High fantasy, or epic fantasy, is a subgenre of fantasy defined by the epic nature of its setting or by the epic stature of its characters, themes, or plot. High fantasy is set in an alternative, fictional ("secondary") world, rather than the "real" or "primary" world. This secondary world is usually internally consistent, but its rules differ from those of the primary world. By contrast, low fantasy is characterized by being set on Earth, the primary or real world, or a rational and familiar fictional world with the inclusion of magical elements.
The Well at the World's End (1896) by William Morris is an early example of high fantasy fiction.
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fantasy world and usually inspired by mythology or folklore. The term "fantasy" can also be used to describe a "work of this genre", usually literary.
The Fairy of the Dawn in The Violet Fairy Book (1906)
Skeleton Fantasy Show (骷髏幻戲圖) by Li Song (1190–1264)
Another illustration from The Violet Fairy Book (1906)
Illustration from 1920 edition of George MacDonald's novel The Princess and the Goblin