Author
Home > General > What is the Difference Between Fairytale and Folktale?

Guilherme Mazui

•3 minutes to read

What is the Difference Between Fairytale and Folktale?

🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚

The main difference between fairytales and folktales lies in their origins, content, and themes:

  1. Origins: Folktales are passed down through oral tradition, while fairytales are written works of fiction. Folktales are the traditional beliefs, practices, lessons, legends, and tales of a culture or people, transmitted orally through stories.
  2. Content: Folktales reflect real-world settings and events, whereas fairytales feature magic and fantasy. Folktales often include supernatural or enchanted characters such as witches, ogres, fairies, mermaids, and dwarfs. They also tend to have a "happy ending".
  3. Themes: Both folktales and fairytales aim to teach a lesson, but folk tales take a more realistic approach. Folktales can be broken down into various subsections, such as myth, fable, and local legend. In contrast, fairytales are a subgenre of folk tales and almost always involve some element of magic and good triumphing over evil.
On this page
  • What is the Difference Between Fairytale and Folktale?
  • Comparative Table: Fairytale vs Folktale

    • Comparative Table: Fairytale vs Folktale

    Fairytales and folktales are both types of traditional stories that have been passed down through generations. However, there are some differences between the two. Here is a table comparing the key features of fairytales and folktales:

    Feature Fairytale Folktale
    Magic Fairytales often involve elements of magic and enchantment, such as magical creatures, spells, or supernatural events. Folktales are more down-to-earth and usually don't contain magic. They often revolve around everyday life and experiences.
    Origin Fairytales originate in folklore and are typically European stories about a poor, brave, and resourceful hero or heroine who goes through testing adventures to eventual good fortune. Folktales are a broader category of stories that include various types of narratives, such as legends, anecdotes, and other "true story" forms. They are not limited to a specific region or culture.
    Themes Fairytales often have themes of good triumphing over evil, and they provide a clear moral or lesson. Folktales can have a wider range of themes, sometimes featuring humor, satire, or social commentary.
    Genre Fairytales are a subgenre of folktales. Folktales encompass a broader range of stories, including fairytales, formula tales, tall tales, and jokes.
    Read more:

    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.