Through the Looking Glass Literary Tag: Faith and Fantasy - Day 2

I quite cringe at my tardiness in the delay it took me to post this post for the blog-party, dear readers, and keeping you all waiting for the next exciting tag. But, unlike Bilbo Baggins' first 60 years of life, so many unexpected things do happen to me . . . and the past week or so have been crazy busy! But I am doing my best, I assure you, and am having a blast of fun at it at the same time! How about you all? I have been so enjoying all the participation and tag-posts everyone has joined in, and I hope you are all equally having fun with it too. If you are new to this blog-party happenings, it is not too late to join. Check this link here, to learn the party-rules and join in!

Anyway, today, the tag questions are on the topic of "Faith and Fantasy". While some of the questions do touch the matter of faith, I am leaving it more up to the blog-participants to decide to include this theme into their tag, explore how faith affects our take on this genre, and take a more thoughtful view on this really fun, and exciting topic of fantasy stories and movies, which many of us love. This tag requires for the participants to have at least either read/or/watched either The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia, as I bring up those two series's frequently. But have no fear - for those of you not so keen on this genre, keep your eyes on this blog, because throughout the rest of the blog party, I will include tags on the mystery fiction, children's fiction and modern "general" novels as well, and non-fiction works too. So stay tuned!

Meanwhile, for all fantasy-lovers, and LOTR/Hobbit or Narnia fans, I hope you all enjoy this 29-long "Faith and Fantasy" tag and participate on your own blogs. Here is how you can join in and have fun with this party: copy the tag questions and respond to the questions on your own blog, making it all uniquely your own! Then, to add to the life of things, via the linky pool in each tag post, have fun mingling, visiting each other's blogs and getting to know one another better! And don't forget to enter the literary giveaway!!

#Middle-earth Pinterest

1. Taken from a Christian perspective, what are your thoughts and feelings on the fantasy genre in general? Do you hold to any convictions or guidelines on things like magic, sorcery, fantastical elements or allegory in fantasy books?

2. Who are some of your favourite fantasy/fairy-tale authors? (you can name up to three.)

3. Have you read The Chronicles of Narnia books, or watched any of the movies? Which, if so, are your three favourite books?

4. How many books by J.R.R. Tolkien have you read and enjoyed so far? Can you choose a favourite book (The Lord of the Rings can be considered one book ;)?

5. Uhm. . . since, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were friends, I will not risk causing further estrangement to the history of their friendship by pitting them against each other! However, being the mastermind of mischief that I am, I will toss this question your way: which of the two are you most fond of in sense of storytelling, characters, themes and what personally touches/inspires you the most: The Lord of the Rings, or The Chronicles of Narnia?

6. Are there other books and movies of the fantasy/fairy-tale/legend genre that have you read and loved, especially from modern authors? Please tell us a little bit about them.

7. Have you read any Christian allegories, such as Pilgrim's Progress, Holy War or Hinds Feet on High Places? 

8. Share some of your most well-loved heroines from fantasy tales in literature (books, movies, modern and classics), and why you love them so much! What virtues/traits in them would you like to have yourself?

9. Which land would you rather go, dwell in, or be a part of: Middle-Earth, or Narnia? (or maybe some other fantasy-land, you share!)

10. What kind of fantasy are you most fond of? Fantastical and "fairy-tale-ish" like Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast or Cinderella, or rather the mythological, high-epic-fantasies such as Tolkien's?

11. Which is your favourite fairy-tale? 

12. List some of your most well-loved movie adaptions of fantasy tales (this does not include Disney fairy-tale animations). 

13. Who are your favourite heroes from fantasy books? (you may list as many as you like!) Tell us a little bit about why you love them so much :).

14. Saddest moment in any fantasy tale you've either watched or read?

15. How did you get into The Lord of the Rings and Middle-Earth books/movies? (If you're not into LOTR than you can talk about how you got into Narnia instead).

16. Give a list (preferably with pictures!) of your favourite fantasy/medieval costumes/armour/gowns and from which movie/character they come from.

17. Which fantasy/fairy-tale has inspired and influenced you the most?

18. Favourite character in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings/Hobbit universe? Favourite character in The Chronicles of Narnia? (Choose 1 each)

19. Favourite friendship in a fantasy book/movie/series?

20. Which villain of fantasy strikes the most dread and loathing in you? Which foe strikes the most pity?

21. Share some of your most well-loved quotes from fantasy books/movies :). 

22. Favourite battle in a fantasy book or movie?

23. Tell us which romance couple you love best in any of the fantasy stories you know about.

24. Elves or dwarves? Gondor or Rohan? Aragorn or King Tirian?

25. Who is your favourite side-kick (secondary character) in books/movies of this genre? (you are welcome to choose more than one ;). 

26. List five fantasy novels you are especially looking forward and eager to read in the near future.

27. Which fantasy work struck you with the most sense and depth of faith and the author's perception of morality, ethics, the distinction and battle between good and evil, and the Christian walk? Can you share a little bit about it?

28. What was the first fantasy novel you ever read and how did it strike you?

29. What would inspire you to pick up a work of fantasy literature or watch a fantasy film? What do you believe are both the benefits, negatives and overall effects of enjoying this genre?

I will be participating in this tag, Lord willing, hopefully tomorrow! :) Will you join in too?

And now, as a reminder of the grand giveaway! What are the special prizes? How can you all enter? Three fabulous shops are sponsoring beautiful prizes, and at the end of the blog-party, I will be drawing three winners to win the prizes from the three shops. To enter the giveaway, enter in the Rafflecopter below - and remember, every time you join in the week-long tags, you will win extra points in your chances of being a winner of one of these lovely literary products. . . 

No. 1 "Austen Artwork" Prize

- Antique Fashionista 

*Sense and Sensibility art print. Jane Austen

Handmade art print item.

Dimensions: 5x7 inches

Materials: watercolour paper, watercolours

"This art print depicts Marianne Dashwood, on her fateful walk through the pleasure grounds and shrubberies of Cleveland, as she indulged in sad dreams of Willoughby, who is now lost to her forever. 
The print measures 5x7 inches and is done on archival quality photo paper. It will come to you in a protective plastic sleeve. 

All . . . items come gift wrapped in a brown paper package, sealed with Antique Fashionista wax seal."

*Persuasion 5x7 art print from original watercolour "Waiting"

Handmade art print item

Material: ultra brite matte paper

This is a print of one of my first Jane Austen watercolors titled Waiting inspired by Persuasion, my favorite J.A. work. It depicts Anne looking out at the sea at Lyme and thinking of Captain Wentworth. This listing is for an 5x7 digital print. Not framed. Printed on archival quality matte finish photo paper . Colors may vary slightly due to monitor differences. It will come to you in a protective plastic sleeve. All my pieces come beautifully wrapped in my signature brown paper package, tied with string and sealed with unique Antique Fashionista wax seal.
Please visit my blog at antiquefashionista.blogspot.com if you are interested to see some of my other pieces and how I paint my watercolors.

* These charming paintings of Jane Austen's characters, handmade by the lovely Masha Laurence, from Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion can work beautifully as charming, feminine bookmarks, or lovely posters to frame and place among one's favourite classics on a bookcase. One winner will win both art prints :)

No 2. "Les Miserables Literary-Necklace" Prize
Tea and Tentacles

*Les Miserables Necklace, Victor Hugo, Musicals, Classic Literature, Books, Library T1161
- "Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise"

Handmade item

Materials: antique bronze chain, antique bronze pendant, antique bronze, print, digital art, digital collage, art, pendant, glass, glass dome, dome, 1 inch digital collage, 1 inch circle.

This high quality image is enhanced with a glass dome to add depth and set in a 1" antique finished pendant bezel. Each pendant comes with a matching 24" chain. 

This gorgeous glass pendant with the "Les Miserables" quote from the musical "Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise" is not only a beautiful piece of literary artwork for any Les-Miserables fan, but also a lovely inspirational quote from an inspiring tale that can personally inspire you. Casey does some beautiful literary pendants in her shop; this particular pendant can be a beautiful, vintage necklace "statement piece" and also work as an excellent, handy bookmarker to keep you on track as you plow through a 500 page tome by Dickens or Alexandre Dumas! 

No. 3 "Set of Handmade Scripture Gift Tags" Prize
- The NestinSLT

Set of "Scripture" Gift Tags - "The Lord will give strength unto His people"

Handmade item

Materials: card stock, ribbon

These handmade tags feature a scripture from the book of Psalms "The Lord will give strength unto his people" ~ such an encouragement for persons of faith. Tags measure approx. 2 1/4/x 3 1/4", are blank on the back for your message, and tied with double lengths of violet seam binding. You will receive a set of 6. Color of ribbon can be changed upon request.
This set of Scripture tags are beautiful - and with such a wonderful, uplifting verse! While wonderful for using in gifts with friends, this set of 6 tags can work wonderfully as a bookmark in a devotional read, or even in your daily Bible reading.

a Rafflecopter giveaway