Elements of a fairy tale

A fairy tale is a story with magical elements.

It's actually quite challenging to define this type of literature as many of the characteristics cross over into fables, folklore and fantasy.  

If you were wondering, here are a few common fairy tale elements: 

• they begin with a variation of "Once upon a time";
• they are set in the past, a long time ago;
• it features fantasy or make-believe elements;
• usually the setting is enchanted - can include forests, castles, water or kingdoms;
• clearly defines the conflict between good and evil characters;
• usually the theme is "good triumphs over evil": good is rewarded and evil is punished;
• sometimes the main character receives help/advice from a clever character;
• it has magical elements like witches, warlocks, curses, potions, etc;
• characters can be trolls, giants, fairy godmothers, witches, dwarfs, talking objects or animals;
• it often takes three tries to solve the problem;
• the tasks need fantastic effort to be completed, which usually is achieved through magic;
• royalty is usually present in a fairy tale: a beautiful princess or a handsome prince, a fair king or an evil queen; 
• sibling rivalry: they fight for their parents' appreciation, for the right to rule a kingdom or for a fair maiden's affection;
• fairy tales do NOT have to include a fairy, it can be about a quest to rescue a kidnapped princess, extreme poverty or a never-ending sleep; 
• they have a happy ending through which order is restored;

This is just a quick overview. If you know of anything else that is characteristic of this genre please leave it in the comments below. 

Let's get together and help each other out. 

Thank you for your time.