The shape of fantasy : investigating the structure of American heroic epic fantasy / C. Palmer-Patel.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Palmer-Patel, C., author.

Series:

Routledge research in American literature and culture

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

American fiction--History and criticism.

American fiction.

Fantasy fiction--History and criticism.

Fantasy fiction.

Heroes in literature.

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

viii, 188 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2020.

Summary:

The Shape of Fantasy is an in-depth look at Heroic Epic Fantasy. It depicts structural and narrative patterns with models stemming from science and philosophy. Although Fantasy Fiction is generally defined by its impossibility, Fantasy Fiction not an illogical form. It is, in fact, governed by a sense of rules and structure, one that reflects our current understanding of space-time and cosmology. These models are an integral part of the structure of Heroic Epic Fantasy itself. Thus, this book introduces new ways of perceiving current productions of the Fantasy genre. In doing so, it also explores how Fantasy Fiction exhibits a conscious awareness of its own form.

Contents:

Introduction. Chapter 1: The Shape of a Hero's Soul. Chapter 2: Forks in the Road. Chapter 3: Building Layers of Character. Chapter 4: The Ou-Hero. Chapter 5: The Messianic Hero. Interlude: Intertwining the Magic and Landscape. Chapter 6: Breaking Into Fantasyland. Chapter 7: The Hero as a Portal. Chapter 8: Perfect Epic Empires. Chapter 9. Chaotic Cycles.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0367189143

9780367189143

OCLC:

1111773799