Notes and queriesFairytalesReaders answer other readers' questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific conceptsWhat's the difference between an angel and a fairy?
The nature of both creatures has been debated over the centuries and it is still not clear what they actually are. Angels began (in the Old Testament) as anonymous messengers of God but evolved, via St Dionysius, Aquinas and Islamic scholarship, into immortal denizens of the heavenly realm and, in effect, a limited manifestation of the mind of God. Their appearance, though guessed at by medieval artists, is never really described, although there are some early Israelite representations of sphinx-like cherubim.
Fairies, on the other hand, tend to be associated with pagan myth or religion and most cultures contain within their folklore creatures that approximate to fairies. They are generally thought of as supernatural beings who live alongside humans, possibly within a slightly different dimension to ours. Fairies are either immortal, or extremely long-lived, and come in a variety of usually humanoid shapes and sizes.
Some writers have seen similarities between fairy activities, eg the kidnapping of humans and their offspring, and the modern alien abduction phenomenon, which features small, grey, pixie-like extraterrestrials. This is possibly because they are, respectively, ancient and modern versions of, essentially, the same folkloric tradition.
Geoff Clifton, Solihull, West Midlands
Four-year-old Arthur explained the difference to me at Christmas: an angel is white and a fairy is pink.
Jean Davidson Kirk, Sturton le Steeple, Nottinghamshire
One lives in heaven, the other in the garden.
Anna Walker, Southampton
It's simple. An angel is a servant of God and a fairy is what you get to cross the Mersey.
Lushattic
Angels are asexual, surely; and they don't have wings. Fairies, on the other hand, have two sexes and wings. Angels also are immortal. Fairies die if middle- and upper-class children don't clap hands in pantos.
iftheseshadows
Fairies don't dance on the head of a pin.
mabrow
"I don't believe in fairies, even if they exist" – Brendan Behan.
thehandofGord
If the UK banks had not been bailed out by taxpayers, what would life in Britain be like now?
If we hadn't bailed out the banks, life would be better in Britain – but only provided we had bailed out the depositors rather than the shareholders. In protecting the right people the way we did, we ended up bailing out the wrong 'uns too. A failed bank or two would have done wonders in bringing the rest into line, would have cost the country much, much less and would have ensured that those responsible for the mess bore a burden of their own creation. Sadly, however, the conmen who convinced their clients to risk their money proved equally adept at conning the Treasury into helping them avoid the consequences of their own irresponsibility.
KTBFFH
Better. And richer. But more boring – what would Guardian readers moan about?
Maria Petersen, London N6
Many classic novels were first published in serial form in magazines. Does this ever happen now, and if not, why?
Tom Wolfe's 1987 novel The Bonfire of the Vanities was first serialised in the American magazine Rolling Stone in 1984-85, as a deliberate homage to his Victorian predecessors. I enjoyed reading the Rolling Stone version, but Wolfe later told an interviewer: "In this day and age there isn't much point to it. People do not read that way. If people want stories serially they'll go to television."
Warren Kovach, Isle of Anglesey
Can it really be true that no one wrote in to nominate the wonderful Posy Simmonds for Gemma Bovery and Tamara Drewe? Now, where was it that these splendid illustrated novels first appeared in serial form?
Peter King, London W5
• Answer more questions on:
The contents of the first sandwich
How people thought without language
Read more about the origins and aims of Notes & Queries
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEoKyaqpSerq96wqikaKSZm7KiusOsq7KklWR%2FcX2SaJ2eml9nhHCwyJ%2BdnqqVo7CmecGeq7CdlaN6orrGnqNmmZ6ZeqetyKuw