Fairy and Folk Tales

This research guide will help you locate information on fairy tales and folktales.

Fairy tales usually involve "magic, fairies or other supernatural creatures" (The Crystal Reference Encyclopedia, 2005). Many tales are centuries old and trace their origins to oral narratives that were passed down through generations. The first collections appeared in print in the 1500s.  Related search terms might include fairy, folk tales (or folktales), folklore or art fairy tales.

Generally, your research will involve one or more of the following:

• locating reference resources to to provide background information
• locating books and other library materials
• locating articles in magazines or journals
• locating websites specifically aimed at your topic
• citing your sources in MLA or APA style