Tolkien on What are Fairy-Stories? / "On Fairy-Stories" part 1

JRR Tolkien gave a lecture at the University of St. Andrews entitled "Fairy Stories" on March 8th, 1939. It was later published as "On Fairy-Stories." I am going to spend three videos looking at the three questions Tolkien is answering: 1. What are fairy-stories? 2. What is their origin? 3. What is the use of them? 📖 The essay encapsulates his approach to writing fantasy literature. ✨ There are also some key theological insights offered, which I will pull on in looking at the way he answers the three questions. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introducing "On Fairy-Stories" 1:52 - The three questions Tolkien is answering 2:34 - What are fairy-stories? 3:25 - A place, not a creature 6:41 - Literary belief 7:22 - Story-maker as sub-creator 7:46 - Not possibility but desirability 9:01 - Faerie as art 10:57 - Theological implications 12:30 - Experiencing reality in Secondary Worlds 15:16 - Final Tolkien quote Music: Arisque - Isaac Haines Purchased and used with permission.