Introduction: Fairy tales are usually short stories about fictional characters and are told using the typical "once upon a time" introduction. The addition of magic can also be used within a fairy tale. Fairy tales are usually far-fetched stories about these characters who wouldn't normally speak in real life, communicating and speaking like normal human beings. They are children's stories about magical beings and creatures. They are often made up stories that may have hidden meanings but are usually not as childish as we imagine them to be. The plot of an original fairy tale is even darker and haunted, but nowadays it is cleaned up and changed for the safety of children. Stories are important to us because they let us know what people's imaginations were like in the past and what they were interested in. Stories are passed down from generation to generation, and when each story is told orally, something changes. Each story becomes a little more unique and has a different moral each time it is told, depending on the narrator. They teach us about life and help us understand whether the story is really a fairy tale or not. Stories have entertained us since the beginning of time and make life a little more interesting. Telling stories gives us something to do to pass the time and without a story people would occasionally become bored and unimaginative. Depending on the story being told, they show us the individuality and creativity of the narrator. The Quest: It was a cold December afternoon when Mr. Boardman announced that we would meet in the library for lessons instead of in the usual classroom. scene. I remembered the joy I felt when I realized I would have to walk an extra half mile to get to the scale... middle of paper... life situations. Fairy tales shape our childhood and therefore in turn can shape our future. Works Cited Bettelheim, Bruno. "The importance of outsourcing". The uses of enchantment: the meaning and importance of fairy tales. New York: Vintage Books, 1976. Bottigheimer, Ruth. 2002. “Misperceptions: Perrault's Fairy Tales and English Children's Literature.” Children's literature 30. Fairytale. Collins English Dictionary: Complete and Unabridged Tenth Edition. January 30, 2014.Internet."Grimm's Fairy Tales." Brothers Grimm, on nationalgeographic.com. National Geographic Society, Web. January 29, 2014. Mai, Maria. Personal interview. January 6, 2014 Sleeping Beauty. Director Clyde Geronimi. Perf. Mary Costa and Bill Shirley. Walt Disney Pictures, 1959. DVD "What makes a story a fairy tale?"modernghana.com. Daily Graphic, February 20, 2010. Web. January 29, 2014. Internet.