A fairy tale is a story featuring folkloric characters such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, talking animals
and others. These stories often involve royalty, and modern versions usually have a happy ending
. In cultures where demons and witches are perceived as real, fairy tales may merge into legendary narratives, where the context is perceived by teller and hearers as having historical actuality. However, unlike legends and epics they usually do not contain more than superficial references to religion and actual places, persons, and events although these allusions are often critical in understanding the origins of these fanciful stories.