Konner Johnson - Tolkein's Fairy Stories (part 1)

# "On Fairy-Stories" - J. R. R. Tolkien 
## Part 1 of 5 (pages 1 - 10)
## Written by Konner Johnson

    Tolkien seeks to understand and define what fairy-stories are, and consist of. Tolkien first starts by giving the definition of Fairy-tale that shows up in the dictionary. There are 3 parts of the definition. The first is that a fairy tale is a tale about fairy, or generally a fair legend with developed senses. The second is that it is an unreal or incredible story and the third is that it is a falsehood. Tolkien then makes the difference between men and fairies. Men are more supernatural and fairies are more natural. I find this particularly interesting. I feel as though this would be flipped. Shouldn't the fairies be the supernatural ones. But I do understand where Tolkien is coming from. The fairies are from nature and therefore they are more natural than those who are humans.
    Tolkien then continues to break down the terms fairy stories. He goes into the deeper explanation of what Fairy or Faerie is. Faerie in its most simple definition is the realm or state in which fairies have their being. Even though he gives this definition he still says that faerie is unable to be "caught in a net of words." This is ironic because he continues to define it however it cannot be accurately defined. I think the biggest takeaway from the first part would be the difference between faerie and magic. He says that magic is of a peculiar mood and power a the end furthest pole from the vulgar devices of the laborious, scientific, magician. Faerie is much more pure than magic is. Magic is a technology used to manipulate the world outside of us whereas faerie is used to manipulate the world below us.



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