Publication Date
Fall 12-1-2020
School
College of Arts and Sciences
Major
English
Keywords
fantasy literature, realistic literature, mythology, creation epic
Disciplines
Arts and Humanities | Children's and Young Adult Literature | Creative Writing
Recommended Citation
Powers, Avery M., "Mermaids vs. Humans: Reality in Fantasy" (2020). Senior Honors Theses. 1023.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/honors/1023
Abstract
This thesis analyses how fantasy literature relates to and transforms concrete perceptions of reality, tracing its origins from mythic creation epics and the qualities that it shares with scripture. Overall, I propose a more imaginative approach to realistic literature that draws from the truths found in fantasy literature and by discussing fantasy literature and genre.
The creative element of this project includes an excerpt from an original children's fantasy novel. In it, I compare mythical characters with human characters and an imaginary world to the real world as it is experienced by characters from both worlds. The fantastical reality attempts to show how imagination, hope, human nature, and the supernatural link fantasy literature to realistic literature and reality itself.
