Most Popular Fairies In Literature example essay topic

Fairies are pervasive characters that have fluttered through British Literature throughout the centuries and are still well-liked characters in literature today. The word 'Fairy' is derived from the Latin word, 'Fantom,' defined as fate or destiny. The French word 'Fey' gave birth to the term used today, the English term, 'Fairy' (Absolute fantasy art). The belief in fairies has existed from earliest times, and literature from cultures all around the world has unique tales of fairies and their relationships with humans. The real origin of fairies is one of most discussed questions of folklore and also one of the most controversial, it is unknown, but despite the origin of the word, it is evident that the concept of fairies are used widely in literature to move the plot forward, create mystery and add supernatural significance, and also is used to symbolize a much broader meaning (Harte). Fairies are usually associated with northwestern Europe, especially with the British Isles, but fairylike creatures have appeared in many cultures throughout literature.

There are many different types of fairies and they take on many different shapes and forms. The word 'fairy' is used to loosely characterize mystical creatures such as nymphs, gnomes, elves, goblin, dwarfs, pixies, banshees (fairy women), leprechauns, and sprites. During the Elizabethan period fairies were mostly feared and brought terror to the people living. Yes, the belief was that fairies and humans co-existed peacefully, and the fairies were known to cure diseases, protect humans, tell fortunes, etc., but if these fairies weren't appeased then they would punish humans by pinching their bodies and covering them with dark bruises.

They were considered evil, capricious, and demonic creatures by most. The fairies were believed to live in groups, or colonies, in the wilderness and in underground "taverns", and also were believed to have some sort of magical or supernatural power. Bad fairies were thought responsible for such misfortunes as the bewitchment of children, (replacing infants with ugly fairies, or changelings), and the sudden death of cows and other valuable livestock. The belief in changelings killed many infants since the mothers of the "changelings" would take the baby to a field and try to beat the fairy spirit out of their children. William Allingham characterized the evil fairies and describe them in his poem, "The Fairies" (Allingham). The Christian explanation was that fairies were the souls of the dead, of infant un-baptized babies who have died, and / or Jews who were repaying their dept for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Fairies were thought as fallen angels, not accepted into to heaven but not considered evil enough to be condemned to Hell (Alexander p. 94,100). Later, due to fairy tales and their popularity, the idea that fairies were evil diminished, and fairies were then believed to be helpful to humans. They are now discussed as mischievous playful spirits who, although they like to prank, are mostly beneficial to human beings. Fairies are characters in some of the most popular works ever written. Stories containing fairies have certain extraordinary characteristics about them and are a special form of folklore. Quoted by J.R. R Tolkien, .".. fairy-stories are not in normal English usage stories about fairies or elves, but stories about Fairy, that is Fa " erie, the realm or state in which fairies have their being" (J.R.R. Tolkien...

). Throughout the centuries tales of fairies and other mythical creatures were popular in oral stories and written down. Authors created special fairy lands that fashioned the setting for their fairy stories. During Elizabethan times, fairies were popular because of the peoples' fear of the unknown. The popular belief of fairies was that of superstitious beliefs and scorn. During Victorian England towns were swarming with stories of fairies and other folktales.

The only difference was that these fairy tales were now appreciated by much younger audiences, and instead of feared, the fairies were made into lovable, emotional characters that were helpful to humans (Windling). From as back as 1380, Chaucer refers to fairies in his preamble to "The Wife of Bath". He suggests, like more recent authors, the belief of fairies and how this belief has slowly faded. But despite Chaucer's idea about the diminishing belief in the life of fairies, writers have kept the belief of fairies alive through their writings (harte). Reverend Robert Kirk is known as one of the most influential folklore authors who has helped keep the tradition of fairies alive throughout the years.

In his writing he gives his accounts of the fairies and their unseen world. He describes the figures, clothes, homes, actions, etc. of fairies, and almost all of his descriptions have been used by more recent writers and artists. Kirk considers the fairies he writes about as wild spirits, or elements of nature. He discussed the long lifespan, and although he considers them to have supernatural powers, he reveals that are not invincible, (unless they want to be) and that they die as well as humans do. What became of Reverend Kirk was also interesting to those who believed in fairies at that time and started a legend of his own. It is believed that he was "taken captive" in the fairy world and he was never seen again (Dearn).

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, strongly believed in the life of fairies. Though he was influenced by false pictures taken by two girls of the Cot tingley Fairies, he wrote The Coming of Fairies to prove his belief. Most of his audience thought that Doyle was insane, but still he proceeded to state his belief in the tiny creatures (Simanek). His writings on fairies not only stated his belief in fairies and created a basis for the life of fairies, but made him into the well adapted writer he became known as. A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of the most popular plays written by William Shakespeare.

Along with its popularity, it has influenced more than four-hundred years of fairy tales and stories. Shakespeare tells of a whole new fairy world where fairies had good intentions toward humans and tried to keep the peace among them. His characters Oberon, Titania, and Puck affected the human beings that came into the enchanted forest and helped to display the "fairy world" as Shakespeare imagined it. The fairies in the story enjoyed the dancing and music, which was a favorite pastime of the fairies in Elizabethan folklore. The fairies also show regard for the humans, and return the human lives back to order, which was traditionally unheard of in any other fairy story or legend.

Robin Good fellow (Puck) was a very popular fairy during the Elizabethan time period. One reason Puck was feared was that his name was directly translated as 'devil', which created speculation and fear among those who listened to his tales. He was known for being an evil and very harmful spirit. Thanks to Shakespeare's modifications of this character, he became a well known and loved prankster. Also in the closing statement of the play, Puck, acting as the chorus also softens the view of fairies when he states: "If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended.

That you have but slum b " red here While these visions disappear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream". This changed the fairies description, and the thought of fairies, to just un-harmful shadows which left the audiences at ease. The belief of fairies transformed from fierce devils to kind spirits is a change that affects fairytales written to this day (Midsummer... ). In Perrault's Sleeping Beauty the fairies, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, were glorified creatures.

Even the evil fairy, Maleficent, played an important part in the story's plot. The fairies used in the story were symbols to show society's effects on younger women, and the fairies symbolized the role of the mother through adolescence (The Fairies... ). Hans Christian Anderson writes imaginative original fairytales and stories that address a wide audience of children and adults that has spread throughout many cultures. In Anderson's Thumb elina a magical fairy grants the wish of an elderly lady who wants a daughter. The granted wish by the fairy moves the plot along and makes the story into the popular tale we know it as (Gymnich), but also display the kindness of the fairy.

The Blue Fairy, popular in Lorenzini's Pinocchio, is another important fairy in Literature. The Blue Fairy plays an important role, but she is even more important on a more subconscious level. She brings Pinocchio to life and she plays the part of the conscious that is influencing Pinocchio's actions throughout the story. Even though she is just "still, a small voice", she makes a huge impact on Pinocchio's actions. This story is an example of a fairy's helpfulness towards humans as well (Twellman). One of the most popular fairies in literature is Tinker Bell, the mischievous but helpful fairy, and Pan's Companion, in J. M Barrie's Peter Pan.

She is known for using her "pixie dust" to make Wendy and her brothers fly and causing mischievous between Peter, Wendy, and the lost boys. She is very small in size and acts just like many other famous literary descriptions describe fairies as. A description of Tinker Bell's character from the story: "Tink was not bad: or, rather, she was all bad just now, but on the other hand, sometimes she was all good. Fairies have to be one thing or the other, because being so small they unfortunately have room for one feeling only at a time. They are, however, allowed to change; only it must be a complete change". This helps deliver the belief that fairies are divided into good and bad fairies (Alexander).

It also describes Tinker Bell's character along with other fairies not included in the story. Tinker Bell's passion towards Peter is the popular belief of how fairies treated all humans: kinder to those of the opposite sex and very passionate jealous creatures (which is obvious in the story). Barrie created his own unique image of fairies (Tinker Bell) to appeal to younger audiences as well as old (Folk Tradition and Literary Fancy... ).

He also created a mythological explanation for the creation of fairies: "When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies. And now when every new baby is born, its' first laugh becomes a fairy. So there ought to be one fairy for every boy or girl". The death, as well as the life of fairies, also were explained in Peter Pan, and also is a well know explanation for all the fairies not just in this story.

"Every time a child says, 'I don't believe in fairies', there's a little fairy somewhere that falls down dead". Barrie helped create the perfect fairy habitat, and brought fairies to life by giving them more human-like qualities, and doing this made them into very popular mythical creatures that they are. Many other fairy tales also It is obvious in the descriptions that the writers use that most fairy stories borrow details from other stories. This helps to keep the legends of fairies alive despite the idea that the belief of fairies is slowly dying.

Fairy stories are very adventurous, and mostly optimistic, and to make them even more interesting, the authors blend reality with fiction and the fictional characters with a non-fictional setting, which adds question to the reader, leaving them with a sense aw and wonder about the real existence of fairies. Even though authors have claimed that the life and tradition of fairies and their stories are fading, it is obvious that they are wrong and the idea of fairies is still omnipresent in British Literature.

Bibliography

Absolute Fantasy Art. web Alexander, Marc. British Folklore. Italy: Crescent Books, 1982.
Pages 94-100). Allingham, William. The Oxford Book Of English Verse: 1250-1900.
Arthur Quilter-Couch, ed. 1919.
web Barrie, J.M. The Adventures of Peter Pan. Chapter 3-Come Away, Come Away! web Dearn, G. Highland Folklore: DAIRIADA MAGAZINE. The Secret Commonwealth Revisited. 1993.
web Folk Tradition and Literary Fancy in the Representation of Fairies in Peter Pan by J. M Barrie. web Gymnich, Marion. Possible worlds theory as on approach to the dynamics of Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tales. web Harte, Jeremy. At the Edge No. 10. Medieval Fairies: Now you see them, now you don't. 1998.
web Hastings, Waller. J.R. R Tolkien on Fairy Tales. web Jacobson, Colin. Sleeping Beauty: Special Edition. 8 September 2003.