The Mythological Creature
Peri (Germanic Mythology)

Fairy is a term often used in folklore, fairy tales, and fiction to describe beings with supernatural powers who sometimes interfere in human affairs[1][2]. The term fairy in Indonesian is often used in the translation of characters that describe elves or fairy (a term in English) in fiction and fairy tales from Europe. Fairy characters are often borrowed from the original version and used in contemporary fantasy fiction with various depictions depending on the author or creator.

Origin of name

The word fairy comes from the Persian word: ※THATSU-Tari, a fallen angel.

In English, the name fairy was originally derived from the word elvish since before 1000 AD[1] which means the nation of fairies. In folklore these supernatural beings are a powerful race. According to the Indo-European root the name may be derived from albiz which although its origin is unknown, is a derivative of albho which means "white". These words became so popular among whites that today, in modern times, they can still be found as nicknames and surnames such as Aelfraed "Key-peri" (Alfred), Aelfwine "Peer-peri" (Alvin), Aelfric "The government of fairies" (Eldridge), as well as female names such as Aelfflaed "peri-beauty"[3] . The name fairy is also associated with intertwined hair that is believed to bring misfortune if the link is released [4].

Fairy Editing

Form and appearance

Elves are often told to have a shape similar to humans[1], often also believed to be the creation of spirits or jinn who incarnate as beautiful women who like to disturb[5][6]. In Europe (England) around 1592 Shakespeare described fairies as stealth (sprite) or incarnate as beautiful winged women (fairy)[1][2][3], in Scandinavian countries and according to ancient stories from Northern Europe the naming of fairies was also given to subtle creatures described as metaphysical, supernatural or incarnate creatures of nature.

Elves are also often identified as mythological creatures. In its depiction of folktales that use the term "fairy" often have different definitions of what fairies are, on the one hand this name is often associated with supernatural beings such as demons but at other times fairies are described as more real creatures.

The form and appearance of these fairies vary, time and time again it is described that they are as tall as the average human and other times it is described that they are small creatures. In Europe fairies in the form of "big" are believed to have been "discussed" since before 1000 AD[1], while the form "small"it followed later by forming its own apparently small winged creature and is believed to have appeared around 1250 - 1300M as a derived term (from the Swedish alf, elfva)[1] which was later translated as fairy (English) which means a creature that resembles a small human[2]. Sometimes fairies are described as having long, pointed ears, and having long hair. Elves are also often described as being able to change, or take on the form of a beautiful woman who can suddenly disappear[7].

Good fairy and evil fairy

Elves can be described as good (helping humans) or evil. In fairy tales and fairy love stories depicted as often appearing as helper creatures, perhaps the most famous story in fairy depictions is the story of Cinderella who in times of difficulty is helped by the fairy godmother, there are also stories of carp[8] from West Java who are helping kind-hearted children who are in trouble, fairies can take the appearance of animals such as lutung when showing themselves to Putri Purbasari[9]. Another fairy who is described as kind-hearted is a house fairy who lives with humans. In the story of "The Shoemaker and the Little Fairy", the cobbler's family life is uplifted by the workmanship of her shoes by little fairies who come out at night and make shoes. In another story in Devon, the whole village lounges because the work of tailors, bakers, and winemakers is done by these little fairies[7]. But not all house fairies are depicted out at night, there are also house fairies that come out during the day. In one of Childcraft's children's world stories, the Swedish author describes a little house fairy who comes out of her small door and with her magical powers shrinks the body of the house's resident child, the, who was lonely because his parents were left to work, to play with him[10].

While the evil fairy is described as the cause of a person's straying on his journey[1]. Elves are also often described as naughty (deceit and prank), whether mischief that brings good or bad. In Europe, small children who are delinquent and difficult to control are often described as "exactly like little fairies"[1]. In the Peter Pan fairy tale his little fairy Tinkerbell is portrayed as a good character to Peter Pan and evil to Wendy out of jealousy.

Residence

The description of the origin of fairies is often associated with a type/class of supernatural beings such as demons, which often come from mountainous regions[1]. But in its development, fairies are described as small creatures that can sleep on flowers, live in the forest and keep the trees so called forest fairies, or live in a house with humans like the house fairy figures depicted in the story of Harry Potter.

In legend

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A common feature of fairies is their ability to use magic to change forms. Golden elf was extremely unreliable, as she was gold when used as payment but later turned into leaves, shrubs, cakes, and various other useless objects.[11]

There is also a legend about fairy funerals. William Blake claims to have seen it. Allan Cunningham in his book, Lives of Eminent British Painters, notes William Blake's claim. It is said that Blake one night in his garden saw grasshopper-sized creatures in green and gray, put a body on a rose leaf and buried it with singing.

Kidnaping.

In many legends, fairies are said to abduct babies (and lay changeling instead), young men and young women. This abduction can happen for a while or it can be forever. In the Ballads of the 19th century, "Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight", it is told that Isabel was taken away by the fairy knights. In order to save her, Isabel kills the fairy knight.[13] While the ballad "Tam Lin" tells of Tam Lin who lived among the fairies even though he was an "earth knight".[13] In Sir Orfeo's poem, it is told that Sir Orfeo's wife was kidnapped by the fairy king. While Thomas the Rhymer's poem tells the story of Thomas who must spend seven years in the fairy world before successfully returning to the human world.[14] While in the story of Oisin, the main character is kidnapped and is in the fairy world, when he intends to return, it turns out that in the human world time has been running for three centuries.[15]

Quite a lot of stories about fairies and changeling, which is a creature that was foiled by fairies as a substitute for the human child they kidnapped.[16] Adults can also be abducted by fairies; a woman who has just given birth is usually prone to being abducted by fairies.[17] In some stories, one could be abducted by fairies if one ate fairy food, such as Persephone and Hades. While the circumstances of people being abducted by fairies vary according to some accounts, some narrate that fairy captives live happily while others always miss their old relatives.[18]

Clarifications.

In Scottish folklore, fairies are divided into the Seelie Court, auspicious but dangerous fairy, and the Unseelie Court, an evil fairy. Unseelie court fairies often seek solace by doing things that are harmful to humans.[19]

Fairy troops refer to the fairies that appear in groups and possibly establish settlements. By this definition, fairies are usually understood to have a broader meaning, as the term can also include a variety of mystical beings that are primarily Celtic in origin; however, the term can also be used to refer to similar creatures, such as Dwarves or Elves from German folklore. Her opponent was a solitary fairy, that is, a fairy not related to any other fairy.[20]

Protections.

There are some objects that are believed to be able to avoid fairy interference. The most famous is cold iron while other ways are considered disturbing to the fairies: wearing upside-down clothes, running water, bells (especially church bells), St. John's wort, and a four-leaf clover. There are also conflicting stories, such as the Rowan tree which in some stories is sacred to fairies while in other stories is a protective object against fairies. In Newfoundland folklore, the most popular protective item is bread. Bread was associated with houses and fireplaces, as well as with industry and natural control, so it was later believed that bread was disliked by fairies.[21]

“ ...and therefore a symbol of life, bread is one of the most common protectors in the face of fairies. Before going to a place inhabited by fairies, it is common to prepare dry bread in a bag. ”

— Briggs (1976) p. 41

In literature

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Elves appeared in medieval Roman as a creature likely encountered by wandering knights. The fairy lady appeared before Sir Launfal and asked for his love. Sir Orfeo's wife was taken by the King of the fairies. Huon of Bordeaux was helped by the fairy king Oberon.[23] As medieval times progressed, these fairy figures turned into witches and sorcerers.[24] Morgan le Fay, whose name is related to the fairy world, in Le Morte d'Arthur is a woman of supernatural power.[25] Despite her declining role, the fairy character never goes missing, among which are the fairy tales of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.[24] Edmund Spenser performing fairies in The Faerie Queene.[26] In many fictional stories, fairies are often confused with nymphs;[27] While in other works, (for example Lamia), fairies are considered to replace the role of creatures from classical times. The 15th-century poet and monk John Lydgate wrote that King Arthur was crowned in the "land of the fairies", and his body was taken by four fairy queens to Avalon, where his corpse lay downing the "hill of the fairies", until he is needed again.[28]

Elf appears as an important figure in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream, set in wooded areas and Fairyland, under the light of the moon,[29] and the natural disturbances caused by the quarrels of the fairies create the tension underlying the plot and show the actions of the characters.

Shakespeare's contemporary, Michael Drayton, features a fairy in his story, Nimphidia. The fairy also appeared in Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock. Madame d'Aulnoy coined the term contes de fee ("fairy tales", in Indonesia known as fairy tales).[30] In the mid-1600s, a literary style emerged called precieuses, while stories told with precieuses included many fairies, fairies less common in other countries; The Grimm brothers included fairies in the first edition of their story, but they argued that fairies were not native to Germany so they changed them to the second edition by substituting each word "Fee" (fairy) with a sorcerer or a wise woman.[31] JF. R. R. Tolkien explains that these stories are set in the land of the fairies.[32]

Elves in literature gained new life with the rise of Romanticism. Writers such as Sir Walter Scott and James Hogg were inspired by folklore featuring fairies, for example Border Ballad. During this time, fairy tales increased.[33] This period is also marked by the revival of old fantasy themes, such as C. S. Narnian books. Lewis, who displays a variety of ancient creatures such as fauns and driads, and mixes them with old women, giants, and various creatures from folklore.[34] The fairy flower of the Victorian era was popularized in part by Queen Mary, as well as by the British poet and illustrator Cicely Mary Barker who wrote eight books published in 1923 to 1948. The longer, the fairy is depicted the more beautiful and the smaller the size.[35] Andrew Lang, complaining about "the garden fairies and the apple blossoms" in the preface to The Lilac Fairy Book, argues that "These fairies tried to be funny and failed, or they try to patronize and succeed."[36]

Fairy appears in Peter and Wendy by J. M. Barrie published in 1911. In the novel, the fairy Tinker Bell is quite popular and has become an icon even today.[37].