Fantasy: A Portal to Contemporary Literature

pThe basic role of this paper is to describe the theoretical background of the fantasy genre andnbsp;br /to explain the importance of fantasy for the younger readers. This genre can serve as a directnbsp;br /gateway (a portal) into the realm of literature and timeless stories worth visiting. Since fantasynbsp;br /functions nbsp;as nbsp;a nbsp;multi-layered nbsp;collection nbsp;of nbsp;literary nbsp;works, nbsp;it nbsp;comes nbsp;as nbsp;no nbsp;surprise nbsp;that nbsp;itsnbsp;br /significance nbsp;cannot nbsp;be nbsp;disregarded nbsp;within nbsp;the nbsp;scope nbsp;of nbsp;contemporary nbsp;genre nbsp;studies.nbsp;br /Furthermore, fantasy is described as an interesting lsquo;super-genrersquo; which encompasses variousnbsp;br /other sub-genres. The paper predominantly differentiates between the so-called high and lownbsp;br /fantasies, however the paper also focuses on the Harry Potter franchise, as J. K. Rowlingrsquo;snbsp;br /works represent a piece of fantasy which cannot be easily defined. This paper presents differentnbsp;br /sub-types nbsp;of nbsp;fantasy, nbsp;as nbsp;well nbsp;as nbsp;the nbsp;(dis-)similarities nbsp;existing nbsp;among nbsp;science nbsp;fiction nbsp;andnbsp;br /speculative fiction. It also explores the significance of genre evolution and transformation fromnbsp;br /fairy-tales. Fantasy is portrayed as a highly complex and serious genre which younger readersnbsp;br /can nbsp;access nbsp;via nbsp;classic nbsp;fairy-tales. nbsp;In nbsp;conclusion, nbsp;this nbsp;study nbsp;serves nbsp;as nbsp;a nbsp;comprehensivenbsp;br /introduction to a better theoretical understanding of the convoluted fantasy genre./p