Fantasy And Fairy Tales: What Is The Difference? (New 2024)

We’ve all heard fairy tales at some point in our lives, and definitely seen fantasy with the recent rise of it’s popularity.

However, these things are two distinct things, and in understanding that, you can use this to enhance your writing. So what are the differences between fantasy and fairytales? If you already know how to write a story, how to be consistent with your writing, and how to be productive/faster with your writing, we can get into this.

We did some digging around, and made a fun little table to demonstrate the results, but there is a simple answer first.

The difference between fantasy and fairy tales is that fairy tales are “traditional” stories built around a single central lesson, while fantasies are “modern” stories built on themes. This difference leads to fairy tales having simple magic systems, simple worlds, and simple caricatures, which seek to make the single lesson as clear as possible.

Meanwhile, fantasy stories have complex power systems, complex worlds, complex characters leading to complex events so that the theme can be explored. By it’s nature, exploration is unclear, and unfurling, so the plot tends to not be as straightforward.

This article will cover why this difference exist, and what the results of it is through:

Table of Contents

What is the difference between fantasy and fairy tales?

The core difference is that fairy tales are traditional stories built around a single lesson, while fantasies are original stories built around a theme. This difference came about due to the 5 core facts about these 2 things.

1. Fantasy focuses on themes, while fairy tales focuses on lessons

Themes tend to be a complex fusion of multiple ideas.

Things like Freedom may look like 1 word, but they are compose of a number of ideas. Meanwhile, fairy tales tend to be a simple straight forward idea. Like don’t toss the baby out with the water. A simple, straight-forward idea.

2. Fantasy comes from originality, while fairy tales come from tradition

Fantasy -in the way it is- is a modern phenomenon.

As a result, it emphasizes originality of the author. As you all see, I have made a living of criticizing the world of fiction, and I am not alone. All over the world in modern times, originality is demanded from fantasy writers, and originality is given.

It’s not quite the same with fairy tales.

Fairy tales are usually a retelling of old stories known as myths. In fact, fairy tales are 1 of the 8 types of myths. These myths have existed since the beginning of time, and consequentially, it is always fun to experience them anew.

3. Fantasy character’s are personified, while fairy tale characters are caricatures

This will be the most controversial.

We are all aware how fantasy uses the same personality types and races through out. It was one of the wrongs of fantasy in my article after all. But what I mean here is in personality type. In fairy tales, the character’s tend to be one dimensional, existing to show a single emotion.

Meanwhile, in fantasy, even though the characters are copied, they are still 3 dimensional.

None is better than the other in this matter though. It all depends on what the writers are trying to achieve.

4. Fantasy world’s are complex, while fairy tales are simple

The world of fantasy tends to be complex, featuring locations that we may never even visit. Meanwhile, fairy stories can be told even without a world.

5. Fantasy plots are complex, while fairy tale plots are simple

Fantasy plots intend on exploring deeper themes, and ideas.

These ideas must be allowed to travel down certain routes so they can show us all the wrong routes, before finally stamping their most held right idea. This means that these stories need to be complex.

Meanwhile, tales tend to have very simple stories. So simple, that the plots can even be summarized in about 3 lines at times. Because the message they are trying to teach is often a single sentence message.