Category: Academic Essay
Status: Unpublished
How is Supernatural treated with Fantasy Literature
In the context of Alice in the Wonderland
The Supernatural is an important part of the Fantastic, because essentially, without the
supernatural, the fantastic would not exist. While the supernatural has grown to take on more
meaning than just a characteristic definition for the fantastic, it has also emerged as a distinct
quality that defines an aspect of the fantastic. Literary works make distinctions when they
include and merge the supernatural into the fantastic, especially in works like Alice in
Wonderland, which epitomizes both aspects. The Wonderland in the story is presented as the
inverse of Alice’s reality; lawless and rude, while Alice embodies the outsider or the
supernatural element that is relieved as Alice progresses through her adventure.
The Fantastical and the Supernatural element are distinct and slightly similar concepts, especially
with concerns to Literature, signifying that which is not real or related to reality, and creating an
entire world and creatures from the figment of one’s imagination. The fantastical element refers
to an imaginary world, created to serve an alternative to reality in terms of not just creatures but
also behaviors, actions and more. Any action or character that may not be real, will not appear as
odd in a fantastic utopic world, but would fit right in. The Supernatural on the other hand, is also
fantastical and unreal, yet it introduces concepts, characters or actions, in the setting of reality
and what we consider as the “real” world. The very word signifies something that is not normal;
it is perceived and treated as something that is unique, mysterious, not easily acceptable and even
Status: Unpublished
How is Supernatural treated with Fantasy Literature
In the context of Alice in the Wonderland
The Supernatural is an important part of the Fantastic, because essentially, without the
supernatural, the fantastic would not exist. While the supernatural has grown to take on more
meaning than just a characteristic definition for the fantastic, it has also emerged as a distinct
quality that defines an aspect of the fantastic. Literary works make distinctions when they
include and merge the supernatural into the fantastic, especially in works like Alice in
Wonderland, which epitomizes both aspects. The Wonderland in the story is presented as the
inverse of Alice’s reality; lawless and rude, while Alice embodies the outsider or the
supernatural element that is relieved as Alice progresses through her adventure.
The Fantastical and the Supernatural element are distinct and slightly similar concepts, especially
with concerns to Literature, signifying that which is not real or related to reality, and creating an
entire world and creatures from the figment of one’s imagination. The fantastical element refers
to an imaginary world, created to serve an alternative to reality in terms of not just creatures but
also behaviors, actions and more. Any action or character that may not be real, will not appear as
odd in a fantastic utopic world, but would fit right in. The Supernatural on the other hand, is also
fantastical and unreal, yet it introduces concepts, characters or actions, in the setting of reality
and what we consider as the “real” world. The very word signifies something that is not normal;
it is perceived and treated as something that is unique, mysterious, not easily acceptable and even
