Modern Fantasy - The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Modern fantasy is a genre that originated from traditional fantasy. As with traditional fantasy, modern fantasy novels are distinguished by story elements that contradict the natural physical laws of our known world. However, modern fantasy does have elements that differentiate it from traditional fantasy. Modern fantasy novels are always associated with an author; settings are detailed and important to the plot and characters grow and change throughout the story. There are also many commonly used themes, motifs and story occurrences in modern fantasy compositions. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis uses many of these. It is an example of a modern fantasy novel, as the characters, setting and storyline match the criteria for the modern fantasy genre perfectly.

There are many motifs and common storyline occurrences associated with the modern fantasy genre. Magic, other worlds, good versus evil, heroism, fantastic creatures and fantastic objects are the basic modern fantasy motifs, and are all used in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Narnia is the magical other world, home to the fantastic creatures and objects, in which the Pevensies and the White Witch take the form of good versus evil. All modern fantasy compositions are through the eyes of the hero/s, and the generic storyline goes as follows. Firstly, the hero/s are called to adventure by some sort of herald. In The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, this herald is Mr. Tumnus the faun, whose arrest by the White Witch leads the four children into their adventure. Another common event which occurs in modern fantasy books involves the hero/s crossing into another world or place that is no longer safe or secure. In The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe the wardrobe is the gateway to Narnia, through which the Pevensies make the crossover to an unknown, unsafe world. The hero/s must then survive physical and emotional trials in this unknown world, and a main quest becomes evident leading to