fortunes & misfortunes of a hero adventures, often supernatural events
"once upon a time" & "happily every after"
often set in rural and forest areas
magic, charms, disguises, spells, tricks
numbers play important roles
number 3 is especially common
transformations
stock characters, such as the witch
ogres and giants
wee people
wise old woman
a lost child
child swallowed whole
miraculous birth of child
childless couple
suitor seaching for bride
royalty and castles
time passes quickly
fairies and witches
tests and trials
appearances & disappearances
journeys and quests
animals play important roles, such as the
wolf, the snake, and birds
good & evil are clearly identified
problems are overcome through bravery,
cleverness, and other virtures
abused & persecuted people
contains a lesson about life or a moral tag
What is a fairy tale?
A fairy tale comes under the heading of folk literature. Folk literature means the literature of the common people, usually stories which have been passed down over the years through the oral tradition. Also under the heading of folk literature you will find legends, fables, and myths.
"Fairy Tales" has been created by Nancy Zuwiyya as part ofInkspell, an educational website. Copyright 2000.
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fable
A fable is a short narrative in prose or verse which has a moral and usually contains non-humans, animals, or inanimate things as characters. Aesop's Fables are among the most famous fables.
fairy tale
A fairy tale is a story of marvels and magic, often including stock characters such as the fairy, the ogre, a Prince Charming, a persecuted heroine, and the abandoned baby. It is about the adventures, fortunes, and misfortunes of a hero or heroine who ends up living happily ever after. Fairy tales were originally part of the oral tradition, told from one person to another over hundreds of years. Only in the last few hundred years have fairy tales been written down. Fairy tales are usually written as prose narratives with stock openings and closings. Fairy tales have been found in all regions of the world. One fairy tale can have many versions.
folk tale
A short narrative in prose, of unknown authorship, which has been transmitted orally; sometimes such prose narratives do have known authors. The folk tale is a broad category that includes fables, fairy tales, legends, and myths.
legend
A legend is a short narrative, either in prose or poetry, that combines a real event or real person's unusual life story with the exaggeration and heroic actions we associate with stories of heroes and great national events. The legend reads like a folk tale but usually contains a bit of historical truth.
