The setting of the world in which a story takes place is one of the fundamental elements that differentiate high and low fantasy. The latter is characterized by stories that take place in an ordinary world, albeit with some aspects of fantasy. High fantasy, on the other hand, is characterized by a setting that involves an alternative world that is purely the creation of the storyteller.
There are numerous sub-types of the fantasy genre in novels, video games, films, and television shows. High fantasy and low fantasy are arguably the most common of these subgenres. The terms high and low should not be mistaken to represent the quality of the genres; they only refer to the settings in which the stories take place.
Low Fantasy: Definition and Characteristics
What is low fantasy? This is a subtype of the broader fantasy genre in which supernatural events become part of an otherwise ordinary world. This is in contrast to high fantasy stories, which take place in fictional worlds that have their own sets of rules and physical laws.
At times, the stories in this sub-genre might overlap with elements in other subgenres. Often, worlds in this sub-genre are based on the idea that a separate community of magical or supernatural beings exists in the real world but is hidden from most people. Good examples include Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children, City of Bones, or the Harry Potter universe.
High Fantasy: Definition and Characteristics
The high fantasy definition often varies slightly from one author to another. In trying to define high fantasy, one of the most important aspects to consider is the nature of a story's setting.
Also known as epic fiction to some, high fantasy is a sub-genre of fantasy that is defined by the distinctively epic nature of its plot, themes, or characters. Massive fictional worlds and extensively detailed characters define the sub-genre. Keep in mind that the high fantasy meaning has nothing to do with the quality of spoken or written works in the sub-genre. The word 'high' only relates to the level of epic fiction involved in the narrative.
Defining Elements of High and Low Fantasy
Here is a look at the elements that define the two subgenres.
High Fantasy Characteristics
Works of high fantasy are set in a secondary, alternative world that differs from ours on varied scales depending on the storyteller. Sometimes, this subgenre can have minimal similarities to present-day Earth involving its future or past.
However, such similarities with our world often play little or no part in the overall storyline. It is common to have the setting in high fantasy resemble medieval Europe.
Low Fantasy Characteristics
The setting of this subgenre is only slightly supernatural. Unlike high fantasy, this subgenre uses the ordinary world as the primary setting and introduces elements of fiction in the storyline's background. The story might take place in a futuristic, current, or historical world.
Stories in this subgenre often involve worlds that are mostly (or exclusively) inhabited by humans. This is a strong contrast to works of high fantasy, which usually include a mixture of dwarves, elves, giants, and other mythical creatures.
Examples of High and Low Fantasy
Here are some notable examples of high fantasy literature and media:
- A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin
- The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie
- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
On the other hand, low fantasy can be seen in:
- A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, featuring supernatural elements like dragons.
- Marvel Cinematic Universe films, which are set in an ordinary world (Earth) but incorporate supernatural aspects.
Understanding the Quality of Fantasy Works
The low fantasy vs high fantasy debate is not a determinant of how good a piece of fiction is. Often, the quality of a story is largely determined by the author's prowess as opposed to the subgenre they chose to base their story on.
The high vs low fantasy conversations only serve to highlight the differences in the settings, themes, methods, villains, and other elements involved in the subgenres. You should therefore not shy away from any of the subgenres.
Now that you have learned the differences between these two popular sub-genres of fiction, which low fantasy book, film, video game, or television show have you ever found quite fascinating?
Source: Legit.ng
