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A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin writerThe Song of Ice and Fire book series chronicles the events on the continents of Westeros and Essos. In the beginning the story centers around the Stark family. Lord Eddard Stark, his wife Catelyn and their chlidren rule the wintery north of Westeros where behind a wall the undead await. On Essos the last heirs to the former king, Daenerys Targaryen and her older brother Rhaegar, seek out allies to reconquer the realm of Westeros. Intrigue, murder, rape and ultimately war awaits the many characters of this story.
genres fantasy keywords child abuse - domestic violence - homophobia - major character death - racism - rape or sexual assault - self-harm - sexism - suicide - torture - politics - intrigue - war - magic - dragons content warnings profanity: yes - violence: graphic - sex: graphic languages English length 780 source material related works Game of Thrones TV series in which all characters who are minors and children in the book, become about 6-10 years older on TV. (While it is fine to have murder and rape of children and teenagers in novels we cannot handle it in film or TV - See also Battle Royale for this curious western attitude.) availability of fanfiction Between 1000 and 50,000 entries on FanFiction.net notes The SOng of Ice and Fire is the current (2018) "big" fantasy novel series. Though the story is convoluted and to this point is missing any mythological depth in narrative and theme its strengths lie in other parts. What George R. R. Martin does really well, and that is something that is recommended to be tried for any fanfiction writing exercise, is different persectives. Each chapther is written from the viewpoint of a different characters. Events often overlap and are perceived very differently. It is no Rashomon, where this technique is at its peak, but it is hardly deniable that a lot of the success of the series comes from this. -
Assassin's Creed by Ubisoft developer, publisherThe Assassin's Creed series tells the story of the war between two secret societies, Templars and Assassins, throughout time. The actual story takes place in the future where through technological magic (ie magic) people have the ability to relive experiences of their ancient ancestors by using virtual reality machines. These Science Fiction elements are underdeveloped and get gradually dropped over the course of the series. The gameplay centers around being an Assassin during different time periods, finding targets and murdering them.
genres science fiction fantasy action keywords imaginary history - conspiracies - secret wars content warnings profanity: mild - violence: graphic - sex: no languages English length NA related works The Assassin's Creed movie of 2016 shares all of the flaws of the game series but without the interactivity of gameplay. It can be ignored. availability of fanfiction Between 1000 and 50,000 entries on FanFiction.net notes The AC series was hugely successful and had many possibilities to engage the players in fantastic stories within an historical context. Sadly the historical context is often lacking or downright wrong and thus the historical environments feel more like Disney movies in their complete ignorance of history.So even though the series plays in interesting times like the Crusades, Renaissance Italy, the American War for Indepence or Victorian England, the historical background is so flimsy and badly researched that there is no historical value with the exception of the Architecture which has to be commended. As for the EFLC this series offers very little. Character development is lacking and the stories are too far out to foster serious discussions. Though there is potential and a teacher who wants to delve deep into specific games of the series might find useful material. -
Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Joss Whedon creator - producerBuffy Summers appears to be a typical cheerleader at high school, but one day she needs to accept her destiny as a Slayer of Vamypres and other demonic entities. Joined by her best friend Willow who dabbles in witchcraft and her other friends and led by the school librarian Giles who is their mentor and "Watcher". Episodes are varied and usually not connected very much to each other. The first big continous plot line not directly related to hunting vampyres is the problematic love story between the Slayer and a Vampyre named Angel.
genres action comedy drama fantasy keywords addiction - torture - vampyres - magic - coming of age - girl power content warnings profanity: no - violence: yes - sex: no languages English length 144 episodes at about 45 minutes each source material related works A spin off TV Show Angel was produced. Buffy is one the most referenced non Video Game character in Video Games, which is a small hint as the influence the series had. availability of fanfiction Between 50,000 and 100,000 entries on FanFiction.net notes Buffy the Vampyre Slayer is, in hindsight, probably one of the most influential TV shows of the 1990s. It could be called a Feminist Manifesto of its time especially because the series itself never makes a big deal out of the female empowerment it portrays in a light and often humorous tone. It was one of the first mainstream TV shows, maybe even the first, where one of the main characters engages in a positive homosexual relationship. The creativity by the team around Joss Whedon was in full display and some episodes, like "Once More, with Feeling" from season 6 which is a musical for all intents and purposes, have become cult classics since. The biggest challenge for the teacher will be to present this series as something timeless that is not specific to the time of its creation. But considering how successful and beloved the series still is among younger first time viewers this challenge should not be overestimated. -
Game of Thrones by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss creators
Game of Thrones follows the stories of many different characters within a fantasy world. There is the Stark family ruling in the far north of Westeros not far from the Wall which divides the world of the living and dead. Then there is house Lannister who plots to usurp the throne of Westeros and the last heirs top the formerly disposed king, Daenerys Targaryen and her brother, who seek help and allies on the eastern continent of Essos. Murder, Intrigue and War engulfs and extinguishes the characters in this series.
genres fantasy keywords child abuse - domestic violence - homophobia - major character death - racism - rape or sexual assault - self-harm - sexism - suicide - torture - war - betrayal - politics - rebirth content warnings profanity: yes - violence: graphic - sex: graphic languages English length 67 epiosed as of April 2018 each around 55 minutes source material related works This series is based on the book series Song of Ice and Fire. availability of fanfiction Between 1000 and 50,000 entries on FanFiction.net notes Whlie the series starts out following the book series Song of Ice and Fire very closely, it increasingly departs from the source material. Apart from all underage characters getting their ages significantly increased, the plot itself has been changed by the original Author George R. R. Martin so that novel and TV series become increasingly distinct from each other. -
Harry Potter book series by J. K. Rowling writer
A seven book series of children’s/young adult novels. The first introduces 11-year-old Harry Potter, who is being raised by his aunt and uncle after the death of his parents in a car crash when Harry was an infant. Harry learns that he has magical abilities and that he is the only survivor of an attack by a powerful evil wizard, Voldemort, who is threatening to return to power and take over the wizarding world. Each book follows Harry through a different year (ages 11-17) at the magical boarding school, Hogwarts, where Harry faces challenges that arise through Voldemort’s various attempts to return to power. At the same time, Harry learns more about his past, the wizarding world, and deals with issues of friendship, fitting in, growing up, and even romance. The books move from whimsical children’s literature with a hint of threat to darker more young adult-themed with the fourth book. Harry’s character also develops as he ages and as the threats around him grow increasingly severe and dire. The final book retains dystopian, wartime themes but ends with hope.
genres fantasy children’s literature young adult dystopia keywords child abuse - major character death - racism - torture - british boarding school content warnings profanity: mild - violence: yes - sex: no languages English length 223 pages to 766 pages source material related works The Harry Potter films availability of fanfiction More than 100,000 entries on Archive of Our Own, FanFiction.Net, fan specific archives notes Fanfiction is available for the entire series and not always based solely upon one of the Harry Potter books or movies. -
Harry Potter film series by Chris Columbus director, Steve Cloves screenplay, Afonso Cuarón director, Mike Newell director, David Yates director, Michael Goldenberg screenplayAn eight-movie series based on the seven-volume Harry Potter children’s/young adultnovels. The first introduces 11-year-old Harry Potter, who is being raised by his aunt and uncle after the death of his parents in a car crash when Harry was an infant. Harry learns that he has magical abilities and that he is the only survivor of an attack by a powerful evil wizard, Voldemort, who is threatening to return to power and take over the wizarding world. Each book follows Harry through a different year (ages 11-17) at the magical boarding school, Hogwarts, where Harry faces challenges that arise through Voldemort’s various attempts to return to power. At the same time, Harry learns more about his past, the wizarding world, and deals with issues of friendship, fitting in, growing up, and even romance. The movies move from whimsical and colorful explorations of the magical world from a child’s perspective to darker young-adult depictions of trying to survive in a society at war.
genres fantasy children’s literature young adult dystopia keywords child abuse - major character death - racism - torture - british boarding school content warnings profanity: mild - violence: yes - sex: no languages English length 2 h 10 min - 2 h 54 min source material related works The Harry Potter books availability of fanfiction More than 100,000 entries on Archive of Our Own, FanFiction.Net, Wattpad, other fan archives notes Fanfiction is available for the entire series and not always based solely upon one of the Harry Potter books or movies. -
Lord of the Rings book series by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien writer
Lord of the Rings (LotR) follows the journey of Frodo, a Hobbit, and his friends and companions. Frodo inherited a magic ring by his uncle Bilbo, a ring that not only makes its wearer invisible but also holds a dark secret. When the wizard Gandalf returns to Frodo after a long absence he tells Frodo the true origins of the ring. Frodo then leaves the Shire, his home, with a few friends to reach the elven sanctaury of Rivendell or Imladris. After many adventures and chased by the servants of Sauron, the creator of the ring Frodo holds, and evil Overlord, Frodo finally makes it Rivendell. There the council of Elrond comprised of wise men, elves, dwarfs and wizards is held and the free people decide that the ring must be destroyed ere it falls into the hands of the enemy or beguiles them to use it in his stead. So the fellowship of the ring is formed, comprised of nine travellers of all free races against the one darkness of Mordor, tasked to travel to the dark land itself and destroy the ring at the heart of the enemys realm.
genres fantasy romance travel keywords addiction - major character death - genealogy - war - refugees - corruption - faith - good & evil - language - history - ancient legendaria (edda) - perserverance - friendship - hope without hope - power content warnings profanity: no - violence: yes - sex: no languages English length about 455 thousand words for the whole trilogy source material related works The Hobbit - written many years before. A children's book that had originally no relation to Tolkien's legendarium but was rewritten to fit into it before the Lord of the Rings was published. The Silmarillion - For advanced readers who hold a love or at least appreciation of the English language, old languages and ancient mythology. Not a classical narrative but the history of the world of Middle-Earth, which in the first writings was still intended to be our own Earth. availability of fanfiction More than 100,000 entries on LotR Fan Fiction notes LotR is a rewarding but complicated book to tackle in a classroom setting. Rewarding because of the love of language and humanity that seeps through every page, the rich lore and profound wisdom on the human condition, but complicated because of much the same reasons and its sheer length. It is also very important for teachers to devoid themselves of all the conspiracy theories (the book is Satanist, Christian, Racist etc.) surrounding LotR and remember that the story is not allegorical. As Tolkien explained people confuse applicability with allegory and any observations made in the above mentioned directions are quickly made void by the text itself. Ultimately it is the plurality of diversity that defeats the "One" evil. -
Lord of the Rings film series by Peter Jackson director, Philippa Boyens screenplay, Fran Walsh producer, screenplay
The Hobbit Frodo, Hobbits are a amall humanoid race of cave dwellers and farmers, was given a magic ring by his uncle Bilbo. This ring, the wizard Gandalf tells Frodo, is the ring of power created in ancient past by the great evil known as Sauron. Frodo has to leave his home and carry the ring to Elrond's house, an Elven abode where the wise will decide upon its fate. After many adventures Frodo and his companions reach the Elven sanctuary and there it is decided that the ring shall be destroyed whence it was made. Frodo and eight others are chosen to become the Fellowship and to travel to the evil land of Mordor and destroy the ring. After losing their guide the Fellowship is split and the different surviving characters are put on different journeys. Some going to war, others struggling to finish their appointed task, to destroy the ring at the heart of the enemies land.
genres fantasy action drama keywords addiction - major character death - torture - corruption - fall of heroes - friendship - immortality - nature - sacrifice - love content warnings profanity: no - violence: graphic - sex: no languages English length about 548 minutes (Cinema version) or 682 minutes (Extended cut) source material related works The Hobbit trilogy of films, which offer little of anything and can be ignored. The Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War games which really only visually emulate the films but contradict the lore and world of Tolkien to a degree where they should be considered fanfiction themselves. availability of fanfiction More than 100,000 entries on LotR Fan Fiction notes The film series is both very true to the source material and deviant in its implementation. Bascially action movies they miss much of the more subtle elements of the books. The basic themes are all still there but often modernized to positive and negative effects. For teachers with the time and will to tackle both films and novels with their class a wide opportunity to discussions arises. Differences between media types, differences between 1950s and early 2000s sensibilities, the character of Eowyn, the love story between Aragorn and Arwen which is basically absend in the books, etc. -
Star Wars film series by George Lucas director, later Disney role
Episodes 1 to 3 tell the story of Obi Wan Kenobi and his pupil Anakin Skywalker. They are part of the Jedi Order a group of monastic mystical warriors that can use the Force, a type of magical power. The films depict the fall of Anakin Skywalker from a hero to the most powerful servant of the evil overlord. Episodes 4-6 tell the story of Luke Skywalker as he is thrown into a galactic civil war. Young Luke meets the aged Jedi Obi Wan Kenobi and learns the way of the force from him. Ultimately defeating the evil Empire in Episode 6. Episodes 7-? tell the story of Rey a young survivalist on a desert planet who joins the the Resistance to fight against the First Order. At time of this writing (March, 2018) there is no clear direction in which this is going.
genres fantasy science fiction action keywords major character death - family content warnings profanity: no - violence: yes - sex: no languages English length about 120 minutes per film source material related works Joseph Campbell's book Hero's Journey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero%27s_journey served as guiding factor and inspiration for the original film which it follows very closely. FDebris' documentary series Hero's Journey http://sfdebris.com/videos/special/herosjourney.php delves deep into the creation of the original films, both in terms production and inception. A great resource for teachers who want to do some creative writing with their class or discuss film making. Warning: There is some profanity in the series. availability of fanfiction More than 100,000 entries on FanFictiontheForce.net notes These movies can hardly be considered cohesive. The original trilogy of 1977-1983 have clear themes of Rebellion, Coming of Age, Buddhism and were meant as an allegory for the Vietnam War. The second trilogy created around twenty years later struggle to have strong themes more concerned with re-telling a Citizen Kane style rise-and-fall narrative. The current run of films has no involvement of the original creators and is even weaker on themes and messages. Though it is still unfinished so that might change.
Digital stories from fans in the multilingual classroom
