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| If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. ~ J. R. R. Tolkien |
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Elaborate Meals
Whenever people in fantasy eat, they eat opulent meals. Tables are loaded up with plates that are filled and overflowing with fruits, vegetables, roasted pigs, and more.
One of the world's most famous fantasy writers, J. R. R. Tolkien was passionate about wholesome food. One of the quotes attributed to him says, "I am in fact a Hobbit in all but size. I like gardens, trees, and unmechanized farmlands. I smoke a pipe, and I like good, plain food - unrefrigerated. I detest French cooking."
In his books, he wrote many scenes that were centered around food, tea, and wine. In The Hobbit, he described a get-together where those that are present already express worries that there will not be enough food for late comers. Through dialogue, Tolkien introduces the reader to raspberry jam and apple tarts, mince pies and cheese, pork pies and salad. After all of that, there is the demand for more cake, ale, coffee. Finally, there is a request for cold chicken and pickles. All of these foods and beverages are listed in one paragraph.
Tolkien used the kinds of foods that his characters eat and like as a vehicle to introduce us to their home lives. Not much happens in that one paragraph, but just the calls for all that food made a flurry of images happen in my mind. I picture hobbits walking back and forth to bring out all of those things and set them up to be eaten by guests.
Marcel Proust's stories were so food-filled with crushed strawberries, tisanes, champagne and madeleines that entire collections of recipes were extracted from them. He is also a good example for writers who want to include food into their stories, but not come across as too heavy handed. He would describe how someone is eating a meal of gigot with sauce béarnaise, but he would not cheapen the experience by calling the food delicious. The reader either knows the food that is described is delicious - or not. But the context of how the food is enjoyed, when, where, and by whom it is eaten adds to the whole scene.
As fantasy writers, use the foods that your characters eat as a means to give them added texture that does not need to be passively narrated through adjective or adverb bloat.
One of my lines is, "The villain eats meat." Just pay attention in TV shows or books. If the villain eats, it will be meat. Except in Captain America. In that case, it was Tommy Lee Jones who ate the steak.
Why are fantasy meals always more elaborate than other fiction foods? |
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The new neighbor is...different. (Written for the Dialogue 500. It's a bit squicky.)
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I received these replies to my last Fantasy newsletter "That Kind of Story. Again." that asked: Would you rather be the Chosen One or be the one who finds The Artifact?
Nobody’s Home  wrote: After growing up as the third of four kids, I've always longed to be The Chosen One. Finding The Artifact? That's something that someone bigger and stronger would want to take away from me - I don't want the Nazis or the Wicked Witch of the West coming after me!
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Fantasy: November 09, 2022 Issue [#11639]
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