Fairy+and+Folk+Tales

Fairy Tales [[image:fairytale.thb.jpg width="175" height="148" align="right"]]
In order to understand the history of fairy tales, you need to know for whom fairy tales were really written. While today parents often love telling or reading their favorite fairy tales to their own children, the dark and often gruesome plot lines of the original stories were intended for adult audiences, not youngsters. Many of the fairy tales that are repeated today date back to the 17th century and earlier.

Fairy tales are stories in which the characters become involved in a world of magic and enchantment. A fairy tale has many or all of the following elements:
 * characters who are either all good or all bad
 * a magic being or object who is either helpful or threatening to the hero or heroine
 * a task that the hero or heroine must complete
 * a reward for the hero or heroine
 * repetitive features, such as predictable beginning and ending phrases ("Once upon a time..." "They lived happily ever after.") and/or duos or trios (two sisters, three wishes)

Fairy tales often have one of the following themes:
 * challenges or tests
 * obstacles
 * good versus evil
 * jealousy
 * romantic love
 * kindness
 * cleverness

** Folk Tales **
The folktale is a story, passed down verbally from generation to generation. Each storyteller told the stories a little differently, making them more interesting and fascinating as the ages passed. Different folktales bear the characteristics of the culture, folklore and customs of the people from which they originated. Folktales were often told to help people understand their fears and desires. They often teach a lesson or explains why things are the way they are.

The different kinds of folk tales are:
 * Trickster tales
 * Fables
 * Pourquoi (Why)
 * Fairy tales
 * Tall tales