To identify the characteristics of fantasy, look for elements like magic, mythical beings, and ancient prophecies. For example, in 'The Chronicles of Narnia', the presence of talking animals and a magical wardrobe is a clear sign of fantasy. For futuristic fiction, search for advanced technology, new social systems, and speculations about the future. 'Blade Runner' with its vision of a future with replicants and flying cars shows futuristic elements. If a story has a world that's not based on our current reality and has elements that seem impossible in our world, it's likely to be either fantasy or futuristic fiction.
One way to identify the characteristics of fantasy and futuristic fiction is through the settings. Fantasy settings are often otherworldly, with their own rules that don't follow our physical laws. A place like Wonderland in 'Alice in Wonderland' is full of absurdities that could only exist in a fantasy world. In futuristic fiction, the setting is usually an extrapolation of our present world into the future. It might have skyscrapers that touch the clouds and transportation systems that are far beyond what we have now. Also, the characters play a role. In fantasy, characters might have powers like shape - shifting or telekinesis. In futuristic fiction, they could be experts in fields that don't exist yet, like interstellar travel.