Faeries

The words 'Fey' and 'faerie' come from the French and started to replace the old English 'elf' during the Tudor Period. Spencer and Shakespeare popularized the change. 'Elfland' and 'faerieland, 'Elf' and 'Faerie' were and are still interchangeable words. The spellings of Faerie are numerous: fayerye, fairye, fayre, faerie, faery, fairy. Faerie refers to the world of faerie as an entity ( noun), as a geographical location, as a general name for its inhabitants (faerie, faeries) and as an adjective to describe its attributes. I've been researching all of this obviously due to the name given to my chosen study: fairy tales. I've been looking at dates and trying to figure out what Perrault was doing putting fairy's into his tales????? Faeries aren't nice creatures, they can have good attributes, but have never been trusted and surely would not have been given the role of godmothers. Given that, they do not have particularly magical powers and surely would not have been able to deliver the gifts that Perrault sets out in his version. The Blue fairy ( Sleeping Beauty is in the blue book) - " is favourably disposed towards humans, or, at least, towards humaniod toys who wish to become human. The wooden puppet Pinnochio sought her help to become a real boy. Similarily, the Mecca (mechanical lifeform) David sought out the Blue Fairy, who he thought could turn him into a real boy - a transformation which he believed would enable the human named Monica Swinton to love him as she loved her human son Martin. Tragically, the Mecca David failed in his quest to find the Blue Fairy as he was waylaid by a plaster cast made in her likeness which, unbeknownst to David, did not have the ability to help him which the real Blue Fairy would possess.". Have been re-reading Shakespeare and have enjoyed actually being able to understand some of the more obscure faerie references:

"Where the bee sucks there suck I,
In a cowslip's bell I lie"
ARIEL: The Tempest Act 5.

This gives reference to the faeries love of cowslips. There love is due to their power to find hidden faerie gold and are also known as 'Culvers Keys' (Keys to unlock the way to treasure) in the West of England. Again time is important here as well as different countries ideas and/or methodology's of faeries. Maybe in Italy faeries are nice creatures?? Will have to look into this. Its not really relevant but my interest in faeries has been re-awakened.
Here is a link to a site on Welsh Faeries- my interest is in the Green Lady of Caerphilly, she takes on the appearance of Ivy and I've always found this tale interesting.

I have been reading or trying to "The coming of the fairies" by Arther Conan Doyle.