Portal fantasy, also called portal-quest fantasy, gateway fantasy or crossworld fantasy, is a plot device in speculative fiction, particularly fantasy and science fiction, in which characters enter a self-contained fantasy world through a portal, typically within a quest-based narrative focused on exploring and navigating that world. Its protagonists journey through an alternate reality, discover unfamiliar settings and meet distinctive inhabitants, with the portal itself serving as the device that enables the story's worldbuilding, thematic exploration and plot.
Facts
Place of OriginVictorian British fantasy literature; Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) is frequently identified as one of the earliest clear examples of a protagonist entering a secondary world through a defined portal. 1 Notable ExampleC. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, in which children pass from the ordinary world into the magical land of Narnia through a wardrobe and other portals. 1 Defining TraitA plot device in speculative fiction in which characters enter a self-contained fantasy world through a portal, typically within a quest-based narrative focused on exploring and navigating that world. 1 Connections
Sources
1. Portal Fantasy (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead sectionQuote, Lead section
Portal fantasy, also called portal-quest fantasy, gateway fantasy or crossworld fantasy, is a plot device in speculative fiction, particularly fantasy fiction and science fiction, in which characters enter a self-contained fantasy world through a portal, typically within a quest-based narrative that focuses on exploring and navigating that world.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.