Fantasy and Religion: Exploring Social Potentials in Two Novels

This essay delves into the intricate relationship between fantasy literature and religion, focusing on the social potentials that are often explored in fictional worlds. The analysis centers on two popular texts: the Harry Potter series and The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland. The essay examines how these novels blend established religious traditions and rituals with imaginative fantasy elements, creating compelling narratives that resonate with readers of all ages. It explores the use of folklore, mythology, and the supernatural to create believable characters and plots. The essay investigates the themes of good versus evil, the role of hope, love, and dreams, and the impact of religious connotations, particularly in the Harry Potter series. It also considers critical perspectives on the novels' portrayal of witchcraft, magic, and their potential implications for religious beliefs. Furthermore, the essay draws on secondary sources to support its arguments, offering a comparative analysis of both texts and their engagement with religious themes. The conclusion suggests that the religious connotations in fantasy literature enhance the plots by making them more engaging and relatable, thereby connecting the imaginary worlds with the real world belief systems.

Running head: FANTASY AND RELIGION
FANTASY AND RELIGION
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The aim of this essay is to discuss the connection between fantasy and religion that
reflect the social potentials that are mainly not possible in the real human world. This is a will
be focusing on two main texts which are the Harry Potter series and The Girl Who Ruled
Fairyland. Both these two novels are extremely popular among the children as well as the
young generation across the world. These two texts are not only popular because of their
impossible imaginations but also for the perfect blend of existing rituals and traditions with
fantasy. Most of the readers have the idea that the situations created in these text for the
characters playing their role in this plots cannot be possible in the real world but the
presentation of the authors is so convincing that the characters seem to be a part of this Real
world. The fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction which is set in fictional universe but gets
inspired by the real world folklore and mythology. The fantasy stories or novels have their
Origins in the oral traditions and local believes which are not accepted in the real reasonable
and scientific world. these folk lore and mythology become parts of drama and stories which
get creative embellishments from the ideas and imagination of the authors making those too
convincing and enjoyable to the readers of any age.
As theme of this question refers that whether fantasy literature has something to do
with religion and gets impacted by the Supernatural representation of various Gods and
Goddesses in the pagan world or Christianity. The fantasy literature has gained impetus with
the dependents on hope, love, dream and other positive psychological facets where the theme
of collision between good and evil, super power and dark power and this world and other
world keep on going which leads to ultimate win of the good over evil.
Debate on fantasy literature having connection with religion gained importance after
the immense popularity of J.K. Rowling Harry Potter series. The growing controversy of
Fantastic perspectives of the author on certain religious documents created scope for
research. After the release of this series you will realise how greatly fantasy can capture the

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human imagination as well as religious qualities. According to Butler, the children’s fantasy
in Britain of the early 1960s where basically had a distinct preference for the Real World
settings which were mainly rural and suburban. The children literature had children
protagonists having a white background and middle class status so that the readers can
connect with them. Most of the fantasy literatures had adventure in common that it limited
the circle of the children so that no adult can enter to help. This children protagonist’s contact
with mysterious places or persons which added the plot and took the actors through time
lapses and unearthly creatures. This fantasies where conservative in the sense because their
concern to maintain the rightful status quo through repairing some of the increasing threats.
The character development had complex ideas which took them to some adventurous ways
but had moral questions to answer.
fantasy is a distinguished form of science fiction where the readers are blessed with
enjoyment of horror and unreliable situations by the absence of Macabre themes in the
popular culture most of the fantasy genre stories are predominantly featured in the mediaeval
setting where the morality plays important role but work hand in hand with the local ancient
myths and Legends in this highly modern technological world. JK Rowling’s Harry Potter
shows iconoclasm but had accessible humour, style, comprehensible plot supported with
vividly sketch characters so that the young readers can associate themselves with the
protagonists easily. It is one of the bestselling fantasy novels which introduces most loved as
well as traditional Hero Harry Potter. Harry is and refund who had no idea of his complicated
future awaiting for him in the Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. In every pages of
this novel the author has opened new chapters of Harris life, puts him in danger but help
keeps on coming to save him from the blow of his sworn enemy Voldemort.
Hindi story the author has convert some message just like other fantasy novel through
its fantasy setting so that for the elaboration of maturity model principles family love and

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theme of good and evil can be understood properly. according to some critics the success of
this novel is due to its ability to create a totally different world where the extra ordinary
characters have experienced very normal problems the characters are quirky and courageous
have ability to do magic and humour in the whimsical or bizarre settings that create scope for
blending convincing reality and fantasy . the people can relate to the behaviour of these
characters because they are not only stereotypical characters with whom every leader is
familiar with but also have Complex personal it is which is very common in most of the
human beings .
Now the fictional character of Harry Potter has magical fate that takes him to the
fantasy world completely unthinkable. He overcomes different problems and adventures by
using enchantments which is a very factor of fantasy. This is not a book of real entertainment
without psychological meaning but has a proper amalgamation of mythology, Fairy tale, local
beliefs and traditions. In the Prisoner of Azkaban the author has mentioned about the popular
belief of werewolf which has connection with full moon, in Chambers of secret has
mythology of Serpent and every part of the series has sorcerers, unicorns, centres, Goblin,
three headed dogs, broom sticks, spells, magic potions and other Monsters creatures which do
not have any connection with reality.
Now it is very evident that fantasy as great connection with religious believers and
ideologies. In JK Rowling Harry Potter series there are various religious connotations ranging
from Christianity to Islam. Some of the authors grant this series containing occult and satanic
subtext which ignite problems in some protestant and orthodox Christian believes against this
series. along with the Christian believers the Shia and Sunni Muslims are also so are giving to
accuse Harry Potter series to have Satanic connotation because they find the magic used in
this Harry Potter series bear resemblance to occultism . As the entire theme of this series is
best on witchcraft this obviously questions the Christian understanding of world and its

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effectiveness. According to some of the authors Harry Potter series is more in the vein of
different fairy tales popular in the Western world. In some of the cases many of the Christian
critics have found there are Christian references included in the later parts of Harry Potter
series (Rowling 1997). However in most of the cases the series has been accused for violating
the separation of Church and state. The orthodox churches of Bulgaria and Greece have
campaign against the series. With the ban of this series in United Arab Emirates based on
religious responses have made it clear that Theological point of view has greater connection
with fantasy in this particular text.
Similarly, The Girl Who Ruled The Fairyland has fantasy elements which is a part of
a series of fantasy novels by Catherynne Valente. This is a story of 12 year old girl who is
spirited away from the average life to the fairyland. Just like Harry Potter this girl is also a
protagonist with whom the young readers can connect easily. The fantasy element in this
novel has been covered through a little girl’s adventure in the fairyland. Here Mallow, the
protagonist has become fairylands Evil marquess (Charlish 2012). The strange fantastic
characters like history and politics, Goldmouth, leopard, jenny, pirates and king. These
characters reveal the expansions of the fairyland which will be filled by Mallow.
Now these two texts have fantasy in common which roots from religious beliefs.
Decoration of fantasy narratives rest upon the imagination of the author where the world,
setting and features are depicted by the fantasy seem to be alive and often talk. One of the
most important reasons why the religious themes as well as motives appear frequently in the
fantasy literature is due to the fact that the generalized greatly on the mythological heritage of
the world (Attebery 1991). The myth from the world have been source of inspiration and
supply of data for the writers of fantasy for a long time. The writers indiscriminately have
used very fantastic themes and images from mythology and religion which have become
standard within the structure of fantasy. As mentioned before the cosmic struggle of good and

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evil and the figure of severe with his request are the common themes of fantasy literature. In
this conflict where someone suffer and sacrifice he for the benefits of others and mainly the
community can be found both the texts.
The heroic figure of Harry Potter from the series has become role model of the
youngsters that teaches children about courage importance of friendship and responsibilities.
But there are concerns voiced by different authors who point out that despite of courage and
loyalty these heroes and not the best role models for the children. Even though the friends
and Harry can manage to save their world ultimately but during their adventures they have
cheated their parents, lied and broke rule notoriously. From the religious point of view the
interest of witchcraft and black magic increase interest of the children towards the real-world
occultism which is not healthy for the society. On the contrast of this idea the critics have
argued that occultism is not an easy thing to handle and Rowling’s magic needs proper
learning of spells and their intonation comma proper questions which only relate to the
imaginary world accessible to the humans who only possess some magical abilities. Here the
difference of power between the hero and enemy is there choice of spells and how they
carbon one another through their magical skills and knowledge. Both the good and evil
characters have intense knowledge of Magic which cannot be compared with the various
subcategories of fantasy mainly dependent upon mythology. Fantastic images and themes of
religious significance in both the texts entangles will of serious moral choice which do not
break the religious beliefs and traditions. Harry and his friend have never mentioned about
the Christian religious connotations nor named any pagan gods and goddesses.
The religious and spiritual issues of the fantasy literature intensely connected because
the authors of such fantasy stories create secondary world and secondary religions in order to
enrich their imaginary land so that the plots are backed up by different types of religious
beliefs (Butler 2012). In Harry Potter series they are used uses of mythology and processes

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but no notation of venerated figures or religious dogmas. In The Girl Who Ruled The
Fairyland also there is no religious connotation but completely dependent upon the fairy tales
and mythological ideas. There are religious people who died for one another and finally
converge with the establishment of truth and power.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the religious connotations of fantasy literature has
nothing harmful but give the plot more support to make them convincing matching the
Expectations of the real world. The fantasy which is only dependent upon the imagination of
the author do not get proper access to the real world which affect their popularity. Popularity
of fantasy narratives rests upon the imagination of the author where the world, setting and
features are depicted by the fantasy. Therefore, they must have the religious reference which
can increase their connection with the real world belief system and help the readers to see the
world of fantasy through more realistic eye.

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References:
Attebery, B., 1991. The politics (if any) of fantasy. Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts, 4(1
(13), pp.7-28.
Bould, M. and Vint, S. (2019). Political readings. London: Cambridge University Press,
pp.102-112. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1017/CCOL9780521429597.010
Butler, C., 2012. Modern children's fantasy (pp. 224-235). Cambridge University Press.
Charlish, R., 2012. The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own
Making. The School Librarian, 60(4), p.247.
Maund, K. (2012). Reading the fantasy series. Cambridge University Press, pp.147-153.
Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1017/CCOL9780521429597.014.
Rowling, J.K., 1997. Harry Potter. Bloomsbury: London.