Is Game of Thrones High Fantasy?
Direct Answer: Game of Thrones is often debated to be a work of high fantasy, but can it be classified as such? To answer this question, let’s delve into the world of fantasy and explore the characteristics that define high fantasy.
What is High Fantasy?
High fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that is set in an alternate, entirely fictional world with its own geography, history, and rules. It often features magical creatures, quests, and epic battles between good and evil. High fantasy stories typically take place in a secondary world, which is distinct from the real world and has its own unique cultures, landscapes, and mythologies.
Characteristics of High Fantasy:
- Magical or supernatural elements: High fantasy stories often feature magical or supernatural elements, such as magic, mythical creatures, or supernatural powers.
- Alternate world or secondary world: High fantasy stories are set in an entirely fictional world, which is distinct from the real world.
- Quest or adventure narrative: High fantasy stories often feature a quest or adventure narrative, where the protagonist(s) embark on a journey to achieve a goal or overcome a challenge.
- Epic scope: High fantasy stories often have an epic scope, featuring grand battles, heroic quests, and momentous events that shape the world.
Is Game of Thrones High Fantasy?
While Game of Thrones features many elements that are characteristic of high fantasy, it is often debated whether it can be classified as high fantasy. Here are some points to consider:
- Magical or supernatural elements: Game of Thrones features magic, with characters like Melisandre, Beric Dondarrion, and the Three-Eyed Raven exhibiting supernatural abilities. However, these magical elements are relatively rare and subtle compared to traditional high fantasy stories.
- Alternate world or secondary world: Game of Thrones is set in the fictional world of Westeros, but it is not a traditional secondary world with its own unique geography, history, and mythologies. Westeros is loosely based on medieval Europe, with some fantasy elements added.
- Quest or adventure narrative: Game of Thrones features quests, with characters like Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, and Tyrion Lannister embarking on journeys to achieve their goals. However, these quests are not traditional in the sense that they do not involve saving the world from darkness or defeating an evil sorcerer.
- Epic scope: Game of Thrones has an epic scope, featuring grand battles, heroic quests, and momentous events that shape the world. However, these events are largely driven by human politics and conflict, rather than supernatural forces.
Why Game of Thrones is Not Traditional High Fantasy:
- Lack of magic: While Game of Thrones features magic, it is relatively rare and subtle compared to traditional high fantasy stories.
- Based on real-world history: The world of Westeros is loosely based on medieval Europe, which means that the story is grounded in real-world history and politics rather than entirely fictional mythology.
- Human focus: Game of Thrones focuses on human politics, conflict, and character development, rather than exploring the mythology and world-building that is typical of high fantasy.
Conclusion:
While Game of Thrones features many elements that are characteristic of high fantasy, it is not a traditional work of high fantasy. It lacks the level of magic, world-building, and mythological depth that is typical of high fantasy stories. Instead, Game of Thrones is a work of low fantasy, which combines fantasy elements with a grounded, realistic world.
Table: Characteristics of High Fantasy vs. Game of Thrones:
| High Fantasy | Game of Thrones | |
|---|---|---|
| Magic | Abundant, powerful, and central to the story | Rare, subtle, and peripheral to the story |
| Alternate World | Distinct, unique, and self-contained | Loosely based on real-world history and geography |
| Quest/Adventure Narrative | Typically involves saving the world from darkness or defeating an evil sorcerer | Involves human politics and conflict, with some fantasy elements added |
| Epic Scope | Often features grand battles, heroic quests, and momentous events that shape the world | Features grand battles, heroic quests, and momentous events, but driven by human politics and conflict |
In Conclusion:
While Game of Thrones is often debated to be a work of high fantasy, it lacks the characteristic elements that define the genre. Instead, it is a work of low fantasy that combines fantasy elements with a grounded, realistic world.