Anachronisms in Fantasy
January 9th 2009 21:27
Anachronisms in Fantasy are harder to pin down, since anyone can technically write fantasy any way they want. To me, anachronisms in fantasy stick out and make the world or the story seem artificial or amateurish.
Anachronism is just when a person, dialect, event, object, etc. from a certain period of history appear in another time period in which it doesn't belong. So, really, I will be talking about anachronisms in medieval fantasy, or any fantasy that's set in a world that resembles the way our Western civilization was at any certain previous point in time.
First let's talk about language. If a fantasy is set in a medieval-esque setting, the language and dialects the characters use are very important and often very difficult to get right. The mots annoying linguistic anachronisms are when writers try to put modern day dialects into an archaic setting. For starters, never have a character say "yeah." That is a modern twist of the word "yes" and to have medieval characters say it is like trying to make Abraham Lincoln come back from the grave to fly a mission for NASA. It just sounds silly.
Also, never use modern day colloquialisms in a medieval fantasy setting. Phrases like "cat got your tongue" or "cool as a cat" or "kicked the bucket" or "he's such a card" etc. are all associated with modern day, and to me they sound artificial and contrived in fantasy dialogue. Also, colloquialisms are almost instant cliches. Really they become cliche as soon as the term 'colloquialism' is applied to them. For fresh fantasy dialogue, it's best to invent new sayings and exclamations unique to the characters and their world. For example the exclamation "frak!" is unique to the Battlestar Galactica world (even though it is sci-fi) and "Sweet Sejenus!" is unique to R. Scott Bakker's fantasy world Earwa. They're unique and still get the point across.
The biggest anachronism I can think of is technology reminiscent of modern day, like electricity, automated machines, etc. Stuff like this can have its place in fantasy as long as there is an explanation for it that differs from the real-world explanation. Fantasy should be mysterious and otherworldly (well, except for historical or urban fantasy, but those are two different cans of man-eating worms)
So basically, to avoid anachronisms in fantasy that is set in a certain time period, or is set in a different world whose culture resembles a period of history on earth, just double check the writing to make sure no modern slang or language slips into the fantasy's fabric.
Next Friday I'll be talking about the peasant class in Medieval society: their attire, professions, food, furniture, etc. On Sunday I'll start discussing my personal fantasy writing projects, which I'm endeavoring to make interesting and meaningful and original. We'll see how it all plays out eventually. Have a nice day!
Anachronism is just when a person, dialect, event, object, etc. from a certain period of history appear in another time period in which it doesn't belong. So, really, I will be talking about anachronisms in medieval fantasy, or any fantasy that's set in a world that resembles the way our Western civilization was at any certain previous point in time.
First let's talk about language. If a fantasy is set in a medieval-esque setting, the language and dialects the characters use are very important and often very difficult to get right. The mots annoying linguistic anachronisms are when writers try to put modern day dialects into an archaic setting. For starters, never have a character say "yeah." That is a modern twist of the word "yes" and to have medieval characters say it is like trying to make Abraham Lincoln come back from the grave to fly a mission for NASA. It just sounds silly.
Also, never use modern day colloquialisms in a medieval fantasy setting. Phrases like "cat got your tongue" or "cool as a cat" or "kicked the bucket" or "he's such a card" etc. are all associated with modern day, and to me they sound artificial and contrived in fantasy dialogue. Also, colloquialisms are almost instant cliches. Really they become cliche as soon as the term 'colloquialism' is applied to them. For fresh fantasy dialogue, it's best to invent new sayings and exclamations unique to the characters and their world. For example the exclamation "frak!" is unique to the Battlestar Galactica world (even though it is sci-fi) and "Sweet Sejenus!" is unique to R. Scott Bakker's fantasy world Earwa. They're unique and still get the point across.
The biggest anachronism I can think of is technology reminiscent of modern day, like electricity, automated machines, etc. Stuff like this can have its place in fantasy as long as there is an explanation for it that differs from the real-world explanation. Fantasy should be mysterious and otherworldly (well, except for historical or urban fantasy, but those are two different cans of man-eating worms)
So basically, to avoid anachronisms in fantasy that is set in a certain time period, or is set in a different world whose culture resembles a period of history on earth, just double check the writing to make sure no modern slang or language slips into the fantasy's fabric.
Next Friday I'll be talking about the peasant class in Medieval society: their attire, professions, food, furniture, etc. On Sunday I'll start discussing my personal fantasy writing projects, which I'm endeavoring to make interesting and meaningful and original. We'll see how it all plays out eventually. Have a nice day!
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