PRELIMINARES DE UNA HISTORIA: HACIA UNA CARACTERIZACIÓN TAXONÓMICA ESPECÍFICA DE LA FANTASÍA ÉPICA

La historiografía de la fantasía épica sufre de la vaguedad de la teoría sobre esta modalidad ficcional, ya que no se la suele distinguir de otros géneros de ficción con elementos sobrenaturales. Siguiendo las teorías de Waggoner y Trębicki, este ensayo constituye un intento de definir y caracterizar taxonómicamente la fantasía épica, distinguiéndola mediante rasgos estructurales y retóricos de otros tipos afines de fantasía en la ficción, para poder saber específicamente de que se está hablando al acometer una historia comparada de la fantasía épica. Abstract: The historiography of high fantasy suffers from the theoretical vagueness about this kind of fiction, since it is not usually distinguished from other kinds of fiction with supernatural elements. Following the theories of Tolkien, Waggoner and Trębicki, this essay constitutes an attempt to define and describe high fantasy, distinguishing it through structural and rhetorical features from other related fantasy fiction genres in order to establish what we are specifically talking about when we undertake a comparative history of high fantasy.

Analysis and Criticism of the Comparative Historical Method

Comparative history which intellectually emerged at the end of the 18th century, is a method of explaining, analyzing and interpreting the similarities or the differences which are put forth as a result of comparing the various historical units. The purposes of the method are; to reveal the subjects which can not be performed without comparison, to make generalizations with obtained data from comparison of individual events, to give broader perspective to historians. While reaching the aim the temporal/spatial/social etc. features should be considered. This article reveals general features to be considered in the comparative history and then discusses the mistakes in using this method and critics about these mistakes.