History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends How to Write A Good Fairy Tale | Page 8

FAIRY TALE CHARACTERS
Easily identifiable characters associated with particular social classes, desires, professions,
assignments.
Easy to vary characters, settings, motifs, according to specific functions
Characters demand no explanation (opportunistic, hopeful)
Must seize opportunity to benefit in relationships with others

•

Fairy-tale heroines and heroes are human and mortal. They meet supernatural or
magical creatures, and use magical objects, but the hero(in)es themselves do not
have innate supernatural or magical powers.

•

Characters are nameless or have simple, generic names. Human characters are
often referred to in terms of their profession, social position, or familial relation to other
characters: prince, princess, king, queen, husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, sister,
youth, old man, old woman, merchant, peasant, priest, blacksmith, etc. Animals or
other anthropomorphic characters usually do not have names (But there are
exceptions).

•

Characters' inner lives (emotions, psych