The Question of Fairies: Good or Evil?

Elizabethans were extremely superstitious. So much so it effected their

every day life. One aspect of their superstition were fairies. However, the
fairies the Elizabethans believed in and the fairies Shakespeare created
were two totally different creatures.

Elizabethan Fairies: Shakespearean Fairies:

 life size  tiny
 malicious  associated with flowers
 fiendish  benevolent and kind
 make milk sour, livestock sick  attendants to mortals, especially
 lead unwary travelers astray mortal rulers
 replace human babies with changeling
fairy babies (usually deformed,
hideous, or mentally retarded)
 hostile river fairies lured sailors to
their death
 fairy aristocrats who spent their
days hunting and dancing
 includes goblins, giants, and ogres
 because they fairies could be mean
and vicious, Elizabethans took
precautions against fairies which
included: charms, conjurations,
obedience, flattery, food and drink
 sustenance was supposed to be the
most effective so most Elizabethan
households put a bowl of cream
outside every night
 talking to fairies ensured certain
doom so Elizabethans took extreme
precautions not to talk to them