The giant was a classic image in British fairy tales, usually depicted as a tall, powerful, cruel and heartless monster. In literature, the image of giants was often used to describe strong subjects such as courage, strength, revenge, etc.
One characteristic is the use of simple language. This makes it accessible for English learners. For example, new fairy tales often use common words and short sentences.
One interesting fairy tale is 'Cinderella'. It's about a kind - hearted girl who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters but finally gets to go to the ball with the help of her fairy godmother and marries the prince. Another is 'Snow White'. The beautiful Snow White is envied by the wicked queen and runs away into the forest, where she meets seven dwarfs. Eventually, she is awakened by a prince's kiss.
A plot with a clear beginning, middle and end is vital. In 'Jack and the Beanstalk', Jack's journey up the beanstalk and his encounters with the giant form the plot. Symbols are also elements. In 'Rapunzel', her long hair can be seen as a symbol of her captivity and also her connection to the outside world.
A common moral in English fairy tales is the victory of good over evil. In 'The Little Red Riding Hood', the hunter comes and saves both the girl and her grandma from the wolf. It shows that no matter how powerful the evil (the wolf) may seem, good will always prevail. Fairy tales also often teach about the importance of family. In 'Jack and the Beanstalk', Jack is trying to better his family's situation by getting the treasures from the giant's castle.
Fairy tales can expand children's imagination. For example, in 'Alice in Wonderland', the strange and wonderful world that Alice enters makes children think about different possibilities. It encourages them to be creative.
Well, 'The Little Mermaid' is a great English fairy tale. It's about a mermaid who falls in love with a human prince and makes sacrifices for love. Also, 'Beauty and the Beast' is quite famous. A young woman named Belle forms a relationship with a cursed beast and through her love, the curse is broken.
One common theme is friendship. Characters often rely on their friends to overcome difficulties, like in the story where the group of forest animals help each other during a harsh winter.
One common theme is good versus evil. In most fairy tales like 'Cinderella' and 'Snow White', there are good characters like the heroines and bad characters such as the evil stepmothers or witches. Another theme is transformation. For example, in 'The Ugly Duckling', the duckling transforms into a swan.