The Difference Between High and Low Fantasy
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Fantasy writing is a huge genre with many different subgenres. We have things like heroic fantasy, historical fantasy, and supernatural fantasy. The differences between these three aren’t very difficult to understand if you dig deep enough.
But what’s the difference between high and low fantasy?
To begin, Fantasy itself is defined as a genre of speculative fiction, set in some sort of fictional universe. Fantasy is often inspired by real life folklore, and mythology. It originated as a form of oral tradition which eventually evolved into proper literature such as books, and dramas in the form of plays.
High fantasy is defined by the epic nature of it’s setting, its characters, its themes, and its plots. Epicness is in fact one of the most beloved parts of high fantasy, huge battles between armies of good and evil, magical spells that can build, or level an entire city. All of this fits in the realm of high fantasy, and it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
High fantasy is quite diverse in it’s worldbuilding process. This is due to the fact that this form of fantasy is also characterized by being set in an alternative, or secondary world. It is common for fantasy worlds to remain relatively consistent, however, the laws of reality in this world often differ from our own.
Perhaps the most recognized high fantasy work is the writing of J.R.R Tolkien, such as the Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and the Silmarillion. In all of these books, the setting takes place in a world entirely different from ours, and battles between good and evil take place in epic proportions. Notably more so in the Silmarillion, which goes into great detail of how a large amount of an entire continent was destroyed during various wars.
A funny misconception is that Tolkien’s works should be low to medium fantasy due to their limitations on the usage of magic. While it is true that Tolkien limited magic to a fair degree in his works, there are still other ways we can consider Tolkien’s books high fantasy. This is mainly because the world of Arda is so different from earth, the amount of divine entities which wield incredible power, such as the Valar and Maiar. Most of all however, with the fact that despite a low amount of magic, the world is still rife with magical items and weapons. There are also creatures born of magic, such as the orcs, trolls, and balrogs.
Low fantasy on the other hand is characterized by magical events that intrude upon an otherwise normal world, and therefore contrasts with high fantasy stories. This form of story often holds less focus upon typical elements of fantasy, and instead sets a narrative on a realistic environment, with certain elements that can be considered fantastical.
A big trend in low fantasy is a world within a world. What I mean by this is best explained by example. In the Harry Potter books, the setting takes place on planet earth, in Scotland. However, Harry Potter also has the wizarding world, which is an entirely different society and culture, living in secret from those who do not know about magic.
Good Omens is another book which has recently received a live action show (and I really suggest watching it) which also is considered low fantasy, and very much emphasizes the world within a world term. An Angel and a Demon are both attempting to halt the coming of the apocalypse, doing so because they desire for the world to keep on existing. After all, if you are enemies with someone since demons and angels first came into creation, you eventually become friends.
High fantasy and low fantasy are two genres that can at times overlap, or the line between them can become blurred. Nonetheless, as an avid enjoyer of both genres, I can say that taking the time to indulge upon these two sides of fantasy is totally worth it. Whether you enjoy huge battles like in Lord of the Rings, or prefer a more subtle approach like the wizards in Harry Potter, there is surely to be a high or low fantasy story for you.
Conor Bruce
Conor is an aspiring professional writer. Interested in a variety of genres from fantasy, science fiction, and action. In his free time he often reads, enjoys a video game or two, and writes his various ideas on the side.
