ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the tales of kindness repaid and hope and redemption. These folktales may be wonder tales or contain wonder in them, but they also may be more realistic teaching tales. Tales of kindness repaid often show the worth of treating animals well, especially when the animals turn out to be supernatural creatures who will then help the protagonist. There also are tales of kindness to beggars. They also often turn out to be supernatural beings who will help the protagonist. But woe to the hard-hearted person who ignores animals or beggars in need, for that person likely will wind up with an unhappy ending. Tales of hope and redemption deal with sinners reforming or innocent folks, such as fairy folk, learning that they, too, can worship freely and hope for redemption. These are the closest to religious folktales, but such tales usually do not specify a particular religion and are common to many cultures.
