In "On Fairy-Stories," when J.R.R. Tolkien refers to the "great escape," he is referring to the power of fairy stories to allow readers to momentarily escape the constraints and limitations of the real world. He argues that fairy stories offer a form of "sub-creation," in which readers can enter into a secondary world that is different from their own. In this secondary world, they can experience wonder, adventure, and joy, providing a temporary respite from the harshness and difficulties of reality. In this context, the "great escape" is more metaphorical, representing the liberation and sense of liberation that fairy stories provide.
