Seek and You Will Find: reimagining the biblical narrative as a Christian fantasy allegory

Though the Bible can be a difficult book to read and process, the creative arts may provide more relevant representations for contemporary audiences through original, imaginative formats. Fantasy is a popular, contemporary genre, so one approach to employing the creative arts is to reimagine selected, significant events and themes of the Bible as a fictional, Christian fantasy allegory. Using practice-based research, the arenas of allegory, biblical narrative structures, fantasy styles including the representation of female heroes, and Christian fantasy criteria were investigated. Relevant research outcomes were then synthesized and processed with imagination to create the Christian fantasy allegory, Dark Spark. Innovative, original, symbolic representations reimagine the significant biblical narrative events of creation, separation, redemption and restoration occurring in a fictional, fantasy world. The accompanying exegesis explains the developmental process and includes a critical analysis of story components using a repertoire of narrative elements. Dark Spark is set in a sepia world of almost-dark created by Aurion, the Devourer of Light. The inhabitants wait for the prophesied warrior-saviour, a lightbearer who will overcome the darkness and restore true light. The inclusion of multiple, symbolic, biblical events in one story and innovative, female hero depictions of biblical characters has resulted in an original, Christian fantasy allegory. Dark Spark demonstrates that allegory remains an effective writer’s tool able to present significant events and themes of the biblical narrative reimagined as a Christian fantasy.