Teller Elementary School: Challenge Project s2

Teller Elementary School: Challenge Project

Fantasy

The Challenge Project is an optional activity for students who want to extend their learning experiences, to work beyond the classroom requirements, and/or to explore alternative topics. Families may need to lend support, encouragement, and assistance at home. The Challenge Projects are organized by Ms. Bass, Teller’s GT Specialist.

There are seven basic motifs in fantasy: magic, otherworlds, universal themes, heroism, special character types, talking animals, and fantastic objects. Every fantasy story has some blend of these elements.

Magic Magic is the most basic element of fantasy, whether it's Harry Potter waving his wand or the Cheshire Cat's ability to disappear. Magic is how charms, spells or rituals are used in order to produce a supernatural event. It's something that we humans are unable to perform, so we are intrigued by it.

1. Is magic an element in the book that you read? When and where does it come into play? How does magic impact the characters? How does magic impact the events of the story?

2. How would the story be different if magic were not an element in it? Might another element take its place?

Otherworlds Otherworlds are an imaginative creation by the author of a place that is nothing like earth. It is a completely imagined world where anything can happen and is only limited by the author's imagination. Authors must dream up cultures, races, religions, histories, weather, clothes, food, music… all the different aspects that we take for granted in our own world. Making this world rich enough and deep enough is the tricky part. It’s an important job, especially when you consider the implications a world has on the plot and the characters.

3. Describe the otherworld in the book that you read. How did the author set the tone of this world? How does this setting impact the characters and the events in this book?

The author has two choices when introducing an imaginary world to the reader. He or she can begin the book by locating all characters in this imagined world and never refer to what we know as the real world, as in Tolkien's Middle-earth.

Another way for an author to introduce another world is to have the characters leave the world that we know and enter the new world, as in The Chronicles of Narnia. The characters can also have the ability to jump between two worlds.

4. How did the author introduce the otherworld: Was it the only world? Or did the characters leave one world for the new world? Provide some details about the author’s choice.

5. The worlds within fantasies are usually medieval in style, both in terms of technology and culture. This is what primarily sets fantasy apart from science fiction. Describe the world or worlds in your book in terms of technology. Universal Themes Universal themes are a must-have in a fantasy story.

6. After reading this book, decide what the theme or author’s message might be. A theme is a big idea and may be about life, society, or human nature. This message is usually not directly stated, but inferred from the story. Here are some possible themes:

. Ambition . Loneliness . Betrayal / Loyalty . Truth . Courage / Fear . Jealousy . Change . Suffering . Good / Evil . Prejudice . Freedom . Perseverance . Happiness . Love

Discuss the relevant themes from the novel and give examples from the book to illustrate each. Determine which is the most powerful theme and why.

7. Using the theme that you selected above, locate a current news event that illustrates how this same issue is relevant today.

Heroism Heroism is a popular element in fantasy stories. Many times the heroes are ordinary people in difficult circumstances. They themselves don't know of their powers or abilities until they are called upon to perform heroic feats. Others characters are guided by a larger, more powerful force. 8. Is there a hero in this book? Is there more than one hero? What qualities did that person (or people) have that made him/her a hero?

9. Is the hero an ordinary person to start? Tell how this person found his/her powers and how he/she used his/her new powers.

10. Is the hero someone who already had powers? Describe the power(s) this person has.

11. Is the hero really all good? Give some examples of when the hero showed another side of his/her personality.

12. If you could change this hero in any way, what changes would you make? How would those changes alter the story?

Special Character Types

Special character, such as fairies, giants, ogres, dragons, witches, unicorns and centaurs are often in fantasies. These characters are fascinating because they are so different from daily life. However, a good author can shape the character in such a way that the reader has no problem believing that such a being could exist.

13. Are there special characters (such as those listed above) in your book? What role do they play in the plot? Are they good? Evil? Give examples from the story to support your thinking.

14. How would your book be different if these special characters were not in the story? In your opinion, do they add to the story or weaken the story?

15. Were there special characters that the author was able to make believable to you? If so, how do you think the author was able to make an imaginary character realistic? 16. Create your own special character that would fit into this story. Describe your creation, its role in the story, and whether it is important or not in the plot. How would make this character believable to readers?

Talking Animals 17. If there are talking animals in your story, do they talk to humans or do they talk to each other (and not talk with humans)?

18. Are there other entities, such as talking toys, in your book? Describe what they are and how they fit into the story. Why would the author include them? Do they have a special role or function?

19. How does the author make the reader believe in these talking creatures?

Fantastic Objects Fantastic objects help the characters perform their task. Many times these objects become almost a character in themselves. Think about Dorothy and her ruby red slippers, Harry Potter and his wand, and Tinkerbelle and her fairy dust. Many times characters need such an object to make themselves complete.

20. Does your main character or hero have a fantastic object? If so, describe this object and tell about its relationship to the main character. How and why does the main character need this object? What is the character like without this fantastic object?

21. Did the main character find or get this object or did this object find the main character? Tell about this in detail, including what their relationship is like.

22. Create your own project related to fantasy! 23. More projects are available in the Realistic Fiction Challenge Project. Some options may need minor alterations to fit the fantasy genre. Talk to your teacher!