Fantasy is wonderful for many reasons, but today, I want to talk about a personal aspect of fantasy.

What it teaches us about life.

Beneath the epic battles, the desperate quests, and the spectacular worlds, fantasy sheds light on truths we find around us every day. More than being entertaining stories, it acts as a mirror through which we see reflections of our own lives and world.

Here are three common things fantasy teaches us about life.

1. Good Ultimately Triumphs

This is a huge theme in most stories, but fantasy deals with it in ways that are more direct. Practically every fantasy I’ve read contains this as an integral part of the story, whether it’s the outmatched armies of the west and a hobbit’s quest that defeat the Dark Lord, or an orphaned wizard’s attempts to thwart his nemesis.

Real life may not seem so simple, but we have too narrow of a focus. After all, our lives are but a drop in the vast sea of eternity. Just because we’re undergoing trials presently doesn’t mean evil will win out.

Losing a battle doesn’t equal losing the war.

That’s easy to forget when we’re down in the trenches. In the stories, as in real life, evil seems to have the upper hand.

• Sauron’s armies are too vast
• The White Witch has the entire land under her spell
• The Dark One has more power and resources than Rand and his companions

At every turn, the good side teeters on the brink of destruction, yet despite the evidence that their defeat is inevitable, they overcome their enemies.

Beyond the hope of men, as Gandalf might say.

That’s the story of the Bible and our redemption, told through the medium of myth and adventure. That’s real life. We may be toiling through the quest of life, or struggling to cope with the loss of friends and family, but in the end, good will triumph.

It always does, and that’s both satisfying and comforting.

2. The World Is a Dangerous Place

Much as I’m getting tired of the nobody-becomes-a-hero storyline, this is one area where that type of story resonates in its truthfulness.

When we’re young, we’re like the village hero-to-be, going about our simple lives ignorant to the sinister threats of the world. For most, wars, drugs, and gangs are distant concepts, hovering in the background but not thrusting their ugly faces right in front of us.

Then something happens. We begin to realize life isn’t as simple as living in the Shire. We become attuned to the darker side of life, where the ravages of abuse, immorality, and a corrupt world yank us off our innocent clouds and down into the muck of reality.

Like Frodo, we find out Black Riders, evil tyrants, and orcs exist.

We’re no longer cut off from the evil currents assailing the world. Evil takes on a solid form and we see its affects and consequences. Whether we like it or not, we’ve been thrust into the story of reality.

Fantasy does a fabulous job of showing this.

• After Gandalf comes and ruins Frodo’s simplistic perception of life, Frodo realizes he’s part of a much larger world than he imagined and that danger is coming for him. Suddenly, life takes a nosedive and he’s scrambling to keep his head above water. It’s not all gardening and teatime.
• Rand al’Thor is living in a country village, concerned with everyday life. Then, bam. Trollocs, Fades, Aes Sedai, channeling. He’s hurled into a life-and-death situation, unsure whether he’ll see his father or village again. In a short time, his rustic ignorance is gone and he sees the inherent danger of the world.

Far from being a bad thing, it helps prepare us for dealing with the danger surrounding us. Ignorance might be bliss, but knowledge is power.

3. The Hardest Journeys Are the Most Worthwhile Ones

Which achievements give you the most satisfaction? Are they the ones you got without exerting much effort or the ones you had to earn?

When I was a young, I had a collection of trophies for participating in basketball and baseball. They were nice, but I only had to show up to practice and the games for a handful of weeks out of the year.

I also had a trophy for completing a three-year children’s music program. That was my favorite. I had to work for it, and because of that, I cherished it the most.

Without the pain, the triumph isn’t as meaningful.

We appreciate things more when we have to struggle and fight for them.

That’s true of every quest story in fantasy—and believe me, there are a ton of them. The pain, the danger, and the toil the characters endure drive them to the brink, but it’s the challenge that makes their victory so sweet.

We wouldn’t have been so overjoyed when Sam and Frodo completed the quest if, as a funny proposal suggests, they had flown to Mount Doom in the TARDIS. Sure it might have been easier, but since when has easier equaled better?

The pain and agony. That’s what makes us appreciate the gifts in life.

What are some things about life you’ve discovered within the pages of fantasy? What stories have had an impact on you? I’d love to hear your thoughts.