Folktale vs. Fairy Tale
Molli Eckart
People all over the world have been telling stories since the beginning of time. A fascination with the past and the desire to be entertained during leisure time allowed oral tradition to survive and grow and the tales continue to be told today. However, people also are curious about the progression and history of storytelling, as well as the difference between folktales and fairy tales. Although there are many similarities between fairy tales and folktales and they are often mistaken as the same thing, there are differences that allow them to be separated into different types of tales.
The term folktale describes the tradition of orally passing down stories from generation to generation. One of the most important components of a folk tale is the desire to keep it as close to the original story as possible. However, the ability to keep it close to the original can prove to be very complicated. The complication arises from the fact that the folktales spread throughout the world and often change languages and dialects. Another characteristic of folk tales is that the setting is generally in a familiar world such as villages and bedrooms, but they exaggerate or use humor to bring entertainment to the tales. Different cultures are entertained in different ways which contributes to the variations of the folktales. Folktales can also be broken down into many different subsections as well such as myth, fable, local legend and more. (Thompson)
On the other hand, fairy tales include more magical and unrealistic events than folk tales. They often have supernatural or enchanted characters such as witches, ogres, fairies, mermaids, dwarfs, and many other fantasy creatures. Typically, fairy tales also have the “happy ending” that most people are familiar with today. There is a difference between modern fairy tales and early fairy tales. Modern fairy tales are aimed towards children and typically have a theme of a young man or woman facing a conflict in order to mature or become an adult. However, earlier folktales and fairy tales were mostly violent and vulgar and were mostly told between adults. The idea of fairy tales has evolved over time and in today’s society they are most commonly associated with the Disney movie versions.
The term folktale describes the tradition of orally passing down stories from generation to generation. One of the most important components of a folk tale is the desire to keep it as close to the original story as possible. However, the ability to keep it close to the original can prove to be very complicated. The complication arises from the fact that the folktales spread throughout the world and often change languages and dialects. Another characteristic of folk tales is that the setting is generally in a familiar world such as villages and bedrooms, but they exaggerate or use humor to bring entertainment to the tales. Different cultures are entertained in different ways which contributes to the variations of the folktales. Folktales can also be broken down into many different subsections as well such as myth, fable, local legend and more. (Thompson)
On the other hand, fairy tales include more magical and unrealistic events than folk tales. They often have supernatural or enchanted characters such as witches, ogres, fairies, mermaids, dwarfs, and many other fantasy creatures. Typically, fairy tales also have the “happy ending” that most people are familiar with today. There is a difference between modern fairy tales and early fairy tales. Modern fairy tales are aimed towards children and typically have a theme of a young man or woman facing a conflict in order to mature or become an adult. However, earlier folktales and fairy tales were mostly violent and vulgar and were mostly told between adults. The idea of fairy tales has evolved over time and in today’s society they are most commonly associated with the Disney movie versions.
References
Thompson, Stith. The Folktale. New York: The Dryden Press, 1946. Print
Yearsley, Macleod. The Folklore of Fairy-Tale. Detroit: Singing Tree Press, 1968. Print
Buxton, Richard. Encyclopædia Britannica. Web. 30 March 2014.
Bottigheimer, Ruth B. "Fairy Tales." Encyclopedia of German Literature. London: Routledge, 2000. Credo Reference. Web. 30 March 2014.
Brewer, Derek "Fairy Tales." Continuum Encyclopedia of British Literature. London: Continuum, 2006. Credo Reference. Web. 30 March 2014.
Thompson, Stith. The Folktale. New York: The Dryden Press, 1946. Print
Yearsley, Macleod. The Folklore of Fairy-Tale. Detroit: Singing Tree Press, 1968. Print
Buxton, Richard. Encyclopædia Britannica. Web. 30 March 2014.
Bottigheimer, Ruth B. "Fairy Tales." Encyclopedia of German Literature. London: Routledge, 2000. Credo Reference. Web. 30 March 2014.
Brewer, Derek "Fairy Tales." Continuum Encyclopedia of British Literature. London: Continuum, 2006. Credo Reference. Web. 30 March 2014.