WORLD Student

Reviewer
FOLK
TALES &
FAIRY
LITERATURE TALES

European Literature
WHAT IS A FAIRY TALE?
Chapter III There are many elements that make a fairy tale different from a folk tale.
A fairy tale is a fictional story composed of creatures both human and
magical. Due to its supernatural charm, it is well loved by children and
oftentimes are used by adults to and institutions as an introduction to
fiction as well as literature in general.

ELEMENTS OF A FAIRY TALE:

Characters – the characters are simple and predictable.
Characters can easily be determined whether they are good or
evil.
Due to fairy tales being largely in Europe, there are some
characters that are connected to different ranks in royalty.
More often than not, the main character is a hero or heroine
that plays a significant part in the story’s world or society.
Some characters may not even be human. There are different
magical races (elves, dwarves, and giants to name a few).
Plot – just like the characters, the plot is also predictable.
The plot usually ends with a happy ending when order and
peace are restored in the end.
Setting – usually very vague in the story.
Commonly begin with “Once upon a time…” or “A long, long
time ago…”
Location may not even exist in real life or may be something
general like a castle or a forest and are seldomly enchanted or
cursed.
Moral Lesson – at every ending of a fairy tale, there is usually a
moral lesson, a universal truth, or experiences and scenes that
sends a message to the readers.
Exaggeration – some aspects in the story overemphasize beauty,
riches, magic, power, evilness, morality, and even the locations
and scenes depict an overexaggerated description.

KING THRUSHBEARD BY THE GRIMM BROTHERS

Such an example of a fairy tale is King Thrushbeard. The authors are

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, who are famously known as The Grimm
Brothers. They are German linguists and folklorists who wrote the literary
classic entitled Kinder- und Hausmärchen which has been translated to
the English version known as The Grimm’s Fairy Tales. King Thrushbeard
is the 52nd story in the compilation.
WORLD Student
Reviewer
FOLK
TALES &
FAIRY
LITERATURE TALES

European Literature
WHAT IS A FOLK TALE?
Chapter III A folk tale, according to Dawkins (1951), is “a story handed down by oral
tradition from mouth to ear among people generally in fact illiterate.”
This means that these are stories told by people who do not even know
how to read nor write (or that reading or writing ever existed yet at the
time).

ELEMENTS OF A FOLK TALE:

Setting – the setting is usually based on a real or specific location

depending on where the folk tale originated.
Characters – most of the characters are just humans with
supernatural abilities or with regular abilities but thrown in
supernatural situations.
Plot – the plot does not always end in happy endings and
sometimes the stories tend to be unpredictable.
Theme – it reflects the culture, the traditions, and even the
timeline of the country or place it belongs.
Lesson – sometimes the lessons are vague and they don’t even
show any sense of morality. They are merely tales meant to
entertain or to teach tradition.

BLUEBEARD BY CHARLES PERRAULT

This French folk tale is written by Charles Perrault who is a poet, a
writer, and a storyteller. Bluebeard is a chilling tale about man and
murder.

FAIRY TALE VS FOLK TALE

Unlike fairy tales, folk tales were geared towards both adults and children
with a more complex and sometimes mature plot that deals with issues in
society.

WHAT IS FOLKLORE?

One thing you have to take note of when determining folklore is that it is
a broad term. It covers traditions, beliefs, and stories that have been
passed from generation to generation orally before it was written down.
Examples of folklore are fairy tales, folk tales, myths, ballads, legends,
fables, and tall tales.
WORLD Student
Reviewer
FOLK
TALES &
FAIRY
LITERATURE TALES

European Literature
CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
Chapter III Folk literature (or most literary genre with a plot) contains character
archetypes. An archetype is a common example of a person or thing. Here
are TWELVE (12) common character archetypes:

ELEMENTS OF A FOLK TALE:

The Hero – male/female protagonist who is the character that
rises to meet the challenge and ends up saving the day.
The Lover – the romantic lead who is more often than not, the
love interest of the protagonist. This may also be the protagonist
(especially in tales/stories about romance).
The Magician – the powerful character who has already achieved
his goals and may possess supernatural abilities, magical powers,
or inhumane skills. Can either be the protagonist or the
antagonist. (NOTE: Extremely powerful or extremely skilled).
The Outlaw – the rebellious character who won’t follow social
rules or abide by them and choose to follow their own path.
The Explorer – the character who is tempted by adventure and the
thrill of the unknown.
The Sage – usually the mentor. The character who is extremely
wise and calm and may act as the mother/father figure in the
story.
The Innocent – a character who is morally pure and oftentimes
may be a child or a very pure or naïve character.
The Creator – the creative character in the group. Usually the
person who creates or invents art, structures, or creatures.
The Ruler – the character with a high position over others. It may
be legally, socially, or emotionally.
The Caregiver – the supportive character. Usually a sidekick or a
character with strong morals who sacrifice for the sake of others.
The Everyman – the character that is relatable to everyone
(reader/viewer). The everyman is a character that is thrust upon
an extraordinary situation without any control of the situation
they find themselves in. Unlike the hero, they are just really trying
to survive and make it out alive. They can be the protagonist or the
supporting.
The Jester – the comic relief in the story. This character provides
humor but may also hold a significant role in the story.