Characteristics of Fairy tales

A genre is a method or type of writing literary texts and it can particularly categories used to group different types of literary work, such as non-fiction, fiction and poetry or even fairy tales. Consequently, the traditional fairy tales do have specific characteristics to be compared with other literature genres and these distinct elements can be simply identified by the readers. To be sure, it is fantasy and the stories will always starting with “once upon a time” and “in a land far away”, therefore, people can simply assuming that the setting of fairy tales is undefined by the story teller perhaps to bring the magical and the myth contexts upon reader’s perspective of the stories. Generally speaking, fairy tales can be considered as inspirational literature text where imaginations will be real and conquering the whole stories. Thus, readers cannot argue the mystique events which are not real in a reality taking place the plot of the stories. On the words, fairy tales are bringing other worldliness or the ability to inspire wonder and give a sense of the surreal.

The origins of fairy tales embarked with the traditional elements as it is inherited orally by ancestors. Basically, fairy tales will include myth or legendary stories from folks’ tale and it is descending through generations as part of communal bonding process. However, to describe the originalities and the basic elements of fairy tales is not as easy as thought since particularly, fairy tales are commonly evolved and been told differently to suit with different cultures and societies where the moral values can be shared and absorbed by the listener. As for example, Cinderella story has merely common famous Malay’s fairy tales which is “Bawang Merah, Bawang Putih”.

The story of world’s famous fairy tale Cinderella begins when a beautiful girl being alone after her adorable mother died. As her father concerned about Cinderella who supposedly grows with a mother’s love and attentions, thus, he was marrying another women to be Cinderella step mother. The conflicts arise when her step mother refusing to treats Cinderella accordingly due to hidden agenda. Cinderella has been abused and growing as a maid in her own house. Then, the raising actions of the story takes place when a fairy god mother used magic upon Cinderella to attend royal ball’s dancing ceremony which consequently leads to the climax of the story where the prince falling in love with Cinderella. The falling events is when her step mother tries to stop Cinderella trying the glass shoes but she manages to wear it and it sparks the resolution of the story, Cinderella live happily ever after with her prince.

Cinderella’s story perhaps is the most brilliant examples to describe the characteristics of traditional fairy tales. Basically, the most significant characteristics to portray the elements of fairy stories are the characters of the story itself. As to be aware, traditional fairy tales will always telling about evil versus good characters. Therefore, in this literary context, Cinderella is a good character who is conflicting with her own evil step mother. Besides, she has to survive and basically the good characters will always been abused and going through hardness in life at the first part of the story but yet the good characters will find cherish and happiness at the end of the story. Furthermore, traditional fairy tales have very significant elements to describe the characters. Basically, the main character is an antagonist and will be described accordingly as for example Cinderella is extremely beautiful and do has high manners toward the others even to the talking animals. In contrast, the protagonist will always been told as ugly, lousy and did not occupied expected manners. Furthermore, the hero or the prince is been stereotyped as handsome, strong and adorable man which somehow may sparks readers’ attention to gain sympathy upon Cinderella and hating her step mother and making the story more interesting.

Furthermore, the events in the traditional fairy tales will basically include magical elements to help the good characters escaped from evilness. As for example, fairy god mother is helping Cinderella to attend the ball dancing ceremony. Therefore, readers will be understood that magical elements are the only options to help the main character enjoying a piece of happiness. Hence, it may leave a smile to the readers due to empathy reasons on Cinderella. However, to make the story more appealing other aspects of magic in the story are the best ways to raise readers’ interest upon the story. As for example, when Cinderella has to leave the ceremony strictly at 12.00 am as mutual agreements between her and the fairy and also when magic is been used to tease her step mother is someway will boost readers feeling to share the sadness of leaving her prince charming and laughter with the main character. Therefore, traditional fairy tales is fascinating since the story will bond within readers and also the characters in the story itself as indirect interactions in a way of sharing the same emotions.

Most fairy tales will share common figures of story presentation. Additionally, a beautiful women will always been used as a main figure to move the story. Thus, well known and famous fairy tales such as Rapunzel, Cinderella, beauty and the beast, snow white, the frog and the princess, sleeping beauty and little red riding hood are the best the example to support the argumentation. Thus, it can be said that traditional fairy tales will place a women as the significant literature elements. In contrast, it may possibly due to the reasons of the attractiveness factors of women to be described in any literary texts. Furthermore, women are always associated with gorgeous, elegant, stunning, charismatic and therefore these aspects mixed as the boldest reason to draw reader’s attention.

In contrast, traditional fairy tales will also explaining about conflicts and problems upon love issues. Particularly, most fairy tales are using love as thematic and the main characters will somehow have going through various obstacle to be with her prince charming. Therefore, it will again used as sparking events which consequently leads to the climax of the story where basically will make the story more exciting. For instance, Cinderella disallowed to attend the dancing ceremony since her step mother refused her request. However, in any traditional fairy tales, the obstacles are not solid barriers to stop the main character to meet and fall in love with her adorable and handsome love partner.

In the other aspects, traditional fairy tales setting is commonly taking place during the era of kingdoms and where modern elements are untouchable. Besides, the stories will describe about the societies who live in different hierarchical status. Thus, to be in the highest status or to be along with royal families are always been describe as the most attractive and a symbol of success in life in that particular age. Due of that reasons, people will do anything or everything to be in castle until it will raise the issue of greedy among characters in the story. As for instance, Cinderella step sisters did not allowing her to try the glass shoes. Nevertheless, in most fairy tales the main characters will be free from darkness and found the true love along with her dream guy and live happily ever after.

More to the point that traditional fairy tales sharing common characteristics and elements are the moral values itself. Moral values are important to ensure the literary texts are likely more meaningful and giving some impacts to the readers. Traditional fairy tales are containing significant moral values to be shared with and to be applied on daily life as generous human. Thus, because of these literature contexts are mostly for children, hence, it may be able to be used as a medium of producing quality generations. However, parental guidance is important as to relate fairy stories with real life. Therefore, children will be more eager to understand the stories and shaping their manners accordingly. Additionally, traditional fairy tales are full with the elements of love, friendship within people and animals and spirit of helpfulness to be figured out.

In conclusion, traditional fairy tales are applying merely same characteristics and elements to make up the story but yet still containing meaningful messages for readers to be analyzed and criticized.