What Are Fairy Tales?

Fairy tales tell stories of magic, adventure and wonder in a world of make-believe.
They are a type of folktale.

How Do We Know It's a Fairy Tale?

Most fairy tales contain similar features.
Here are some of their key features.

Magic & the Supernatural

Magic often creates and solves problems for the main character.
Talking animals, fairies, witches, giants or dragons are common in fairy tales.

On one side, there is a fairy godmother turning a pumpkin into a chariot. On the other side, there are 3 pigs: one is talking about hay, one is talking about wood and the last one is talking about bricks.

Moral Lessons

Lessons about right and wrong, honesty, courage and kindness are at the heart of fairy tales.
In most cases, good overcomes evil at the end.

On one side, the Big Bad Wolf is following Little Red Riding Hood in the woods. On the other side, a knight and a dragon are facing off.

Simple Plot

The story has a clear beginning, middle and end.
It usually focuses on 1 problem or journey.

The beginning, middle and end of a fairy tale illustrated with Jack and the Beanstalk. The beginning shows the cow traded for the magic beans. The middle shows Jack climbing up the beanstalk and running away from the giant, golden goose in hand. The end shows Jack with his treasures and the golden goose.

Simple Characters

Characters are characterized as clearly good or bad, heroes or villains.
They are easy to recognize.

Representation of typical fairy tale characters. Good characters like a knight, a fairy, Little Red Riding Hood and a prince. Bad characters like the Big Bad Wolf, a witch and a giant.

Timeless Setting

The story generally takes place a long time ago, but never at a specific period.
It takes place in a familiar place, but not in a real world setting that we can identify.
Often begins with the phrase “‘Once upon a time, in a faraway land…”

A peasant walking next to a horse cart, near a forest with a castle in the background.

Repetition/Patterns

Events, characters, words and phrases are often repeated.
Repetitions and patterns come in 3s (3 witches, 3 pigs, 3 bears).

On one side, the Big Bad Wolf in front of each little pig’s house repeating “I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down!” On the other side, a genie coming out of a lamp with 3 stars floating above it.

What Can We Expect to Find in a Fairy Tale?

Fairy tales are famous for using certain story elements over and over.
Here are some frequently used elements that you can expect to find in fairy tales.

Story begins with the words “Once upon a time.”
Ends with the words “Happily ever after.”

Conflict between good and evil

Character transformation or changes

Power of true love’s kiss

Magical helpers for the hero

Repeated symbolic meanings
→ Objects or places used to represent something else like an idea or a feeling

List of elements often found in fairy tales with examples. Good vs evil, like in Hansel in Gretel facing the evil witch. Transformation, like the ugly duckling becoming a beautiful swan. True love’s kiss, with the Frog Prince awaiting the princess’s kiss. Magical helpers, like the fairy godmother in Cinderella. Symbolic meaning, like forests as a symbol of danger or growth, and gold or treasure as a symbol of greed and corruption.

Fairy Tales at a Glance

Summary of a fairy tale’s key features and common elements. The key features are the presence of magic and the supernatural, moral lessons, simple plots and characters, timeless settings and repetitions or patterns. Common elements generally found in fairy tales include good vs evil, true love's kiss, transformation, magical helpers and symbolic meaning like forests for danger and treasure for greed.

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