Story types

The classic story types behind the world’s fairy tales and folktales — what defines each pattern, how cultures tell it, and how to share a version with your kid.

The Snow White story type (ATU 709)The Snow White story type (ATU 709) is a timeless tale of a beautiful heroine, a jealous stepmother, and a magical sleep, often featuring a compassionate helper and an eventual triumph of goodness.
The The Dragon-Slayer story type (ATU 300)The Dragon-Slayer (ATU 300) is a timeless tale where a brave hero confronts a monstrous dragon demanding human sacrifice, often rescuing a royal, and proving their deed against impostors.
The Little Red Riding Hood (previously The Glutton) story type (ATU 333)ATU 333, "Little Red Riding Hood," is the classic folktale pattern of a child's journey through the woods, a crucial warning ignored, a cunning predator's deception, and often, a dramatic rescue from danger. It's a story about navigating the unknown.
The Hansel and Gretel story type (ATU 327A)The Hansel and Gretel story type (ATU 327A) features abandoned children who outsmart a cunning, often cannibalistic, witch or ogress after being lured to a house made of sweets, demonstrating resilience and cleverness in the face of peril.
The Cinderella story type (ATU 510A)A global folktale (ATU 510A) where a kind heroine, mistreated by her stepfamily, receives magical help to attend a grand event, captures a noble's heart, and is identified by a unique item, leading to her rightful place.