Fantasy novel assignment: Sabriel, Garth Nix.

Fantasy novel assignment: Sabriel, Garth Nix.

1. Identify the fantasy elements in the novel and discuss why these particular books belong in the fantasy genre.

Magic, Free magic and Charter magic: In this novel there are two forms of magic, one of the forms is Charter magic it is the most common form, many people have some small form of Charter magic. Charter magic is very powerful if there is a lot of it. Charter magic is connected with the Great Charter and Charter stones. Free magic is a form of magic, it is very powerful and very few posses it. Most who posses it turn it to evil work. These are fantasy elements as there is no such thing as magic in the real world.

Necromancers: Necromancy is Free Magic and people who practice it are called necromancers. Necromancers raise the dead

and are usually bad, fortunately there are very few of them.

charter place, uxbridge

Charter Train / Train à affréter (France)

Sabriel

In this novel Sabriel and her father Abhorsen are necromancers. Abhorsen is the necromancer who lays the dead to rest he banishes or binds them; he is not connected to Free Magic but Charter Magic. Abhorsen is actually a title passed down from generation to generation and Sabriel's father is the current Abhorsen until he dies, then Sabriel becomes the Abhorsen. Sabriel was taught necromancy by her father through The Book of the Dead. The Book of the Dead could be opened by only a very powerful necromancer and closed only by a powerful but pure Charter mage.

Abhorsen could travel in death through the 8 gates but not past the 9th gate as beyond it are the dead that rest peacefully and do not try and escape death. Sabriel could also travel in death. Abhorsen banishes the living dead that passed into Life.