Postmodern Fantasy & its Twin Traditions

Author

• Skyler J. Alexander, University of South DakotaFollow

Date of Award

Summer 8-6-2026

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Department/Major

Finance

Additional Department

English

First Advisor

Benjamin Hagen

Second Advisor

Duncan Barlow

Third Advisor

Carol Leibiger

Keywords

Fantasy, Fantasy Literature, Tolkien, George R. R. Martin, Sword and Sorcery, High Fantasy, Magic Systems, Hard Magic Systems, Wheel of Time, Game of Thrones

Subject Categories

American Literature | Fiction | Literature in English, North America | Modern Literature | Television

Abstract

Fantasy literature is diverse and difficult to categorize; nevertheless, throughout the twentieth century two main subgenres emerged: sword-and-sorcery and high fantasy. This thesis examines the differences and similarities between these two traditions, how contemporary examples of the genre fit into or diverge away from the traditions that influenced them, and proves in the negative what and how much of contemporary fantasy fiction is original to itself, with no prominent antecedent. The analysis was performed by comparatively reading two contemporary fantasy novels, The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan and A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, with supporting evidence from secondary scholarship and public interviews with the authors. The findings were that while contemporary high fantasy is still beholden to Tolkienian influence, it advances the genre by imagining destiny and magic as metaphors for coming of age and the mastery of one’s skills. Contemporary sword-and-sorcery is as influenced by Tolkien as contemporary high fantasy, but instead of following in Tolkien’s footsteps, it responds to and refutes Tolkienian ideas, subverting traditional eucatastrophic arcs. Contemporary examples of both high fantasy and sword-and-sorcery adopt psychologically close, limited third-person perspectives, reflecting a broader trend in fantasy literature to entrench the reader deeply into the mind and perspective of their point-of-view characters.

Recommended Citation

Alexander, Skyler J., "Postmodern Fantasy & its Twin Traditions" (2026). Honors Thesis. 437.
https://red.library.usd.edu/honors-thesis/437