The fantasy seems to be a genre that is hard to define. Fantasy is a world that is mystical and is out of the ordinary in terms of being supernatural. The genre consists of having themes that include the supernatural and magic. Fantasy "contains elements that are not realistic". They may include "talking animals and magical powers,set in a medieval universe and possibly including mythical beings". Fantasy also has many sub genres and is not only limited to just one main genre. Some of them include "Comic fantasy, Dark fantasy, Fairy tale fantasy and Heroic fantasy" (Beukes) Lord of the rings belongs to the Fantasy genre.It's one filled with mystical creatures such as Gollum looks like something out of another world exactly the way intended for a fantasy genre. Magical and Mystical creatures like are a must in the Fantasy genre.
Voluspa belongs to the mythological poems.
Beowulf belongs to the Epic
The Hobbit belongs to the Fantasy Epic
Discuss what you think any of these texts desire (in the sense of their intention, how they wish to be received, what pleasures they offer).
I think that theses texts desire for the readers to be able to to involve themselves into the text and think of themselves being a part of that particular genre and immerse themselves into the text.
These texts have a mystical twist to them and is created to entice the readers to delve themselves into these worlds. It is crafted in a way in which it is meant to give pleasure to the readers. Richard Dyer a genre theorist debated that genres are pleasurable because they "offer the audience escapist fantasies into fictional worlds which remove boredom and pressures of reality". This is one of the main reasons that I believe what these texts truly have to offer. Fantasies such as Lord of the Rings must tends to intrigue those who use these texts. It creates a world that has magic and the impossible is possible and want to impact those who read the texts by making them excited and thrill them.
For particular people they already have a meaning and add to their culture.The Anglo Saxon's see these texts as a part of their culture. "Beowulf reflects many cultural values highly regarded by the Anglo-Saxons" They hold many cultural values such as Identity being a major value. "Nor have I seen a mightier man-at-arms on this than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken, he is truly noble. This is no mere hanger-on in a hero's armour" through this line in Beowulf we see the value of Identity being shown.
References
Beowulf. (n.d.). An introduction to Anglo-Saxon History, Culture and the Epic Poem Beowulf. Retrieved from http://www.gaston.k12.nc.us/schools/ashbrook/faculty/repaul/Course%20Outline%20and%20Syllabus/Beowulf.pdf
Beukes, L (2011). Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Sub-Genres. Retrieved from
https://www.worldswithoutend.com/resources_sub-genres.asp
British Metropolitan Academy. (2010-2011). OCR AS MEDIA STUDIES. Retrieved from
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iNYm0TAPqmoEb3T7wUDcBDn0VRLfLQfKoRJ-2IRSWQo/preview
Readwritethink. (2006). Genre Characteristics. Retrieved from http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson270/genre_sheet.pdf
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