Elements of a Fairy Tale

What are the elements of a fairy tale?

A fairy tale is a magic story which can not be

true.

A fairy tale often has a beginning phrase that indicates a distant

past or make-believe land.

Once upon a time……

Once there was….

Long, long ago…

Fairy tales take place in made-up times and places called settings.

Imaginary forest Castle in the sky

Gingerbread house

Fairy tales have imaginary characters that are good.

Fairy tales have imaginary characters that are bad.

Fairy tales often have royal characters such as queens,

kings, princes, princesses and sometimes a castle.

Imaginary characters like dragons, fairies, elves, and

giants are often in fairy tales.

Characters in fairy tales often have magical powers

or magical things.

Fairy tales may include magical events.

• A wolf blows down a house made of sticks.

• A gingerbread boy comes to life.

• A fairy godmother turns mice into horses.

• A boy buys magic beans that grows into a giant bean stalk.

Characters are sometimes filled with greed and use

tricks to get what they want.

Things often appear or happen in ‘threes’ or ‘sevens’. (Religious

connotation)

Wishes are often granted in fairy tales.

There is often a problem which leads to a solution which has a

pleasing outcome.

A difficult problem, often very hard to solve is

solved by the end of the story.

Sometimes a lesson can be learned from

the ending of the fairy tale.

A fairy tale has a pleasing ending and often a happy ending phrase.

….and they lived happily ever after.

What fairy tales have you heard or read?

In discussion board 2a. post, what fairy tales you have read, what are some your

favorites and dislikes, and what

Children’s fairytale from around the

world do you plan to read and examine for

unit 3.