Scepticism and hope in twentieth century fantasy literature

the long version

Religious discourse has become alien to the secular and sceptical western societies of the twentieth century. There is real discomfort when religious discourse appears either in the popular press or in society. But even in a secular society, there is still a psychological need (one might even use the stronger word will), if not to believe, then at least to hope. Dr. Filmer states this need is met in the literature of fantasy. Twentieth century fantasy has emerged from a long tradition of religion and philosophy, and it has adapted itself to provide gods and heroes whom readers might worship and in whom they might transcend themselves. Dr. Filmer does not argue that the literature of fantasy is "about" religion; rather the argument is that fantasy speaks religion, that it operates in the same space and uses the same devices as the discourse of religion, and does so largely to the same end: the articulation of hope. Dr. Filmer uses the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Peter Beagle, Susan Cooper, Madeleine L'Engle, George Orwell, Russell Hoban, James Thurber, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Alan Garner, Ursula LeGuin and Patricia Wrightson to illustrate her thesis. Scepticism and Hope reaffirms that, in the present sceptical age, Fantasy offers its readers a vision of the marvellous and the wonderful, and through that vision, the clear articulation of hope for humanity.