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World-building is a cornerstone of storytelling in both fantasy fiction and folktales. While the two genres may seem different in tone and scope, they share a common need to create immersive settings that pull readers into the story. In this post, we’ll explore how the world-building techniques of fantasy fiction can be applied to folktales, offering insight into how writers can reimagine traditional elements to craft modern dark fiction.
Drawing from insights by Professor Alexander at Fantasticursos, we’ll examine why constructing detailed, layered worlds is crucial for storytelling and how folktales can benefit from the expansive techniques of fantasy fiction.
In its simplest form, world-building is the process of creating an imaginary world in which your story takes place. This world can be as vast and complex as the realms of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth or as intimate as the isolated village in a folktale. Effective world-building doesn’t just provide a backdrop for the story; it deepens the reader’s connection to the narrative by establishing rules, cultures, landscapes, and histories that feel real and lived-in.
In fantasy fiction, world-building is one of the most celebrated aspects of the genre. Authors like George R.R. Martinand Patrick Rothfuss spend immense time crafting detailed worlds that feel both fantastical and authentic, complete with intricate political systems, mythologies, and magic systems. Folktales, on the other hand, are often set in more simplified, symbolic worlds. However, applying fantasy's expansive techniques to folktales can open up exciting new storytelling possibilities, especially for modern dark fiction.
While traditional folktales may take place in archetypal settings—a deep, dark forest, a humble village, or a mysterious mountain—there's potential for more layered and imaginative world-building. By borrowing from the fantasy genre, writers can expand the depth and resonance of their folktale-inspired stories.
Here are key lessons from fantasy world-building that can be applied to folktales:
Establish Clear Rules for the World
In fantasy fiction, creating a consistent and clear set of rules is crucial for the story's success. These rules govern everything from the physics of magic to social hierarchies. Applying this to folktales means determining the boundaries of the supernatural or mystical elements within the story. For instance, if spirits or creatures from folklore are central to the tale, it’s important to define what they can and cannot do.
A great example is found in dark folklore, where beings like the Caipora (protector of the forest) abide by specific rules. This could be expanded in a reimagined tale, where the boundaries of the forest dictate the reach of Caipora’s power, establishing tension when characters venture beyond these limits.
Create a Sense of History and Lore
One of the reasons worlds like Westeros or Narnia feel so rich is because they have a sense of history and lore. Events that occurred long before the narrative begins shape the present-day world. Similarly, folktales often reference past events—ancient kings, lost civilizations, or age-old curses—but these can be expanded upon to create a fuller, more complex world.
Writers can integrate backstory through legends or songs sung by villagers, artifacts with mysterious pasts, or ancient ruins that play a significant role in the narrative. For example, in a reimagined folktale, the backstory of a haunted forest could be tied to a long-forgotten ritual, adding layers to the setting.
Ground the Supernatural in the Real World
One of the most effective techniques in modern dark fiction is blending the fantastical with the mundane, so that the supernatural feels like a natural extension of the world. In fantasy fiction, this can be seen in works like Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere, where magical elements exist beneath the surface of a gritty, urban environment.
In folktales, the supernatural often exists without explanation, which can be part of its charm. However, creating a more immersive world involves grounding these elements in a more tangible reality. For example, if a folktale features a forest spirit that curses travelers, the curse could manifest in subtle, realistic ways, such as the slow decay of crops or an inexplicable illness, making the supernatural element feel more integrated with the world.
Use Detailed, Immersive Settings
Fantasy authors are known for crafting immersive settings, filled with specific details about geography, weather, and daily life. Similarly, reimagined folktales can benefit from vivid, sensory-rich descriptions. When writing dark fiction inspired by folklore, you can describe the physical landscape in greater detail to evoke mood and atmosphere, heightening tension and building suspense.
Consider the classic Bavarian folktale of the Wild Hunt, where dark clouds and roaring winds announce the arrival of ghostly riders. Expanding this in a modern folktale could include atmospheric descriptions of the dense, storm-battered forests where the hunt takes place, making the reader feel as if they are in the middle of the action.
Develop Rich, Dynamic Cultures
In fantasy fiction, entire societies are built from scratch, including customs, language, religion, and values. In folktales, these cultural aspects are often implied but not explicitly fleshed out. However, a reimagined folktale can delve deeper into the traditions, festivals, and belief systems of its world, giving the setting more complexity and making the stakes feel higher for the characters.
For example, the Rauhnächte (the twelve nights between Christmas and Epiphany) are central to many Alpine folktales. In a modern reimagining, these nights could be part of a larger cultural framework, with specific rituals, sacrifices, and taboos that the characters must navigate.
By applying these fantasy world-building techniques to folktales, writers can create stories that feel both timeless and fresh. Folklore is rich with symbolic meaning, but when reimagined with greater depth and complexity, it can resonate even more with contemporary readers.
Consider the Gothic tradition, where elements of folklore are often combined with atmospheric world-building. Classic Gothic novels like Dracula and Frankenstein draw heavily from folk traditions but ground their supernatural elements in detailed, immersive settings, making the horror feel more immediate and real. This approach is also seen in more recent dark fiction, such as Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican Gothic, which reimagines traditional horror tropes within the rich, lush landscape of Mexico.
In today’s literary world, there is a growing appetite for stories that blend dark folklore with the expansive, immersive world-building of fantasy fiction. By applying these lessons from fantasy, writers can breathe new life into folktales, offering readers complex worlds filled with both wonder and terror.
The key to successful world-building in folktales is to strike a balance between the simplicity of traditional storytelling and the depth that modern audiences crave. When done effectively, the result is a world that feels alive, a setting where readers can lose themselves and, perhaps, never want to leave.
