FANTASY UNIT:

THE MAGIC OF THEME & SYMBOLS

Session One: Researching the Setting
 CONNECTION:
WHY DO WE STUDY FANTASY?
1. The stories are incredible.

2. You are studying the human condition.

• Good vs. evil, power corrupts…

3. Fantasy novels are complicated - you will 


become powerful readers.
 TEACHING POINT:
• Today we want to teach you that as fantasy readers,
your FIRST task will be to figure out not just where/
when your story happens (SETTING), but what kind of
place it is.

• One way you can do this work is to investigate clues

about the time period and important magical elements,
using the covers, blurbs, and details from the beginning
of the story for your research.
 TYPES OF SETTING IN
FANTASY:
Types of Fantasy
Description Book Example
Setting

swords, horses, castles, Lord of the Rings,

Medieval World
dragons… Narnia

reminds us of this world, but

Futuristic World different and often troubled Hunger Games

seems normal, gradually you’ll

Ordinary World
notice that there is an Harry Potter
blended with magic
infiltration of magic
 TEACHING:

• Watch me as I demonstrate using the book Paper

Bag Princess how to research & analyze for setting
type.

• What do we notice?
 READ ALOUD:
THE THIEF OF ALWAYS
• Think of our new read aloud, The Thief of Always. Pay
attention to the setting (where and when is it taking
place). What do we notice? What type of fantasy could it
be?

• Think about the characters. Who are the main

characters? Is there any evidence of someone with
power(s)? Who? What kind of power? What evidence
do you have?
 HOMEWORK
• Read Short Story: Carter’s Holler by Kimbra Gish

• Think about setting and characters. Write a response

discussing these elements.

• In addition, you will need to pick out a fantasy book

to read in class.

• Due