep!' People from the village come running up the hill to help the boy. They found no wolf. The boy began to laugh and the villagers get angry. They said that he couldn't cry wolf when there was no wolf. The people go back home. Later the boy began to shout again. 'Wolf, wolf' He said. The villagers come for driving the wolf away again. The villagers couldn't see any wolf. They get mad and yelled at the boy. Then they were going home again. Later that day, the boy saw a real wolf! It was taking his flock. He screamed loudly 'Wolf, wolf!' But now, no one believed in him. No one came to help him. In the evening the villagers wondered why the shepherd boy hasn't returned back with their sheep. They went up to the hill to find the boy. He was crying. He asked the villagers why they didn't come earlier. An old man told the boy that nobody will ever trust a liar, even he is telling the truth.
This fable has a great message! If you are used to not telling the truth, but a lie. In the end nobody will believe in you. They will look at you as a liar which is not worth listening to. We can discuss about the white lies are ok or not. But I don't think it is. I mean that we have to tell the truth no matter what all the time.
What is fantasy?
Fantasy is a popular genre. Many writers have earned a lot of money because of their fantasy and their creativity. Just think about J.K. Rowling with the Harry Potter series, or J.K.K Tolkien with The Lord of the Rings. (Pictures of these)
I'll talk a little bit about Harry Potter. Harry Potter is a wizard, and he is a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main story concerns the Dark Wizard Lord Voldemort. It is seven books, and eight movies. They divided the last book into two films. All of the books builds up to the fight between Harry Potter and Voldemort in the last book. (Some pictures from the Harry Potter films)
In fantasy literature writers have often been inspired by the Bible and the Christianity. Just think of Harry Potter. Throughout the history it is a fight between the good and the evil. We can compare the good side with God or with Jesus, and the evil side with the devil. In the last movie of Harry Potter (who represents the good side) dies, and rises again! Just like Jesus! Isn't that amazing? If we get deeper into fantasy stories we can often notice things like that. Usually the good side wins.
Summary of The Chronicles of Narnia (Pictures of the books and the films)
The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of seven fantasy novels for children. The series is written by the British author C.S. Lewis. The novel tells a story about four ordinary children, who is sent to an old professor's country home, during World War 2 because of the air-raids. I'll tell a summary from chapter two in the first book. It is the first meeting between the faun Mr Tumnus and Lucy.
Lucy had opened the door of the wardrobe, and she came to the land of Narnia. She met a faun. They begin to talk. The faun wondered who and what she was. Lucy said she was a human girl. The faun invited Lucy to having tea with him. She thought it was very kind to him, but Lucy said that she couldn't stay too long. They walked to the faun's home. It was a clean, dry and a little cave. After they were finished eating, and the faun had talked about the beautiful life in the forest. The faun laid down and shaking its head, and suddenly he became very sorrowfully. Lucy wondered what the matter was, why he suddenly began to cry. At the end, the faun answered. He said that he was ''taken service under the White Witch''. Lucy wondered who she was. The faun said that's why it always is winter in Narnia. Because of her. The faun had promised the white which that, if he ever saw a human he should handing it over to her. But he wouldn't. First he was going to pretend friendly. And when Lucy fell asleep, he would go to the White Which and tell her. In the end Lucy forgave him. She thought there was OK. But she had to go home. The faun followed Lucy to the wood. She saw the wardrobe door and went home.
What is the difference between fantasy and science fiction? (Some pictures, and I'll set up a column to prove the results)
Fantasy and science fiction are two genres that are alike in many ways. Both show us other worlds and other realities than our own. But it is one important difference between the genres. Fantasy literature is about the impossible, things that always would be impossible for us. Science fiction on the other hand describe things that are impossible now. But maybe one day it might became reality. It describes scientific and technological advancements which can be applicable in the future. I can give some examples. If we think about Harry Potter again. The story can never become real. We can never get a wand, learn spells, and then get what we want from the wand. It is not reality. Star Wars can be sort under the genre of science fiction. Star Wars includes advanced technology. The story takes mostly place in our solar system. It is spaceships that travel to other planets. That is things which is impossible for us now, but maybe our reality later.
My opinion about Fantasy
I like the genre of fantasy pretty much! It is my favourite genre I think! I have seen a lot of films which is fantasy movies. For examples the two fantasy series I have mentioned over here. Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia. Why do I like it? Because in fantasy stories everything is possible. It is not as we are used to see the world. In our world we have limits for what we are able to do. But in a fantasy story there isn't! When I read fantasy I can take a break from the real world and see the fantasy world as it was the world I live in. That's why I like the genre of fantasy.
Conclusion
In the end I would like to make a conclusion. First I've learned more about what fantasy is. I've also learned about some liars, who I didn't know existed. (Baron Von Munchlausen and John Graham). Then I said something about Harry Potter which has been my favourite fantasy story for years. I also said something about The Chronicles of Narnia. I have seen the films, but not read all of the books. And I finally found out the difference between the two genres fantasy and science fiction. A fantasy story can never become real, but a science fiction story can be real in the future. As I said, I like the genre of Fantasy very much!
(I'm going to have pictures and some points in a powerpoint of big parts of the text)