Fantasy Literature PDF

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Lecture notes about fantasy children's literature ...

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Fantasy Low Fantasy: Real world setting with fantasy elements interjected into the story High Fantasy: Set in a fantasy world Anthropomorphism: giving human like qualities to nonhuman things Kenneth Grahame  Wind in the Willows o Summary: They feature four central characters: Mr. Toad, Mr. Badger, Mr. Mole, and Mr. Rat. They all live in an area near a river. They’re all described as animals, but they’re not very animal-like. They’re basically bachelors and it’s a story about male friendship. Mr. mole is the character that holds them all together.  He was a successful banker in London. He had a child, Allister, who he told bed time stories to him every night. One summer, the mother, son, and governess headed off to the beach but the father had to work. He made a deal that he would continue the stories for his son via letters as he spent the summer away. The stories he wrote were combined into a book. E.B. White  He was an editor for New York Magazine. He also had a farm in Maine. Charlotte’s Webb was based on his Maine side of his wife while Stuart Little was based on his New York side of his life.  Charlotte’s Webb o Summary: It’s based on a farm in Maine, but the animals on the farm really live the lives of farm animals. In the opening scene, the father is going to kill the runt of the litter of pigs. The little girl says let me take care of the little pig, which she names Wilber. The girl has a magical ability to understand the communication between the animals. The spider, Charlotte, has the ability to understand what humans say and she’s literature. Charlotte decides she is going to save Wilbur’s life by putting messages on her spider web above Wilbur to make them think he’s a smart pig. The animals in this book are like real animals. Anthropomorphism Can Also Involve Toys Carlo Collodi  Pinocchio o Pinocchio squashes the cricket in the actual version. The cricket comes back as a ghost. Pinocchio is actually a brat. The first thing he does when he’s carved is kick the maker. He has the desire to transition from a piece of wood to a real boy. o It’s one of the first low fantasy toys that has a toy that comes to life. A.A. Milne  Whinnie-the-Pooh

o Christopher Robin is A.A. Milne’s son. He would make stories up about his son’s stuffed animals. When Christopher grew up, the stuffed animals stayed with his parents because he didn’t want them. They sent the stuffed animals on tour with the book. Then, A.A. Milne’s’ gave the stuffed animals to the publisher who put them in the office. They have the animals to the New York Public library that still has them on exhibit in their children’s section. The people of England wanted them back in England, where they thought they belonged. Lynne Reid Banks  The Indian in the Cupboard o Summary: Boy living in London has plastic toy soldiers. One day for his birthday he’s given an antique cabinet and it has a lock without a key. One his mom has miraculously fits. When he opens the cabinet, he puts his toys in it and when he opens it again they are alive. o The book has gotten into trouble because of the portrayal of the Indian characters. Ghost Stories Charles Dickens  Christmas Carol o Summary: Ebenezer Scrooge comes home from work one day and his former business partner who has died presents himself on his door. He says he had screwed up but he still has a chance. He sends three spirits to come: Ghost of Christmas past, present, and future. They provide Scrooge with an insight to see himself. Neil G  Born in Great Britain, but lives in America now.  The Graveyard Book o Summary: Takes place in Great Britain. There’s a creepy guy that has a dagger who kills the family. The baby escapes and crawls to a graveyard where the ghosts raise him. All the ghosts take care of him and as long as he’s in the protective area of the graveyard, the evil man can’t hurt him. The kid gets tired of being stuck in the graveyard and the second he steps out, he’s in jeopardy again.  Won the Newbery Medal Time Travel Stories Mary Pope Osborne  Magic Tree House Series o Summary: a brother and sister who live in Pennsylvania find a tree house in the woods. There’s a rope ladder dangling down so they climb up into the tree house. There are books scattered around and the boy picks one up. They wish they could be there are the tree house sends

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them back in time. They have adventures and go back to the tree house to send them back home. The books are easy to read and work as good stories so they’re great for kids just starting to read by themselves....