Well now, what exactly IS a fairytale?

Gooooood question.

A fairytale, in the simplest, most basic terms, is a short story comprised of fantastic elements. At their origins, fairytales were passed from generation to generation orally. They have been developed all around the world, in many cultures and languages, and have become timeless pieces of literature.

A fairytale, however, has certain features that separate it from legends and myths. First and foremost, a fairytale is not meant to describe or record any particular historical facts or events, nor do they directly represent and support religion. In fact, many fairytales undermine certain religions and make their own decisions about important topics that were generally answered by the local religion, i.e. how did life originate?

A second distinct characteristic of fairytales is that they do not address a certain time or time-period. While there are some details that may indicate an era, there are never specific statements made about what year it is or where the fairytale took place. For example, you might be told there is a king, which could indicate anytime, really; or you might be informed that the characters are prancing through some forest. But you will never be told that King Richard of England took the peasant away from his family, etc. . .In fact, time is rarely an issue in fairytales. If a princess falls asleep and is woken a hundred years later, it is not questioned why she probably wears clothing that is entirely inappropriate for the time period. She has not aged and manages to speak with the prince despite the fact that over the course of a hundred years, even the language she had spoken would have evolved significantly.

In fact, there is a lot of detail that is left out of fairytales. For instance, if a child's mother is not in the story, it is rarely described how she died or why she left, unless the reason is to come into play later in the story. Magic is simple. No components are ever needed to be searched for. The character usually happens to have them on hand. The most important part relating to this idea is that all mystical elements are simply accepted. There is never any question as to how or why an animal can talk. The child just talks right back to the frog. There is never any question as to how a beanstalk several thousand feet high can grow or why or how a giant lives up in the clouds. Magic coexists with the real world completely and seamlessly in fairytales.

There is indeed, a lot that is not questioned in fairytales. There is no questioning the amount of time that passes, or magical elements in the story. Nudity and sexuality are never questioned or thought of out of place. There is never a sentimental connection made between a helper and the receiver of the help. If the main character is aided by a stranger on the road, they simply accept the help and move on. There is also no emotion to the characters in a story. Love, brotherhood, family ties, are not made an important part of a story. A princess might run away with a knight, but their love is not detailed or explained.

Lastly, there is no depth to fairytales. They are made simple and short. The characters do not have many dimensions and rarely have even emotions or thought processes. They just are and they just act.

All the same, fairytales have been considered valuable in the unbringing of children for centuries. Many people believe they are important to the development of a person's character. The fact that these stories have lasted for so long is proof enough of their importance to humanity.