Its surface is UNREAL: in an extraordinary world the laws of nature are suspended.
Its depths are REAL: these books reveal basic, balanced truths about people and life.
PLOT:
Fantasy presents writing that has a strong narrative, which is often more important than characterisation.
There is a “quest” element with a journey and goal, often epic in nature.
Fantasy contains twists and turns in the plot and unexpected events.
Enchantment and spells are cast and broken (e.g. toads and beasts are restored to human form; princesses sleep until woken with a kiss).
The protagonists make moral decisions in a world in which goodness has been violated through mindless and willful (i.e. thoughtless, dishonorable, or treacherous) behaviour.
The main characters’ object is transformation of evil so that the old (virtuous) order is restored.
SETTING:
It creates a universe of its own, an imaginary world. There is close attention to detail in describing the setting.
The terminology and names and places are extraordinary and often use created names.
Characters move from the ordinary to the magical realm, and back again.
CHARACTER:
Challenges, obstacles, setbacks for characters are present in this genre; characters are focused on overcoming these obstacles.
Magical creatures with diverse roles are prevalent (e.g. dwarfs, witches, giants, trolls, wizards, fairies, elves)
The protagonists usually do not possess supernatural powers, unless such powers are temporarily needed to complete a quest or overcome evil.
Supernatural beings are rarely the protagonists; they help or hinder the main characters.
WORLD VIEW:
Strong emphasis on good versus evil, with eventual triumph of good.
Magical or supernatural powers are usually seen as evil, and they exert influence on evil territory.
The author draws on folklore (e.g. myth, legend, fable) which is literally untrue, and which readers immediately recognize to be larger than life and therefore fictional.