Fantasy stories are those which include elements in the plot which could not possibly happen in real life. These elements may vary from mythical beasts roaming an imagined world to natural settings in which animals take on human characteristics. There are recognizable conventions of fantasy, such as toys coming to life, tiny humans, articulate animals, imaginary worlds, magical powers, and time-warp tales. A story needs to possess only one of these features in order to be classified as fantasy. However, some great stories use a combination of fantasy elements.

Magic: This is the most basic element of the fantasy genre. Many fantasy stories rely on magic to transition from the real world to a fantastical one. Harry Potter is a good example of this. Instead of learning chemistry, students at Hogwarts learn potions. Instead of getting up to grab something from the other side of the room, students can use a charm to get the object to come to them. These little differences separate the witches and wizards from the muggles.

Other Worlds: Most fantasies take place in strange and fantastic worlds full of magic and amazing creatures. There are three ways that authors can set up these worlds. The first being that the stories begin and end in the imaginary world. Think of stories like The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings. The entire tale takes place in a world named Middle Earth with lands such as The Shire. Another format is to start in the real world and move to a fantasy one. Think Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, or The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The third tactic is to keep the story in the real world and introduce magical elements to it. Think Percy Jackson or Fablehaven.

If the author moves the story into a fantasy world from the real one, the characters need a way to get there. That's when magical portals come into play. Harry can't access Diagon Alley without Hagrid tapping on the bricks behind the Leaky Cauldron and he can't get to Hogwarts without reaching the Hogwarts Express going through Platform 9 3/4. The Pevensie children can't get to Narnia without going through the wardrobe first. Can you think of any other magical portals?

Fantastic Objects: Fantastic objects help the characters perform their task. Where would Percy Jackson be without Riptide or Annabeth Chase be without her Yankees cap? Many times these objects become almost a character in themselves and characters need such an object to make themselves complete. Think about Harry Potter's wand. When Harry enters the wand shop on Diagon Alley, Mr. Ollivander gives many wands to try out. Eventually Harry finds his wand (the brother to Voldemort's wand) and Mr. Ollivander comments that the wand chooses the wizard. This wand becomes so much a part of Harry that he (spoiler alert) chooses to fix it and keep it and the end of the series.

Special Character Types: Special character types are abundant in fantasies. Some examples are fairies, giants, ogres, dragons, witches, unicorns and centaurs. We love these characters because they are so different from what we find in our daily lives. However, a good author can shape the character in such a way that the reader has no problem believing that such a being could exist.

Talking Animals: This can be closely related to special character types or magic. Animals can be assigned human characteristics that add to the story and make it more of a fantasy. This is known as anthropomorphism (I know, it's a big word. Sound it out... an-throw-po-morf-is-m). Sometimes, animals talking to each other can turn an otherwise realistic book into a fantasy such as Charlotte's Web. These characters are only able to talk amongst themselves. Other times, animals can communicate with humans like in James and the Giant Peach, The Tale of Despereaux, and the Chronicles on Narnia. There is also a subset of this in regard to talking toys. The Indian in the Cupboard and the Velveteen Rabbit are good examples of this.

Universal Themes: Universal themes are a must-have in a fantasy story. The most basic of these is good versus evil. There's always a good guy trying to fight for what is right against the powerful force of a bad guy. Great examples of good vs. evil are A Wrinkle in Time; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; and obviously, Harry Potter. Other themes include love (Pinocchio), friendship (Charlotte's Web) and perseverance in the face of danger (Lord of the Rings).

Heroism: Heroes rarely know of their powers or abilities until they are called upon to perform heroic feats. Not only are ordinary characters called upon to do great things, but also they always find the power within themselves that they had no idea was there. More on this a little later. Click on The Hero's Journey below.

When we think fantasy, we often think of epic tales, swords and dragons, but when it comes to the types of fantasy on offer, the variance is actually quite remarkable. Just take these examples of fantasy. All fall under the genre, but all are utterly different. The Lord of the Rings will likely be the go-to series when thinking about fantasy as a genre and It has defined the ‘epic fantasy’ for decades. Twilight is an example of fantasy that you may not consider in the same fictional subset as Lord of the Rings, but given its elements of make-believe and magic, it definitely is a fantasy novel. Harry Potter and Star Wars are both excellent examples of fantasy that many might consider falling into other genres. Star Wars may seem like die-hard Sci-Fi, but its reliance on mythic forces and a lack of basic physics make it a type of fantasy story, while Harry Potter’s exploration of magic also places it within the genre, even if it is set within the ‘real world’.

Epic/ High Fantasy: The bread-and-butter of fantasy, epic/ high fantasy is your massively scoped out world filled with its own history, mythology, races, ideals, cultures, and more. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings fit this sub-genre well with its well thought out world of Middle Earth and all of the races of different creatures.

Low Fantasy: This type of fantasy is effectively the polar opposite of the epic. Instead of being set in its own world, with no connection to reality, low fantasy is very realistic, and houses only a few elements of the fantasy genre. A strong and well-known example of low fantasy is the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s engaged in the real world, sure, but it also has fantasy woven into it, such as that of the Norse god Thor.

Historical Fantasy: Historic fantasy engages in fantasy notions yet is set around a specific period in history that actually took place, often bringing new elements to it. It essentially portrays an alternate version of history. J.K Rowling's new Fantastic Beasts movie series is an example of this type of fantasy, with the series set to cover WW2 from within her magical world.

Contemporary Fantasy: Contemporary fantasy is set in the present day, or at least it was at the time it was written. Stories like Fablehaven, Percy Jackson and Harry Potter are what you’d consider contemporary fantasy; it’s just a fantasy tale taking place in the modern era.

Science Fantasy: Not to be confused with science fiction, the basis of science fantasy is that it takes fantasy elements and presents them as science. In Jurassic Park, they put forward the idea that using technology they can replicate dinosaurs. In reality, the way they do this isn’t possible, and never will be, so it isn’t science fiction, but instead fantasy masquerading as such.

Superhero Fantasy: As you might have guessed, superhero fantasy is very much confined to comic books and comic book movies. This type of fantasy is all about taking the superhero concept and intertwining it with how they acquire their powers. In many of your favorite series, you’ll find that Sci-Fi notions are often the main reason behind their superpowers, but sometimes fantasy comes into play. Take Superman, for example. In the 70s movie, he flies around the planet so fast he turns back time. This is pure fantasy.

There are so many more sub-genres of fantasies that it is hard to discuss all of them. These are just some of the ones I thought you'd be interested in.

Ever notice that many stories seem to follow a similar pattern? There’s always a protagonist who goes on an adventure, makes new friends, encounters roadblocks, fights a bad guy, and returns home a changed person. In fact, we can sum it up for you in two words: Hero’s Journey. This story structure has been around since ancient times and shows up in the myths like Theseus and the Minotaur. It wasn't until 1949, however, that academic and author Joseph Campbell gave a name to this pattern in his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. He outlined three main phases that help break down the story. The first being The Departure Act where the hero leaves the ordinary world. The second is The Initiation Act where the hero ventures into unknown territory and faces various challenges. The last act is The Return Act where the hero returns home changed for the better. Think of each movie in the original Star Wars trilogy. In A New Hope, we are introduced to Luke Skywalker. He meets R2-D2, C3-PO, and Obi Wan and sets off to join the Rebellion. He leaves his home on Tatooine. This movie is The Departure Act. In Empire Strikes Back, Luke faces many challenges ranging from almost freezing to death on Hoth to training with Yoda to facing Darth Vader in Cloud City. This is The Initiation Act of the trilogy. In Return of the Jedi, Luke faces Darth Vader and the Emperor, survives, and becomes a full Jedi. This movie is The Return Act. Still with me? Good. It gets a little more detailed from here.

In 2007, screenwriter Christopher Vogler refined Campbell’s original structure in his book, The Writer’s Journey. In it, Vogler expanded upon Campbell’s three phases, defining 12 stages that make it up. I'm going to use Harry Potter and Sorcerer's Stone to illustrate what the 12 stages are. This is your spoiler alert if haven't read the book or have seen the movie yet. Ready? Here we go...

1st Phase: The Departure Act

• Step 1- Ordinary World: The hero has yet to begin his journey and is in what is referred to as the "status quo", which is just a fancy way of saying they are stuck in their ordinary everyday life. Harry Potter: Our first introduction to Harry (after he is left on his Aunt and Uncle's doorstep as a baby) is when he wakes in his cupboard under the stairs. He is constantly bullied by his muggle family and is treated as more of an outsider and an obligation to his aunt and uncle.

• Step 2- Call to Adventure: This stage is all about getting the hero out of the ordinary world. The hero is taken out of their comfort zone and presented with a problem or situation they can't ignore. Harry Potter: Owls start dropping off a mysterious letter addressed to Harry.

• Step 3- Refusal of the Call: The hero may initially refuse the call citing disbelief of his or her destiny or realizing that this may be too dangerous for their liking. Harry Potter: This is a little tricky because it's not actually Harry refusing the call... it's the Dursley's. They go to absurd lengths to prevent Harry from reading that letter from nailing the mail slot shut to hiding in a shack on an island in the middle of a lake. (OK... you can even say Harry refuses the call when he says "I can't be a wizard... I'm just Harry.)

• Step 4- Meeting the Mentor: The Hero has decided to go on the adventure, but they are still too inexperienced to go it alone. They need someone to show them the way, provide knowledge of the new world the hero is about to enter, and generally helps them to not make a total fool of themself. Harry Potter: Harry has many mentors, but the first one he meets is Hagrid. The half-giant is Harry's first introduction into the wizarding world and while he doesn't have all of the answers Harry needs, he makes a great mentor because he is much more approachable and comedic than Dumbledore.

2nd Phase: The Initiation Act

• Step 5- Crossing the First Threshold: The hero is now ready and committed to the journey and leaves their ordinary world behind. Harry Potter: Harry first crosses the threshold by using The Leaky Cauldron to access Diagon Alley. There, Harry is surrounded by other witches and wizards, gets his wand, and receives and owl of his own as a birthday present. The Hogwarts Express takes Harry away from his ordinary world and into the wizarding one for the rest of the story.

• Step 6- Tests, Allies and Enemies: This is just what the title suggests and is the longest stage in the story. The hero makes new friends, attracts new enemies, and faces many challenges along the way. This is where the hero adjusts to the new environment. Harry Potter: The cast of characters grows. Harry meets Ron and Hermione as friends and Snape and Malfoy as enemies. Tests and trials includes facing a troll in the girl's bathroom, running into Fluffy in the third floor corridor, and facing a weakened Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest. He also gets the Invisibility Cloak that helps him along the way.

• Step 7- Approach to the Inmost Cave: This isn't a physical cave, but something that represents the most dangerous spot in the story. It is where the ultimate goal of the quest is hidden. Keep in mind the hero doesn't reach the cave yet. He or she decides to approach it or go after the goal. Harry Potter: This is the part of the story where Harry, Ron and Hermione get past Fluffy and face the obstacles that the Hogwarts professors put in place to protect the Sorcerer's Stone, from McGonagall's giant chess board to Snape's logic potions puzzle (annoyingly cut from the movie).

• Step 8- Ordeal: This is where the hero faces their greatest fear and truly earns the title of hero. Harry Potter: Up until Harry, Ron and Hermione get past Fluffy, they've always had the Hogwarts professors to bail them out of trouble. As soon as Hermione solves the potions riddle and sends Harry forward to face whom they assume is Snape, however, Harry is on his own. He walks into the last hurdle to face not Snape, but Quirrell (with a version of Voldemort living on the back of his head). Harry is tested both physically (being surrounded by fire) and mentally (Voldemort promises to bring back Harry's parents). Harry passes these tests with flying colors and banishes Voldemort until the sequel.

• Step 9- Reward: The reward is the knowledge or object the hero has been after for the entire story. It's finally within their reach. Harry Potter: With Quirrell and Voldemort defeated, Harry has gained saved the Sorcerer's Stone from falling into the wrong hands though he does get knocked unconscious in the process.

3rd Phase: The Return Act

• Step 10- Some dangers still remain in the first step of the last act. The hero now has to make the return trip to the inmost cave. Harry Potter: J.K. Rowling kind of cheats this step. Harry is knocked out after his confrontation with Quirrell/Voldemort and Dumbledore arrives to transport an unconscious Harry to the hospital wing of the castle.

• Step 11- Resurrection: Most of the time this acts as the true climax of the story and the hero faces one more test to see if he or she has learned anything from the quest. Other times it can be more of a true resurrection of sorts. The hero is injured or can even die before being "reborn". Sometimes it's both. Harry Potter: Harry wakes up in the hospital bed to numerous gifts and treats and a bemused headmaster. Dumbledore explains what happened after Voldemort was defeated and even gives Harry information (though not all) that will help Harry in future encounters with He Who Shall Not Be Named.

• Step 12- Return with the Elixir: The hero finally gets to return home, but they return a changed person than when they started out. The elixir is the prize won during the journey wether it is a physical object or knowledge gained. Harry Potter: The elixir in this case is twofold. Harry has given the wizarding world time to prepare for Voldemort's eventual return. The Sorcerer's Stone was destroyed and so Voldemort has to find a new plan to regain his body and power. The elixir is also Harry's confidence. He has faced a tough challenge and has come out on top. He also can use his wizard status to intimidate the Dursley's, even though he would never use his newfound power to harm them. He just wants to make his summers more bearable.

Ok. So there you have it. The Hero's Journey. This pattern is present in every Harry Potter novel and can even be used to look at all seven novels as a whole. Many fantasy novels and even some novels that are different genres use this pattern to tell a story that readers can relate to. Some popular heroes include Percy Jackson, Katniss Everdeen and Frodo Baggins. Can you connect these steps to these heroes? Can you think of any others?

• Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

• Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Heroes of Olympus, Magnus Chase, The Trials of Apollo, and the Kane Chronicles series by Rick Riordan

• Fablehaven, The Beyonders, and the Five Kingdoms series by Brandon Mull

• A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

• Peter and the Starcatchers series by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

• The School for Good and Evil series by Soman Chainani

• The Land of Stories series Chris Colfer

• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

• The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, and many other Roald Dahl books

• The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carrol

• Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

• The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

• Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

• His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman

• Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

• Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones

• Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

• Coraline by Neil Gaiman

• Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

• The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

• Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit

• Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

• The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

• The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini

• Redwall by Brian Jacques

• The Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley

• The Bartimeaus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud

• The City of Ember series by Jeanne DuPrau

• How to Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell

• The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

• The Kingdom Keepers series by Ridley Pearson

• The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

• Young Wizards series by Diane Duane

• The Secrets of the Immortal Nicolas Flamel series by Michael Scott

• The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

• The May Bird Trilogy by Jodi Lynn Anderson

• The Keeper of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger

• Wings of Fire series by Tui T. Sutherland