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Author
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Comment
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cammykitty
Registered User
(11/18/05 2:52 pm)
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fairies needing human help
I'm working on a novel in which there is a non-physical battle between fairy groups. No lack of fairy battles in literature. Here's the question, there are many instances of tales where the fairies have needed humans in battles or ball games in order to win. The role of the human was either to add an element of luck and chance, or to add a physical element that spiritual beings lack.
I've also seen a story (Evan-Wentz?) where the fairies steal a human to make him shoot arrows at anyone working after nightfall - and the human deliberately misses his human target and kills a cow instead. It wasn't clear whether they took the human for amusement or because they needed a physical being to shoot the arrows. If they needed a physical being to shoot the arrows, how could they pick up the human and fly with him in the first place?
And of course there are the human midwives who are needed because the fey don't have enough children to have their own midwives.
So, here's the question - have you seen any other instances where fairies need humans, beyond just needing a physical creature to do their bidding? And what are the reasons they need the humans?
Thanks!
Katie
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Writerpatrick
Registered User
(11/18/05 6:09 pm)
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Re: fairies needing human help
For the most part fairies tend to keep their distance. Typically, they tend to use humans as amusement. Some will help out humans, but often that is done in secret (such as The Elves and The Shoemaker).
There is one type of fairy that haunts homes looking for alcohol. And although I can't think of any stories, it's possible that they might have need of services of humans, such as a lawyer to settle disputes. They could also need a human to do things they are forbidden to do.
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kristiw
Unregistered User
(11/18/05 7:17 pm)
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needing humans
I don't know if it's appropriate, but I keep thinking of the Narnia Chronicles... humans need to break the spell; the prophecy calls for "sons of Adam and daughters of Eve."
It's interesting in light of Lewis' Christian emphasis: there is that whole idea of fairies needing to intermarry with humans to get blood red enough to get into heaven. I think the idea that fairies need people, or need to be sustained by belief, became more appealing as as fairy lore moved into superstition, more subordinate to religious belief that enmeshed with it as was the case before.
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Rosemary Lake
Registered User
(11/18/05 11:47 pm)
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Narnia
I don't think any of the beings in Narnia could qualify as 'fairies'. Possibly some minor characters with 'star' blood ... but I don't think even they would. I read the 'land for a Man to be king of' as meaning humans out-ranking even Talking Animals. It reminded me of what he said in THE ABOLITION OF MAN (and perhaps in THE DISCARDED IMAGE) about the old idea of the 'chest' or 'heart' as ruling the whole body, outranking both brain and belly (appetites).
Of course that could have been somewhat a plot device, so that the human POV characters could have a central role in the story. :-)
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bielie
Unregistered User
(11/19/05 12:24 pm)
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Tinkerbell
In JM Barries worl fairies are born when babies laugh. And they are kept alive by children stating threir belief in fairies.
Is this based on any folklore or is it an innovation by Barrie?
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Writerpatrick
Registered User
(11/20/05 10:37 am)
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Re: Tinkerbell
It's likely his creation. I can't think of a story using it. I've also seen one or two stories where the fairy was born in a flower.
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princessterribel
Registered User
(11/21/05 2:35 am)
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Brownies
Its not a fairy tale, but what about Brownies? They have an unusual need to help humans with the chores, or so I hear.
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Crceres
Registered User
(11/22/05 4:21 pm)
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Guleesh
When the fairy host steals the french princess in the story of Guleesh, they tell him he needs to carry her because they cannot steal her themselves--they need flesh and blood to do so.
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Crceres
Unregistered User
(11/23/05 11:18 am)
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also
Just thought of it--in the Mabinogian, the human king Pwyll goes to the underworld to battle on behalf of Arawn, who you could consider to be in the realm of Faerie.
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