V4 - Literature lesson 8: Fantasy & Science Fiction

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Literature lesson 8: 

Fantasy & Science-Fiction

Two genres with close ties

• They offer an escape from our own reality into distant futures and alternate worlds.
• The literary tools of previous literary movements come together.
• Still function to reflect on our own lives and societies.
• Often contain ordinary heroes doing extraordinary things.
• Both rose to prominence during the 20th century and remain popular genres to this day.
• More than just literature: films, series, games - they are popular culture.

Mention

some ....

fanatasy

characteristics

Fantasy

• Genre that concentrates on imaginary elements, aka the fantastic —essentially, anything that an author can imagine outside of reality. 
• The magical or supernatural elements serve as the foundation of the plot, setting, characterization, or storyline in general. 
• The key asset is that it allows authors to do things outside the confines of the common world, removing the limitations of reality.
• Fantasy stories confront real world problems and offer solutions through magic or another element of fantasy. 

Mention

some ....

Sci fi

characteristics

01:22

So what is the main difference between Fantasy and Science-Fiction?

01:52

What was the base for Tolkien's & White's stories?

02:44

Why is Tolkien important to the Fantasy genre?

Science Fiction

• Genre of fiction literature whose content is imaginative, but based in science. 
• Often a big part of or combined with Dystopian fiction, and many books that are considered Science Fiction also fall into the genre of Dystopian literature.
• Relies heavily on scientific facts, theories, and principles as support for its settings, characters, themes, and plot-lines, which is what makes it different from fantasy. 
• Usually possible according to science—or at least plausible.
• Its popularity came with the rise of technology over the past 150 years, with developments such as electricity, space exploration, medical advances, industrial growth, and so on. 
• As science and technology progress, so does the genre of science fiction.
  

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Questions on the video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4j5tGNms14

1. What inspires Science Fiction, according to the introduction?
2. What makes Frankenstein the 'first' science fiction novel?
3. Name some differences between the works of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells.
4. Can you give a definition of 'low-art' and why early 20th century Science fiction stories fall into that category?
5. What is Cyperpunk?
6. So, which popular story do you think Michael Crichton created?
7. Why is Octavia E. Butler important to the genre?
8. What is the opposition in science fiction spoken of at the end?