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Fairy tales are a genre short narrative that usually involve, as the name indicates, fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants, or gnomes but not exclusively, and the use of magic, transformation or enchantments.
In cultures where demons and witches are perceived as real, fairy tales may merge into legends, where the narrative is perceived both by teller and hearers as being grounded in historical truth. However, unlike legends and epics, they usually do not contain more than superficial references to religion and actual places, people, and events; they take place once upon a time rather than in actual times. Many of today’s fairy tales have evolved from centuries-old stories that have appeared, with variations, in multiple cultures around the world.
The name “fairy tale” was first ascribed to them by Madame d’Aulnoy in the late 17th century (in French, conte de fées).
Folklorists have classified fairy tales in various ways. Among the most notable are the Aarne-Thompson classification system and the morphological analysis of Vladimir Propp. Other folklorists have interpreted the tales’ significance, but no school has been definitively established for the meaning of the tales.
In his essay “On Fairy-Stories”, J. R. R. Tolkien defines fairy tales as stories about the adventures of men in Faërie, the land of fairies, fairytale princes and princesses, dwarves, elves, and not only other magical species but many other marvels.
By Christina Rossetti Maids heard the goblins cry: Morning and evening “Come buy our orchard fruits, Come buy, come buy: Apples and quinces, Lemons and oranges, Plump unpeck’d cherries, Melons and raspberries, Bloom-down-cheek’d peaches, Swart-headed mulberries, Wild free-born cranberries, Crab-apples, dewberries, Pine-apples, blackberries, Apricots, strawberries;— All ripe together In summer weather,— Morns that pass by, … Read more
“Hail to thee, Freya, Queen of the Aesir,Queen of Vanir, fair Lady of Álfheim.Mistress of magic, Mother of Midgard;By the sovereign power of seithrAnd strength of BrísingamenLend me your insight in this my rite.Freya!Great Goddess!Thee I call, thee I invoke!Surround me in your feathered cloakThat I may see through the nine worldsFrom the roots to … Read more
One day, Loki the trickster found himself in an especially mischievous mood and cut off the gorgeous golden hair of Sif, the wife of Thor. When Thor learned of this, his quick temper was enraged, and he seized Loki and threatened to break every bone in his body. Loki pleaded with the thunder god to … Read more
A fairy tale originally collected by the brothers Grimm. Snow White, a princess, is banished to the forest by her wicked stepmother, who is jealous of Snow White’s great beauty. Alone in the forest Snow White finds the cottage of the Seven Dwarfs. She offers to keep house for them in return for shelter. But … Read more
CHARLES MAC CARTHY was, in the year 1749, the only surviving son of a very numerous family. His father died when he was little more than twenty, leaving him the Mac Carthy estate, not much encumbered, considering that it was an Irish one. Charles was gay, handsome, unfettered either by poverty, a father, or guardians, … Read more
THE PIPER AND THE PUCA. DOUGLAS HYDE Translated literally from the Irish of the Leabhar Sgeulaigheachta. In the old times, there was a half fool living in Dunmore, in the county Galway, and although he was excessively fond of music, he was unable to learn more than one tune, and that was the “Black Rogue.” … Read more
The early centuries of the Middle Ages, when the legends were in making, give all the impression of a dream. Among rustic populations, deeply submissive to the Church and of a gentle spirit (the legends themselves attest this), we would gladly assume a high degree of innocence. Surely it must have been God’s own time, … Read more
Smile at us, pay us, pass us; but do not quite forget;For we are the people of England, that never have spoken yet.There is many a fat farmer that drinks less cheerfully,There is many a free French peasant who is richer and sadder than we.There are no folk in the whole world so helpless or … Read more