On Fairy Stories

Introducing the next phase of this audio project: A sound-rich, audio adventure for your ears, exploring beauty, aesthetics, theology, literature, and art. www.bornofwonder.com

What do Star Wars, Doctor Who, Franz Jaggerstatter, and the Myth of Perseus all have in common? The Hero’s Journey - the epic quest every single hero across all stories, times, and cultures, embarks upon. Joseph Campbell popularized the idea of the ‘monomyth’ - the idea that we can see one story across all legends and myths. In this episode we discuss: What makes someone a hero? What is the Hero’s Journey? We’ll explore examples as varied as Luke Skywalker, Donna Noble, and Perseus.

Visit www.onfairystories.com for links and resources! 

On this episode, we explore Tolkien’s concept of Eucatastrophe, ‘the sudden joyous turn, the mark of all fairy tales.’ We discuss Eucatastrophe in the context of other literary devices including perapatea, anagnorisis, and deux ex machina. Eucatastrophe is unique in the belief - the insistence - on a fundamentally just, ‘true,’ universe. We also explore Shakespeare’s beautiful play, “The Winter’s Tale,” and how the last scene (Queen Hermione coming back to life) epitomizes a ‘Eucatastrophic’ moment.

Resources and links: www.onfairystories.com 

“It is required You do awake your faith.”

- William Shakespeare, The Winter’s Tale

"But a mermaid has no tears, and therefore she suffers so much more."

- Hans Christian Andersen

Exploring the beautiful, dream-like worlds of Hans Christian Andersen, in particular The Little Mermaid, a stunning story of sacrificial love. We discuss the origins of mermaid stories - universal in almost all cultures - and how sea-folk represent that “in-between” longing human beings feel. We’ll discuss Andersen’s Little Mermaid in depth and how the longing for an immortal soul defines the original tale.

Visit www.onfairystories.com for resources and links.

Time travel, paradox, asleep for 100 years, 20 years alone on a mountaintop, Elves that live through all the tragedies of Middle Earth. What can we learn from Fairy Stories about the nature of Time? Does God experience Time? Is Time linear, or more of a circle? On this episode we’ll philosophize about the nature of Time and revisit some classic tales, including Sleeping Beauty and Rip Van Winkle. Visit onfairystories.com for resources and links! 

In this episode, we explore the whimsical, magical land of fairies - a place where a 100 years can pass in one night, where 'what is lost can be restored.' With the Irish poet W.B. Yeats as our guide host Katie Marquette discusses changelings, elves, fairies, and the little people. The beautiful Celtic myths and folklore remind us of the beauty of 'what could be' beyond the hills of heather. 

Resources and links at www.onfairystories.com 

Selchie stories are largely sad, violent, and absurd. Some say the grey seals are fallen angels. Some say they're the souls of drowned sailors. There are stories of selchie kings and their human children. There are many stories of beautiful selchie women who find their seal skin and return to the sea but continue to leave fish for their human children and husband on the shore. 

On this episode, we hear about the strange Celtic selchies and the haunting Irish landscapes they inhabit. We also hear some prize bits of wisdom from Tolkien himself on the value of “wasting time” creating art and fantasy.

Visit www.onfairystories.com for resources and links!