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Passage2013, 1(2), 159-166

Magic Laws and The Functions of in A Fantasy

Gavra Cindy Amelis* [email protected] *Gavra graduated in April 2013 from Literature Major at English Language and Literature Study Program, Indonesia University of Education Bandung

ABSTRACT

Martin (2007) argues that limitation is one component which makes story work. Limitation is a part of laws that were investigated in this research, along with the functions of the fantasy and how these elements work to construct a story in , a fantasy novel written by Riordan (2005). Magic Law theory as proposed by Nikolajeva (1988) and Tolkien’s function of fantasy (1966) were used as the framework theory. Textual analysis was used to find out the answers to the research questions. This research finds that the kinds of magic laws used in The Lightning Thief are limitation and consistency while recovery and escape are two functions of fantasy served in the novel. The magic laws and functions of fantasy construct the story to be interesting, believable, and related to human life by creating the element of wonder, creating the element of surprise, maintaining the balance between primary and secondary world, composing the inner logic of the story, and conveying some interesting issues..

Keywords: The Lightning Thief, Fantasy Novel, Magic Laws, Functions of Fantasy

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Gavra Cindy Amelis Magic Laws and The Functions of Fantasy in A Fantasy Novel

INTRODUCTION (2005) and consists of The Harry Potter series by 22 chapters. J.K. Rowling has become one of the most successful book publishing THEORETICAL sensations of all time (Pooley, 2007). FRAMEWORKS Martin (2007) argues that limited There are many definition of power of magic is one of fantasy. One of them comes from components that make Harry Potter The Dictionary of World Literary story work. Moreover, Nikolajeva Terms, as cited in Nikolajeva (1988), (1988) argues that limitation, as part which states that fantasy includes of magic laws, is important in a some things which are impossible fantasy novel. under the ordinary conditions or This research aims to normal human events, in the actions, investigate kinds of magic laws and characters, or of the story. functions of fantasy in a fantasy Although there are many novel entitled The Lightning Thief definitions of fantasy, the key which is considered to share element of fantasy is the same, which similarities with Harry Potter novel. is the presence of magic (Saricks, In addition, this research also 2009, Nikolajeva, 1988). Magic investigates how these elements always occurs in fantasy and can be work to construct the story of the depicted through the magical novel. Magic Law theory as abilities or magical creatures and proposed by Nikolajeva (1988) and objects related to characters Tolkien’s function of fantasy (1966) (Sammons, 2010). In other words, are used as the framework theory of the presence of magic in a fantasy this research to analyze the data. This novel is a must. research uses the e-book pdf version In addition, believability is of The Lightning Thief from Readers another key quality of fantasy. Stuffz Articles & Ebooks in March Fantasy novel is not merely about 2011. The fantasy novel is written by elements or magic but also the combination of fanciful elements

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with realistic elements (Greenby, and consolation. Recovery is 2008). A successful fantasy is regaining of a clear view. By reading composed by the author’s skill in fantasy, the readers are able to creating a believable, albeit magical rediscover , see things more world (Saricks, 2009) with an clearly, and change the view of real internal consistency through its rules world (Lewis, 1982, as cited in (Tuttle, 2005). The discussion of Sammons, 2010). Meanwhile, consistency in fantasy text is also escape is the functions of fantasy discussed by Nikolajeva (1988) who which focuses on the recollection of says that consistency and limitation a desire for some qualities that can are two types of magic laws which no longer be fulfilled in real world. are important in a fantasy text. Fantasy deals with what is Limitation refers to the idea fundamental and real and also that magic must be limited. Magic as escapes the modern world. The last the key element of fantasy story function of fantasy is to give readers cannot be unlimited and omnipotent sudden joyous turn of events when (Nikolajeva, 1988). On the other good triumphs which is called hand, consistency means that consolation (Tolkien, 1966, as cited secondary world must be constructed in Sammons, 2010). logically by creating and then obeying its rules. Swinfen (1984, as METHODS cited in Nikolajeva, 1988) finds that The present research uses to make a secondary world descriptive qualitative method and acceptable to the readers, the textual analysis to find out the physical nature of the secondary answers to the research questions world should be comprehensible and which are what kinds of magic laws logical, having reasonable cause- are found in The Lightning Thief, and-effect relationship. what functions does the fantasy serve In relation to this, Tolkien as evidenced in the text, and how do (1966) offers three functions of these elements work to construct the fantasy which are recovery, escape, story. Reading the novel thoroughly,

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Gavra Cindy Amelis Magic Laws and The Functions of Fantasy in A Fantasy Novel

identifying and selecting the textual settings have particular condition and evidence to answer the research mechanism, (8) Mount Olympus and questions, categorizing the data, Underworld move as the gods do, (9) interpreting data, drawing conclusion magical settings have boundaries that based on findings, and making contact them to primary world, (10) suggestions for further research are mist is generated to obscures the the steps taken to conduct this vision of humans whenever divine research. elements mix with the mortal world, and (16) there is spoil of war comes FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION from killed remain. The data are categorized into On the other hand, the magical characters, magical settings, limitation of magical characters and magical objects. Based on the consists of (1) the magical power of data analysis, the research finds two magical characters, settings, and kinds of magic laws in The Lightning objects are limited, (2) the actions of Thief which are limitation and magical characters are limited by consistency. The consistency prohibition, (3) immortal magical consists of (1) magical characters, characters can be wounded or killed, settings, and objects are based on the and (4) magical characters do not on , (2) magical have authority. characters and objects have The analysis also finds that particular nature and ability, (3) there are two functions of fantasy magical characters, objects, and served in the novel which are settings adjust themselves into the recovery and escape. mortal world when they interfere The function of fantasy as with mortal world, (4) magical recovery can be seen through (1) characters are immortal, (5) there is magical characters’ nature and motive behind the living of the ability, (2) magical characters, magical characters in mortal world, objects, and settings’ adjustment, (3) (6) the gods move along with magical characters’ motive, (4) Civilization, (7) magical magical characters, objects, and

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settings’ limitation of ability, (5) The limitation of ability of magical magical ’s prohibition, (6) characters, magical settings, and magical characters’ vulnerability, (7) magical objects function as recovery magical characters’ authority, (8) because it gains a certain way of magical settings’ condition and looking at life that a power is mechanism, (10) magical setting’s balanced with weakness and that boundary, and (11) the obscurity nothing is perfect. The limitation and created by the Mist. its function as recovery give the The magical characters, element of surprise to the readers settings, and objects function as because it gives unexpected turn recovery because they gain clear after the readers have been pampered view about some issue, for example with the magical nature and ability. about the grand struggle against evil On the other hand, that becomes the of the function of fantasy as escape can be novel. In addition, they also maintain seen from (1) magical character, the balance between primary and settings and objects are based on secondary world which can be seen Greek mythology, (2) magical for example through their adjustment characters and objects’ nature and to mortal world. It gains clear view ability (3) magical characters’ that there is certain quality which is , (4) magical character’s hidden behind things that look motive, (5) the gods’ movement, (6) normal or considered to be bad. It magical character’s limitation of shows that the novel does not only ability, (7) magical characters’ use the element of magic from Greek prohibition, (8) magical settings’ mythology but also transform them condition and mechanism, (9) in order to suit modern view of the magical settings’ movement, (10) story. magical settings’ boundary, and (11) Meanwhile, the element of magical objects as spoil of war. surprise is created for example The magical characters, through the limitation of ability and settings, and objects function as its function of fantasy as recovery. escape because their nature, ability,

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Gavra Cindy Amelis Magic Laws and The Functions of Fantasy in A Fantasy Novel

condition, and mechanism do not logic of the story, and convey some appear in real world and also escape themes which construct the story in modernity such as technology and The Lightning Thief to be interesting, machine. They create the element of believable, and related to human life. wonder because they show things In other words, The Lightning Thief differently from the real human can be considered a successful condition and out of normality. fantasy novel based on the idea Meanwhile, the inner logic of proposed by Sammons (2010) who the story can be seen for example argues that a successful fantasy is through the gods’ movement along interesting, believable in story and with Western Civilization and its related to human life by carrying function an escape because it deeper meaning of human’s society explains the of the world by and reality. The research shows that using magic and ancient mythology the success of a fantasy novel can be instead of using history, modernity, contributed by the magic laws and or technology. The movement functions of fantasy. The author of creates inner logic of secondary fantasy novel should be aware of the world by giving a logical explanation existence of magic laws and about the setting which is in USA functions of fantasy in the fantasy instead of Greece. The why novel they write. the gods live in USA is because they move along with Western CONCLUSION Civilization. This research has investigated The finding shows that magic the kinds of magic laws used in The laws and functions of fantasy which Lightning Thief, the functions of the are seen from magical characters, fantasy as evidenced in the novel, settings, and objects create the and how these elements work to element of wonder, create the construct the story. The research element of surprise, maintain the finds that limitation and consistency balance between primary and are two kinds of magic laws found in secondary world, compose the inner the novel. The magical objects,

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settings, and characters in The inner logic of the story, and Lightning Thief, which are conveying some interesting issues. categorized under two kinds of Further research regarding magic laws, shows two functions of magic laws and functions of fantasy fantasy which are recovery and should use a bigger number of escape. The magic laws and fantasy to arrive at more functions of fantasy construct the strongly grounded findings. In story to be interesting, believable, addition, further research can focus and related to human life by creating only on one element of fantasy the element of wonder, creating the novel, for example magical element of surprise, maintaining the characters and its functions to balance between primary and construct the story. secondary world, composing the

REFERENCES Riordan, R. (2005). The Lightning Grenby, M. O. (2008). Children’s Thief: and the Literature. Edinburgh: Edinburgh Olympians – University Book 1. Available online at: Press Ltd. www.readersstuffz.com. Current as of May 31, 2013. Martin, P. (2007). Harry Potter and the Fundamentals of Fantasy. Sammons, M. C. (2010). War of the Available Fantasy Worlds : C. S. Lewis and J. online at: R. R. www.absolutewrite.com. Current Tolkien on Art and . as of May 31, 2013. United States of America: Praeger. Nikolajeva, M. (1988). The Magic Code: The Use of Magical Patterns Saricks, J. G. (2009). The Readers’ in Fantasy Advisory Guide to for Children. Sweden: Graphic (2nd ed.). Systems Goteborg. Chicago: American Library Association. Pooley, J. D. (2007, July 24). Harry Potter. The New York Times. Tolkien, J. R. R. (1966). On Available Stories. Available online at: online at: www.nytimes.com. www.brainstorm-services.com. Current as of May 31, 2013. Current as of may 31, 2013.

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Tuttle, L. (2005). Writing Fantasy & (2nd edition). London: A & C Black Publishers Limited.

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