From Homer to Harry Potter: A Handbook on Myth and Fantasy [Paperback]

Matthew T. Dickerson (Author), David L. O'Hara (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2006

The allure of fantasy continues to grow with film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings and J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. But how should Christians approach modern works of fantasy, especially debated points such as magic and witches?

From Homer to Harry Potter provides the historical background readers need to understand this timeless genre. It explores the influence of biblical narrative, Greek mythology, and Arthurian legend on modern fantasy and reveals how the fantastic offers profound insights into truth. The authors draw from a Christian viewpoint informed by C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien to assess modern authors such as Philip Pullman, Walter Wangerin, and J. K. Rowling.

This accessible book guides undergraduate students, pastors, and lay readers to a more astute and rewarding reading of all fantasy literature.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In their informative, highly entertaining examination of the literature of faerie throughout the centuries, Dickerson and O'Hara insist that if literature works at all, it works as story. First defining myth and fairy story and discriminating their differences and similarities, they proceed to describe the work of such seminal nineteenth-century romantics as the Brothers Grimm, Andrew Lang, Hans Christian Andersen, and George MacDonald; explore how the Bible functions as myth; discuss Homeric myth and "epic" fantasy; and cast a jaundiced eye at Beowulf, the Arthurian legends, and the Norse sagas. They even scrutinize some modern work, including Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea Trilogy, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials, Walter Wangerin Jr.'s Book of the Dun Cow, and, of course, Harry Potter. The book is especially intriguing for the links it makes, for example, discussing the effect of The Odyssey on The Hobbit, and the plot devices borrowed from Beowulf in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Dickerson and O'Hara prove reliable guides as they amply confirm that fairy tales aren't just for the young. June Sawyers
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Matthew Dickerson (Ph.D., Cornell University) is a computer science professor at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, and author of Following Gandalf: Epic Battles and Moral Victory in The Lord of the Rings, The Finnsburg Encounter, and Hammers and Nails.

David O'Hara (Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University) is assistant professor of philosophy and instructor in classical Greek at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is coeditor of the forthcoming Religious Writings of Charles S. Peirce.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Brazos Press (May 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587431335
• ISBN-13: 978-1587431333
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,077,642 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Food for Thought, January 1, 2007

By 

K. L. Nickell (Winchester, KY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: From Homer to Harry Potter: A Handbook on Myth and Fantasy (Paperback)

Perhaps I am just new to this type of analytical writing, but I found this book absolutely fascinating. True, the first part was deep, but it was worth wading through. I picked it up because I am tired of Harry-bashing and wanted to see what these guys thought. I kept reading it because I liked what I read. I found I had to keep a piece of paper in the book to keep a list of other things they recommended, and have been reading their recommendations ever since and loving it all. I am now reading Lawhead's "Taliesin" because of "From Homer..." and have been fascinated by his (Lawhead's) quote of the "Mabinogion." Actually knowing how the two books are related makes it all that more interesting. I highly recommend this book for anyone seriously interested in any genre from Faerie to Myth and how Christians should intelligently approach these types of books. HIghly recommended too for homeschoolers at the high school level for English Lit credit.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible, August 3, 2007

By 

Kelly Reeder "Evan Herberth" (Covington, KY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: From Homer to Harry Potter: A Handbook on Myth and Fantasy (Paperback)

This is just the book I needed to cushion my sorrow of having finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which to me was like saying goodbye to an old friend. This fine overview of the literature of myth and fantasy, from their origins to the present, is from an entirely Christian perspective, while simultaneously showing a love for these works in the spirit of Tolkien and Lewis. After introducing us to the foundations of all myth and fantasy, they use the principles of Tolkien and Lewis to explain the adherence to tradition, or the lack thereof, in modern works of fantasy, such as the His Dark Materials trilogy of Philip Pullman, and of course, Joanne Rowling's Harry Potter.

The best part of this book, for me personally, was the final chapter, entitled Harry Potter: Saint or Serpent? I considered myself well read on all of the Christian defenses of the Harry Potter theories, especially those of author John Granger, but also others all over the Internet. I was very pleasantly surprised. Although John Granger does very well in elucidating positively on all of the Christian symbolism and aspects of the Harry Potter series, these authors do more than I have ever seen in terms of their negative arguments concerning the harmfulness of the magic in Harry Potter. The nature of magic in the books is thoroughly dissected, along with comparisons from other works to assess its appropriateness for Christian readers. All along the way, even when analyzing Pullman's trilogy (a work that is terribly disrespectful to Christianity and all theistic religions), the authors wisely avoid any of the disrespectful zealousness of fundamentalism, while still remaining true to conservative Christianity, and not shying away from reasoned criticism where necessary. This is a marvelous feat, and all accomplished during a pleasurable read, especially if you're curious about what came before and paved the way for Joanne Rowling's wonderful addition to the edifying land of fairies.

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, April 21, 2006

By 

Carter Place - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Homer to Harry Potter: A Handbook on Myth and Fantasy (Paperback)

Excellent book from Matthew Dickerson and David O'Hara covering a wide variety of myth and fantasy. If you're looking for a thoughtful, engaging and well-written discussion of stories, or if you just plain like them, this is for you.