Fantasy in Contemporary Literature

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Fantasy in Contemporary Literature Criticism

Fantasy literature, pervasive throughout literary history, wields significant influence in modern writing. From early allegories like Edmund Spenser's Faerie Queene to J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series, fantasy elements are integrated across genres, often serving as structural and allegorical devices. T. E. Apter discusses the role of fantasy, suggesting it parallels realism but operates from the premise of the fantastic, creating a world that feels real yet profoundly different from reality. This complexity allows authors to impart layered meanings and redefine language. As Lucie Armitt notes, female authors frequently employ fantasy to present alternative perspectives, while Nancy A. Walker points out their use of fantasy and irony to transform language and convey intricate messages, exemplified by Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.

Contents

  • Representative Works
  • Criticism: Overviews And General Studies
    • Introduction: Fantasy and Psychoanalysis
    • The Fantastic in Contemporary Fiction
    • On the ‘Fantastic’ Trend in Recent Soviet Prose
    • Allegory and Enigma: Fantasy's Enduring Appeal
  • Criticism: Language, Form, And Theory
    • Form, Formula, and Fantasy: Generative Structures in Contemporary Fiction
    • Language, Irony, and Fantasy
    • Magical Realism and Postmodernism: Decentering Privileged Centers
  • Criticism: Major Writers
  • Criticism: Women Writers And Fantasy
  • Further Reading