In a fairy tale, every feature of the story is important to the plot, including the landscape, the talents and powers of the characters, the political or social climate, and even the time of day or night in which the story takes place.
In a fairy tale, the characters know the rules. They are not at liberty to do absolutely anything. They know that you can only make 3 wishes. They know how to use the magic tool at hand. They know that ambition is rewarded. They know that goodness and kindness are strenghts, not weakness. They understand what is required to live happily ever after, and know that making the wrong choice means not living happily ever after.
Fairy tale rules do not cross over, necessarily, from one story to the next. Characters have the ability to change from one form to another in some stories. Animals talk in some stories. Wishes are granted in various ways by any number of benevolent creatures.
Receiving wealth or gold is the result of hard work in some stories and is bestowed buy the King in other stories. Rewards vary from story to story, too. Childless couples receive a magical baby, orphans are adopted by a wealthy benefactor, the least favorite third son ends up getting a big inheritance.
What is the value of reading fairy tales? Reading fairy tales and fantasy stories strengthens several literacy skills, including narrative skills, vocabulary and phonetic ability. Darmatic skills and imagination grow from reading them. Cultural values and morals are transmitted through old stories, too. They reflect the civilization from which the stories originate. Many elements of fairy tales are rich in symbolism.
For pure entertainment, fairy tales have been around for a long time and are enjoyed by adults and children. Which one will you read next?
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