Folklore or Fairy Tale? You tell me!

I truly do love fairy tales and folklore and mythology. 

I love researching the stories and filling in the gaps that are often present in the Icelandic tales.  This is where I spend most of my time.  It is interesting to compare the fairy tales which often begin with "Once Upon A Time" and end with "They Lived Happily Ever After".  These fairy tales are most often a light romance story with some mean or evil presence that is overcome.  Good wins, bad loses.  These are fantastic optimistic stories that hopefully teach the lesson that the good guy always wins.  In fairy tales, if not in real life. 

This is rarely the case in the Icelandic stories.  So much so that I hesitate to call them "Fairy Tales" and they are so much more of "Folklore", a precursor to the modern Urban Legend perhaps.  The Icelandic stories are more along the lines of fables, teaching a lesson or issuing a warning.  So many stories of trolls or horrible ogres have them living in treacherous cliffs or near waterfalls.  It is no wonder parents would spin terrifying stories to encourage wandering children to stay far away from those hazards!  Other stories tell of blessings or gifts bestowed upon those hospitable to strangers who were Hidden Folk in disguise.  The alternative of being inhospitable or rude to the Hidden Folk resulting in misfortune was too big a risk.  Every Icelander learned early on to be pleasant and helpful "just in case.". Seeking favor or avoiding misfortune, either way it instills a very positive attitude of being neighborly and helpful to everyone, close friends as well as strangers.

I am including one of these stories in my upcoming collection of Folk Tales - The Field Hand, that tells the tale of a young man out to make his fortune and his kindness sharing a meal with a mongrel dog leads to a reward that makes all the difference in his life.