How do you envision fairies? Fun and sparkly? Dark and mysterious? Big or small? With or without wings? Famous fairies have taken on many forms over the years, from oral traditions to literature.
In my short story collection, “Tales from the Hidden Grove,” you’ll meet a fairy milkman with big dreams and discover what happens when kids outgrow Fairyland.
To celebrate the release of my collection, here are my top ten famous fairies from fairy tales and literature. Which ones are your favorites?
FAMOUS FAIRY CHARACTERS FROM FAIRY TALES AND LITERATURE
1. THE FAIRY GODMOTHER (CINDERELLA)
The Fairy Godmother is one of the most recognizable fairy characters. Cinderella is claimed to be one of the world’s favorite fairy tales, with countless versions worldwide. While not every version features the Fairy Godmother, she is in the version most of us grew up knowing from books, films, plays, and ballets. Haven’t we all wished for a Fairy Godmother to lift us from our monotonous lives with the magical words, “You shall go to the ball!”
2. THE BLUE FAIRY (PINOCCHIO)
The Blue Fairy is the one who grants Pinocchio his wish to become a real boy, provided he behaves well. In Carlo Collodi’s original story, she appears as a blue-haired child, then as a mother figure, and finally as frail and aged, similar to an elderly parent. Pinocchio’s careful attention to his fairy ‘mother’ and his father, Geppetto, eventually earns him the right to become a real boy.
3. TINKER BELL (PETER PAN)
We love Tinker Bell because she’s mischievous! JM Barrie crafted her as a fairy who is extremely jealous of Peter Pan’s affections. She messes with Wendy and even deceives Tootles into shooting at Wendy. But Tinker Bell’s heroic side shines when she drinks the poison meant for Peter, prompting children worldwide to declare, “I do believe in fairies!”
4. THE WICKED FAIRY (SLEEPING BEAUTY)
Known by various names such as Maleficent or Carabosse, this fairy has been feared from infancy. Just think of the dreadful moment when she gets our heroine to touch the spindle! Her behavior may seem cruel, but it’s rooted in ancient mythologies of vengeful goddesses. You definitely don’t want to cross one of them!
5. THE GENTLEMAN WITH THE THISTLEDOWN HAIR (JONATHAN STRANGE & MR NORRELL)
Susanna Clarke delved into darker folklore for her tale of Regency magicians. The nameless fairy in her story is barely sane from a human perspective. He believes he’s helping his victims by taking them to dreary, endless balls underground. Marc Warren’s portrayal in the TV version makes this fairy unforgettable.
6. LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI (KEATS)
This fairy, also captured in Pre-Raphaelite paintings by Frank Dicksee and John William Waterhouse, might be a Korrigan from Breton mythology. She entices men with her beauty, making them fall in love with her and leading them to their doom.
7. PUCK (A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM)
While Oberon and Titania, the fairy king and queen, are prominent in Shakespeare’s woodland comedy, I’ve always favored Puck. His mischievous antics cause mix-ups and mistaken identities, but he ultimately vows to set things right in the play’s epilogue.
8. MORGAN LE FAY (ARTHURIAN LEGEND)
Morgan le Fay takes on multiple roles in Arthurian legends. Some stories trace her back to Irish goddesses Macha and Morrighan. Is she a goddess, fairy, or witch? Perhaps all three. She incites quests, embodies winter and warfare, and in some tales, even leads Arthur to the faery isle of Avalon.
9. SILKY (THE FARAWAY TREE)
Enid Blyton’s Faraway Tree stories feature a different land at the top each week. The tree’s inhabitants include eccentric characters like Moonface and the Saucepan Man. The sensible Silky, named for her long, silky hair, is a fairy who helps the children navigate their adventures.
10. THE TOOTH FAIRY (SHIRLEY BARBER)
The Tooth Fairy is a rare example of contemporary folklore. My favorite story about the Tooth Fairy is by Shirley Barber, where the Tooth Fairy takes two children to her home in Cloudland and shows them how teeth grow into gold and silver stars in the sky.
About Tales from the Hidden Grove
Elizabeth Hopkinson’s collection features 12 captivating fantasy stories. With imaginative tales of booksellers and emperors learning to fly, fairies delivering milk, and much more, this book promises a magical journey. It also includes a previously unpublished story and insights into the inspiration behind each tale.
About Elizabeth Hopkinson
Elizabeth Hopkinson, renowned for her historical fantasy “Silver Hands,” has had over 60 short stories published. She has an enduring love for fairy tales and history, rooted in her English Literature studies at Leeds University. She lives in Bradford, West Yorkshire, a place steeped in literary history.
Who are your favorite fairies or fairy tale characters? Share your thoughts!
