Realism and the Structures of Fantasy

Abstract

Abstract When we look at realism through the lens of fantasy rather than as a contrast with it, its constructed nature becomes more evident. The notion of what is realistic changes continually, but it is generally restricted to stories that are not merely possible but probable. What we consider to be realistic narratives are those we recognize from our previous experience of fiction, which also means stories that are in accord with ideological norms. Looking at the work of children’s writers who cross between fantastic and realistic modes, such as Edward Eager and Elizabeth Enright, we see that theirs is a consciously arranged version of realism closely related to their understanding of fantasy. Enright referred to this as “edited reality”; Eager called it “daily magic.”