There was a TV show here in the US called Grimm. It was a modern retelling of the Grimm’s Fairy Tales. I loved the reexamining of classics I’ve known all my life. And as the series went on, it drew on fairy tales from around the world. It was the beginning of me learning that fairy tales. But is wasn’t the end.
The Definition as I understand it
Once upon a time, Robin Schulte was able to share a document with me with some useful definitions. Here is the one for fairytales: have magic characters such as witches and fairy godmothers, as well as humans or animal characters. The solution to the problem is usually reached through magical means. In looking at the videos below, I also found some other interesting elements of fairy tales. For example, fairy tales seem to talk about things to be wary about in life. To avoid unsuspecting problems that would cause strife. The third video below talks about how to write a fairy tale. From what I have seen in oral storytelling, I’m not sure that writing a fairy tale from scratch is something I would do. But it is an interesting breakdown of the elements in a fairy tale.
The truth I realized about Fairy Tales
When reading fairy tales, they seem to work to give hope that good will overcome evil. Always. At least, that what I thought at first. The more I read and listened to the original versions of fairy tales, the more I realized that was not the original case. They were always meant to be cautionary tales. The original fairy tales were very gruesome and dark. The versions we read our kids and see in Disney movies are actual modified to reach a younger audience. That’s right ladies and gentlemen, the kids versions of fairy tales are the storytelling version of a commercial success.
Wrapping up
With that, this wraps up the types of stories (folk tales, myths, legends, fables, and fairy tales) that are apart of folk lore. But that doesn’t stop our journey into understanding what are the types of stories out there. There are about another 12 to go. I’ll see you next we as the journey continues!
References
FAIRY TALES explained by Hans Wilhelm
Transforming Our Understanding of Fairy Tales | Anne Duggan | TEDxWayneStateU
Practical & Creative Writing Lessons : How to Write a Fairy Tale
Story Telling On Purpose 
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