The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Learning Goal: Identify the fantastical elements in a work of fantasy fiction.

Activation and Motivation Today we are going to play “Two Truths and an Untruth”. Each student will share two statements about himself/herself that are true and one statement that is an untruth. It is the job of student volunteers to think of a realistic or convincing untruth so that the class will have a difficult time guessing if the statement is a truth or a lie. It is the job of the other students in the class to guess which statement is the untruth by asking the student “yes” or “no” questions. The teacher will conclude the game by also stating two truths and an untruth about his or herself. Ask students which statement is an untruth and to explain how they know.

Teacher Model Today we will define “Fantasy” as a genre of fictional stories not restricted to reality and record the definition on chart paper. I will explain some aspects of Fantasy are realistic, but what makes Fantasy a unique genre are the imaginative, fantastical elements. I will introduce the genre Fantasy Fiction by comparing and contrasting it with Realistic Fiction. While the volunteers in the game “Two Truths and an Untruth” chose realistic untruths that were as believable as the truths, I chose an untruth that was absolutely impossible. Similarly, Realistic Fiction includes fictional (not real) stories that seem realistic or possible, while Fantasy Fiction has imaginary and fantastical elements where anything is possible. Therefore, it is important to recognize fantastical elements, to distinguish Fantasy Fiction from other genres.

What are the elements of Fantasy Fiction? Elements: magical objects, imaginary places, invented languages, nonhuman characters, myths, and a good vs. evil plot line. All of the elements may not be included in one story, but one or more are necessary to be considered a fantasy. As we discuss the elements of Fantasy Fiction, let’s think about some popular examples for each fantastical element. Each example will clarify what it means to identify fantastical elements in literature.

For example, in The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy’s ruby slippers are examples of magical objects. They protect Dorothy from harm with magical protective powers. These are not realistic shoes but instead important to the journey that Dorothy is about to take in the novel.

Element of FantasyFantastical Detail in a StoryDescription of the Fantastical Detail Magical ObjectsRuby slippers in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.* *In the book, the slippers are silver. In the movie, they are ruby. The ruby slippers are magical slippers that once belonged to the Wicked Witch of the East. Dorothy got these sparkling red shoes after her house fell on top of the witch in Oz. The slippers protect her from the Witch’s sister and will grant her a wish to return home. Imaginary PlacesWilly Wonka’s magical Chocolate Factory in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Wonka’s chocolate factory includes a river of chocolate with enough chocolate to fill every bathtub in the entire country. The grass and flowers are made of candy and minted sugar. Machines can shrink you into a tiny person, and special seltzer can make you float. Invented Languages“Parseltongue” is a secret snake language found in the book Harry Potter. It is the language of Salazar Slytherin (founder of the house of Slytherin at Hogwarts). Humans cannot hear the language. To humans, it sounds like hissing without taking a breath. Harry Potter received this power when he received his mark from Lord Voldemort. Nonhuman CharactersHobbits in the Lord of the Rings.Hobbits are a nonhuman race of creatures living in Middle Earth. Hobbits are very short. Adult hobbits grow to only 2-4 feet, whereas adult humans can grow above 6 feet. Hobbits have elfish, curly hair. They can live to be 130 years old (much longer than the average human). MythsPeter Pan is based on Pan, a mythical god that never ages. Peter Pan is based on the myth of an ancient god named Pan. He is forever youthful, wild, and playful—just like Peter. He is also called the “spirit of nature.” Good vs. Evil PlotsLord Voldemort’s battle with Harry Potter.Lord Voldemort is an evil wizard who wants to live forever, rid the world of humans or “muggles,” and reign over the wizarding world. Harry is the “good” protagonist, who seeks to make the world safe for muggles and wizards alike.

Fantasy Finder 1 Excerpt: Colin sat on the forest floor. His knee was bleeding from the fall, and he could barely move his ankle. From behind the trees, Colin spotted a shining white light moving closer to him. From what he could see, that light was an animal—a white horse with a horn on top of its head. That’s when Colin realized he spotted his first unicorn. The unicorn stood by a tree and made eye contact with him, as if it wanted to say something. Then, Colin opened his mouth and began to speak. When his words came out, they sounded like gibberish. He thought he was asking for help, but it sounded like hiccupping. The unicorn nodded, and it trotted right alongside Colin. Colin grasped the unicorn’s mane. He lifted himself up onto its back. The unicorn galloped off further into the forest in search of help. Fantastical Details Unicorn Description: The unicorn first appears as a white light. It is a white horse with a single horn on its head. I think the unicorn is a kind creature because it rescues Colin. Hiccup Language Description: A language that sounds like hiccupping. Colin uses it to ask for help from the unicorn. It may be exclusively a unicorn language. Fantasy Elements Nonhuman Creature Invented Language

Practice Complete Fantasy Finder 2