Purpose of the Genre of Fairy Stories and Fantasy: J.R.R. Tolkien “On Fairy Stories” (1939)
The genre of fairy stories helps us understand the character of Ofelia. Fairy stories are one method of resistance against fascism. Del Toro, like Tolkien, is definitely arguing that fairy stories still have a purpose.
J.R.R. Tolkien “On Fairy Stories” Del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth”
Tolkien describes the world of fairy stories 1. What elements has Del Toro taken from the fairy
as a “stew of stories”; a mixed pot of elements story pot?
from which the creator can take inspiration, mixing 2. What techniques does Del Toro use to tell us
and matching as needs dictate. that fairy stories are important to Ofelia and the
film?
For Tolkien, fairy stories have three purposes:
1. Recovery
For Tolkien, fantasy offers the reader the ability 3. What evidence is there that Ofelia sees the world
to see our world more clearly, once we return from more clearly than other characters in the film?
the fantasy world to reality(This is like returning back to What techniques does Del Toro use to show this? your home after a holiday; you perceive your home with
fresh eyes).
Reading fantasy allows us to perceive the natural world 4. What normal aspects of the natural world does
anew. Along with magical creatures, fantasy contains Ofelia start to see as magical? What techniques “the moon, the sky; and the earth and all things that does Del Toro use to show this?
that are in it: tree and bird, water and stone, wine and
bread, and ourselves.” Because of immersion in fantasy 5. How does Ofelia become immersed in the natural
worlds, the natural world starts to seem magical and we world? Which character remains alienated from it
appreciate nature more and realise we are part of it. (especially though technology)?
2,. Escape
Fantasy is definitely not an escape from the real world 6. Del Toro emphasised that fantasy does not
in the sense of finding a better world (fairy stories have provide any escape from the real world for Ofelia.
always been dark and gruesome) What parallel plotting provides evidence of this?
In fact, fantasy is made up of elements of the real world; 7. What symbols occur in both fantasy and the real you have the colour “green” and a “sun”, for example world?
the creator of the fairy story recombines them into a
“green sun.” You can never escape the real world
in fantasy.
Fantasy is an escape in the sense that it provides freedom 8. What examples of domination in the real world
(especially for children who are dominated by adults in the does Ofelia suffer?
real world) 9. What signs of freedom from authority does she
show?
3. Consolation
This is felt in the sudden and miraculous happy 10. How does the ending of Pan’s Labyrinth offer hope
ending of Fairy stories. This gives a fleeting glimpse in a terrible world?
of “Joy beyond the walls of the world.” Fairy stories
offer hope in a terrible world (and in fact the terror is
necessary to allow the hope to shine though)
Teacher’s notes
J. R. R. Tolkien “On Fairy Stories”
Tolkien saw the function of fairy stories in three ways:
1. Recovery; a visit to the world of fantasy allows us to see the reality of our own world much more clearly. Tolkien saw the fantasy world as more real than reality. It contains ancient truths related to the world of nature that we in our modern world tend to forget. Visiting the mythic world, with its fundamental truths about life and death, nature and humanity’s lack of power. Fantasy helps us view our own world more clearly.
2. Escape; this is not ‘escapist’ in an easy way as fantasy is often dark and terrifying; it is more like a prisoner escaping from his cell; it provides freedom from oppression,
3. Consolation; Tolkien sees fairy stories as offering a kind of religious hope, like Christ’s resseurrection after death.
Purpose of the Genre of Fairy Stories and Fantasy: J.R.R. Tolkien “On Fairy Stories” (1939)
The genre of fairy stories helps us understand the character of Ofelia. Fairy stories are one method of resistance against fascism. Del Toro, like Tolkien, is definitely arguing that fairy stories still have a purpose.
J.R.R. Tolkien “On Fairy Stories” Del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth”
Tolkien describes the world of fairy stories 1. What elements has Del Toro taken from the fairy
as a “stew of stories”; a mixed pot of elements story pot?
from which the creator can take inspiration, mixing 2. What techniques does Del Toro use to tell us
and matching as needs dictate. that fairy stories are important to Ofelia and the
film?
For Tolkien, fairy stories have three purposes:
1. Recovery
For Tolkien, fantasy offers the reader the ability 3. What evidence is there that Ofelia sees the world
to see our world more clearly, once we return from more clearly than other characters in the film?
the fantasy world to reality(This is like returning back to What techniques does Del Toro use to show this? your home after a holiday; you perceive your home with
fresh eyes).
Reading fantasy allows us to perceive the natural world 4. What normal aspects of the natural world does
anew. Along with magical creatures, fantasy contains Ofelia start to see as magical? What techniques “the moon, the sky; and the earth and all things that does Del Toro use to show this?
that are in it: tree and bird, water and stone, wine and
bread, and ourselves.” Because of immersion in fantasy 5. How does Ofelia become immersed in the natural
worlds, the natural world starts to seem magical and we world? Which character remains alienated from it
appreciate nature more and realise we are part of it. (especially though technology)?
2,. Escape
Fantasy is definitely not an escape from the real world 6. Del Toro emphasised that fantasy does not
in the sense of finding a better world (fairy stories have provide any escape from the real world for Ofelia.
always been dark and gruesome) What parallel plotting provides evidence of this?
In fact, fantasy is made up of elements of the real world; 7. What symbols occur in both fantasy and the real you have the colour “green” and a “sun”, for example world?
the creator of the fairy story recombines them into a
“green sun.” You can never escape the real world
in fantasy.
Fantasy is an escape in the sense that it provides freedom 8. What examples of domination in the real world
(especially for children who are dominated by adults in the does Ofelia suffer?
real world) 9. What signs of freedom from authority does she
show?
3. Consolation
This is felt in the sudden and miraculous happy 10. How does the ending of Pan’s Labyrinth offer hope
ending of Fairy stories. This gives a fleeting glimpse in a terrible world?
of “Joy beyond the walls of the world.” Fairy stories
offer hope in a terrible world (and in fact the terror is
necessary to allow the hope to shine though)
Teacher’s notes
J. R. R. Tolkien “On Fairy Stories”
Tolkien saw the function of fairy stories in three ways:
1. Recovery; a visit to the world of fantasy allows us to see the reality of our own world much more clearly. Tolkien saw the fantasy world as more real than reality. It contains ancient truths related to the world of nature that we in our modern world tend to forget. Visiting the mythic world, with its fundamental truths about life and death, nature and humanity’s lack of power. Fantasy helps us view our own world more clearly.
2. Escape; this is not ‘escapist’ in an easy way as fantasy is often dark and terrifying; it is more like a prisoner escaping from his cell; it provides freedom from oppression,
3. Consolation; Tolkien sees fairy stories as offering a kind of religious hope, like Christ’s resseurrection after death.