Knowledge Organiser | Year 7 | Writing‐ Fantasy Fiction | How do writers create other worlds and why?

1) What is Fantasy fiction? 4) Typical Characters 1) Whole text structure

Fantasy Protagonists (character whose side the reader is on) Very generally, simple sentences are best used to open
A genre of writing in which the plot could not These characters are the adventurers who are set out on a quest paragraphs or when there’s a new direction in a paragraph. They
happen in real life. Often, the plot involves magic to set things right or save the world. They are driven by heroism could also be used to create suspense or draw the reader’s
or witchcraft and takes place on another planet or and a desire to help others. They are normally very skilled in attention to something important.
in another — undiscovered — dimension of this fighting and diplomacy but can be either poor and lacking in ‐ Simple sentences: “This is where Haymitch would want me to
world. The overall theme of the setting is usually possessions or sufficiently wealthy and well‐equipped. Often they go. Immediately.” The Hunger Games‐ Suzanne Collins
medieval in tone, meaning that some combination used to be soldiers in an army. They are normally very intelligent ‐ Complex sentences can be used for description of setting,
of the architecture, clothing, language, and and strong. characters’ appearance and characters’ thoughts.
technology resembles the European Middle Ages. Antagonists (characters who oppose the protagonist) Complex sentence: “Behind the tributes across from me, I can see
Many times, the plot also involves mythical These characters are the dark and evil ones who hold some kind of nothing, indicating either a steep downward slope or even a cliff.”
creatures or talking animals (that might wear power over a people or land. They live to devour and destroy and The Hunger Games‐ Suzanne Collins
clothes and live in houses), and witches or are always destroyed in the end. These characters will live in lairs, An even better rule is to just make sure that you use a mixture of
sorcerers. in dangerous or abandoned places, often where the sun and the all sentence types in your writing, including compound sentences
2) Key features of fantasy worlds sun’s warmth cannot penetrate. too.
a) A system of magic with established rules that is 5) Devices
a source of conflict of driving force in the plot. Withholding‐ a technique where as a writer you deliberately hold 2) Whole text structure
b) A well‐developed setting that immerses your back details so the reader has to guess. You are only writing a short section of a fantasy story and not a
reader in the climate, landscape, people and Refer to medieval paraphernalia ‐ this will make your writing fit whole novel. Here are some tips of how you could order your
power in society (or lack of it). the fantasy mode and therefore feel suitable. writing but they are only suggestions:
c) Complex characters who are not there simply to Give objects and people striking names Withholding at the beginning‐ slowly introduce the world by
fight – they must be unique individuals with The same as above. describing the protagonist’s journey somewhere.
desires and goals of their own. Refer to the weather Action‐ describe a tense moment where the protagonist has to
d) Conflict expressed through characters (inner), Often referred to as pathetic fallacy by some. Fantasy worlds are suffer due to the regime
between characters (small‐scale) or against always outdoors and nature plays a big part in the lives of the Cliff‐hanger‐ leave the reader wondering how the protagonist is
powerful external forces (large‐scale). characters. going to survive the regime.
e) An established power structure – who holds 5) Typical Settings
power? – and how does it affect your characters Cities / Towns / Villages 3) Tense and person
(for the purposes of conflict). Normally, the cities are overflowing with life, where squalor and Third person and past tense is the most traditional form to write
3) Key words villainy haunts the alleyways, towns and villages seem too quiet by dystopian fiction:
Apprentice ‐ a young person learning a trade comparison and still – regardless, nothing is new, everything has "Sixteen thousand and twelve in this Centre," Mr. Foster replied
(often magic) from a skilled master. long been built and is often being propped up or held together. without hesitation. He spoke very quickly, had a vivacious blue
Decomposing‐ the process of decaying and Countryside eye, and took an evident pleasure in quoting figures.” A Brave
rotting. Travel in fantasy is essential and with no cars it takes a long time. New World‐ Aldous Huxley
Immortal‐ living forever, never dying. Depending on the journey your characters could travel across However, recently it’s become popular to write in first person as
Incantation‐ a series of words used in a spell. fields, into mountains, through bogs, over stretching sand, or into well, but be warned, this is more difficult to get right.
Necromancer‐ a black magic wizard who raises the rocky danger 4) Pitfall
dead. Tombs / Crypts / Ruins Don’t use the key words in your creative writing. They are only
Prophecy‐ a prediction of the future Danger and goals seem to lie within the most decrepit of locations. there to teach you about fantasy fiction. They should not appear
Vanguard‐ foremost part of an advancing army. These are dark, forbidden places with distant creaking sounds and in your assessments.
horror threatening at every turn.