Modern Fantasy: Children’s Lit Final Exam

MoDeRN FaNTaSY

Stories in which events, settings, or characters are outside the realm of possibility.

They contain elements that cannot happen in the real world, even though the story may feel believable.

Cycle Format

A format in which one book is linked to another through shared characters, settings, or both.

Examples include series that follow the same world or recurring cast.

Fractured Folktales

Stories that deliberately twist or reinterpret traditional folktales—often told from a new perspective, with altered plots, settings, or characters.

Modern Folktales (characteristics)

• Written by a known author, not from oral culture

• Fast-moving plot

• Strong conflict

• Little character description

• Vague setting

• Magical elements

• Feels like a folktale but is “modern

• Hans Christian Andersen is the classic example

• Often includes fractured folktales

Animal Fantasy

Fantasy in which animals behave like humans, while still keeping many real animal traits.

The author “interprets” the inner world of the animal.

Peculiar Characters & Strange Situations

Features ridiculous, exaggerated, or highly unusual situations and characters.

Examples: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, James and the Giant Peach, Tuck Everlasting

Supernatural Tales & Mystery Fantasy

Fantasy featuring elements such as:

• Ghosts

• Witchcraft

• Mysteries with supernatural components

Historical Fantasy

Stories with a time-warp or time-travel element.

The protagonist travels to a past era, showing a contrast between time periods.

Example: The Devil’s Arithmetic (Jane Yolen)

Quest Stories

Adventure stories centered on a search or pursuit of a meaningful goal.

Often part of high fantasy (serious tone, deep world-building).

Examples: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Hobbit

Science Fiction

Fantasy that could happen based on real scientific principles or futuristic scientific discoveries.

Examples: The Giver, The White Mountains, The House of the Scorpion

Science Fantasy

Stories where science offers an explanation (not always believable) for adventures into the unknown.

Blends science fiction and pure fantasy.

Controversies, Challenges, and Censorship

Modern fantasy is often challenged for:

• Magical or supernatural content

• Witchcraft

• Dark themes

• Violence

• Alleged moral or religious concerns

These issues impact what is allowed in schools and libraries.

Roald Dahl (Key Modern Fantasy Author)

Style: Dark humor, peculiar characters, whimsical but often unsettling fantasy.

Top Works:

1. James and the Giant Peach

2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

3. The BFG

Robin McKinley (Key Modern Fantasy Author)

Style: High fantasy; strong heroines; richly built worlds; often retellings.

Top Works:

1. The Blue Sword

2. The Hero and the Crown

3. Beauty (a Beauty & the Beast retelling)

C.S. Lewis (Key Modern Fantasy Author)

Style: Christian-themed allegorical fantasy; portal worlds; classic high fantasy.

Top Works:

1. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

2. Prince Caspian

3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Lois Lowry (Key Modern Fantasy Author)

Style: Utopian/dystopian science fiction; explores ethics, memory, society.

Top Works:

1. The Giver

2. Gathering Blue

3. Messenger

(These form The Giver Quartet)

Kate DiCamillo (Key Modern Fantasy Author)

Style: Emotional storytelling; magical realism; animal and philosophical tales.

Top Works:

1. The Tale of Despereaux

2. Because of Winn-Dixie

3. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

J.K. Rowling (Key Modern Fantasy Author)

Style: Large-scale magical worlds, boarding school fantasy, coming-of-age themes.

Top Works:

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

2. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows