Fantasy: A Connecting Dot Between Existing Reality and Fantastic World in Reference to Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials

Abstract

fantasy writing is a liberative social process that enables the reader to enter an imaginary world where they meet the challenges and resolve their inner conflicts, and then return to their own ‘real world’ better equipped to cope with our own real world. Fantasy and fairy tales are often characterized as timeless and ahistorical, and as exercising a universal appeal being a part of a social process reflecting conflicts in society over power and social relations. Pullman is best known for the His Dark Materials trilogy set in an alternative universe. It is a captivating and thought-provoking fantasy trilogy that weaves together elements of adventure, philosophy, and coming-of-age themes. Pullman’s trilogy imbibes layers of thematic complexity which challenges oversimplification.