学英语报社http://www.xyybs.com全新课标理念,优质课程资源Section2:BackgroundinformationforModule2FantasyLiterature—PhilipPullman1.Whatis“Fantasy”?Fantasyisagenreofart,literature,film,television,andmusicthatusesmagicandothersupernaturalformsasaprimaryelementofeitherplot,theme,setting,orallthree.Thegenreisgenerallydistinguishedfromsciencefictionandhorrorbyoveralllook,feel,andthemeoftheindividualwork,thoughthereisagreatdealofoverlapbetweenthethree(collectivelyknownasspeculativefiction).Initsbroadestsense,fantasycoversworksbymanywriters,artists,andmusicians,fromancientmythsandlegends,tomanyrecentworksembracedbyawideaudiencetoday.Aswithotherformsofspeculativefiction,actionsandeventsinfantasyveryoftendifferfromthosepossibleinconsensusreality.Inmanycases,especiallyinolderworksoffantasybutinmanymodernworksaswell,thisisexplainedbymeansofdivineintervention,magic,orothersupernaturalforces.Inothercases,mostfrequentlyinworksofmodernfantasyinthehighfantasysubgenre,thestorymighttakeplaceinafantasyworldthatiswhollydifferentfromourown,completewithdistinctlawsofnaturethatpermitmagic.2.Whatis“Fantasyliterature”?Fantasyliteratureislargelyregardedasthe"core"mediumofthefantasygenre,andincludessomeofthegenre'smostcomplexworksandinnovations,oftendirectlyinspiringfantasyartandfantasymusic,aswellasfantasyfilmandfantasytelevision,thoughthelattertwoinspirealargeamountoffantasyliteraturethemselves.3.AboutTheLordoftheRingsTheLordoftheRingswaswrittenin12yearsbyJ.R.R.Tolkien.Itisasinglenovelconsistingofsixbooksplusappendices.TheBooktellsthetaleofFrodoBaggins,aHobbitwhosuddenlyfindshimselffacedwithanimmensetask:HemustleavehishomeinTheShire,andmakeaperilousjourneyacrosstherealmsofMiddle-EarthtotheCrackofDoom,deepinsidetheterritoriesofthe第1页共2页学英语报社http://www.xyybs.com全新课标理念,优质课程资源DarkLord.TherehemustdestroytheOneRingforeverandfoiltheDarkLordinhisevilpurpose.4.PlotSummaryforTheLordoftheRings:TheReturnoftheKing(2003)GondorisoverrunbytheorcsofMordor,andGandalfridestoMinasTirithtoaidthehumansinthewarthatisahead.AragornmustrealizehistrueidentityandpurposeastheKingofMen,andjourneywithGimliandLegolastosummontheArmyoftheDeadsothatthebattleagainstevilcanbewon.Meanwhile,paranoiaandsuspicionrisesbetweenFrodo,SamandGollumastheycontinuetheirincreasinglydarkanddangeroustraveltoMountDoom,theoneplacewhereTheRingcanbedestroyedonceandforall.(SummarywrittenbyQrrbirbel)第2页共2页