Why do fairy tales captivate us across cultures and centuries? What transforms a simple tale into something that lingers in the imagination for a lifetime? J.R.R. Tolkien grappled with such questions in his landmark essay "On Fairy-stories", and his answers revolutionized how we understand fantasy literature. This course invites you to explore the intellectual and imaginative foundations beneath The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings as we dive into one of Tolkien's most important works of literary theory.

Far from a dry academic treatise, "On Fairy-stories" is a passionate defence of imagination itself, as Tolkien champions fantasy as a serious genre for adults that offers "recovery, escape, and consolation," allowing us to see our own world with fresh wonder. Tolkien challenges us to reconsider what we dismiss as mere children's entertainment and recognize fairy stories as a sophisticated art form that speaks to our deepest human needs.

In this course, we will discuss all of these ideas, alongside why Tolkien believed that creating imaginary worlds is a fundamentally human act, one that echoes the divine act of creation itself. Through our reading of "On Fairy-stories", we will discover new ways of appreciating not just Tolkien's own fiction, but the entire tradition of imaginative storytelling. Come ready to think deeply, share insights, and rediscover the power of stories that begin “once upon a time.”