On Fairy Stories, By J. R.

In his article, “On Fairy Stories” written in 1947, author J.R.R. Tolkien informs his readers that fairy-stories are not only for children, but they are also for adults to read and to enjoy. He believes that these stories should be a genre for all ages, but mostly for adults because they are able to legitimize the literary value of fairy-stories unlike children. To illustrate his argument, he poses inquiry questions and at the same time, he answers them to clarify the purpose of fairy-stories. He brings forth three types of questions: “What is a fairy story?” “What are the origins of fairy-stories?” and “What are the use of fairy-stories?” Thus, he asserts his viewpoints on how only adults can give judgement on the literary value of fairy-stories.

One of Tolkien’s inquiry questions consists of defining the nature of a fairy story.

He emphasizes that fairy-stories are of a realm about “Faerie” that deals with an indescribable and imperceptible perilous land. In other words, for the author “Faerie” has the same meaning as fairy. He simply utilizes the word “Faerie” instead of fairy to distinguish the value of rank and seriousness of these tales. Tolkien explains that the word fairy has been diminutive because fairies are perceived to belong in a “nursery”; therefore, these stories are designed for only children. In addition, Tolkien also highlights the effects of fantasies within these tales and explains that “a fantasy is a human activity which does not destroy nor insult Reason.” (18). For the author, this statement implies that fantasies are created by humans, standing as a sub-creation in

fairy-stories.
Tolkien goes into detail in explaining the origins of fairy-stories, and he states that fairy-stories are “independent inventions”, which means they are independent from other tales. He also claims that fairy-stories include inheritance and diffusion which is the common ancestral history and the borrowing of various times from one or more centuries.
According to Tolkien, fairy-stories provides recovery, escape, and consolation. In “On Fairy Stories”, Tolkien’s word choice of “cleaning our windows” (19) represents recovery. Recovery helps the readers to not lose sight of the people who matter to them and remind them how much meaning those people have. These stories are posed as an escape from reality and responsibility. The author uses “prison-way” to illustrate his idea of finding an escape to a place of content. The last claim Tolkien conveys through his writing is the “consolation of fairy-stories,” (22) which is the idea that fairy stories should bring forth joy or ‘eucatastrophe’- an uprising to a happy ending for the reader.
Tolkien believes the usage of fairy-stories brings forth a literary value. He claims that unlike adults, children cannot fully understand the value in fairy-stories; he believes that adults are able to acknowledge and appreciate the real value of the literary art that fairy-stories are. For this reason, the author stresses that these tales do not belong in a “nursery” genre; but instead they fit into adult genre.
Finally, Tolkien furthers his argument with inquires, and contrast the words “Faerie” and fairy and to emphasize the effects of fantasies in fairy-stories. The author, then uses recovery, escape, and consolation to argue that fairy-stories should be a genre for all ages, but mostly for adults. Tolkien asserts how only adults are able to determine the literary value of fairy-stories and explains the importance of this genre.