Classification Of Fairies
Fairies are divided in Scottish folklore as being in two separate categories, the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Afterwards, the famous poet, William Butler Yeats divided them further into two other categories; the Trooping and Solitary Fairies. The Seelie Court is composed of different fairy creatures, all mainly benevolent, and with mostly beneficent intent towards humans. They are typically seen in the twilight or gloaming hour, and could be called upon for favors, which were granted if it suited them. Regardless, they are still prone to mostly harmless mischief, ad would be fairly quick to avenge any injury or insult. They were not above warning a human who might accidentally or unknowingly insult them, repaying human kindness with favors, or to occasionally seek help from humans.
The Unseelie Court was a wholly different aspect altogether. Usually, the fairies in the Unseelie Court came around only at night, and might attack a traveling as a troupe, or band. The Unseelie Court, unlike the Seelie Court, did not have to first be antagonised before they sought to punish humans. The majority if not all of the fairies in the Unseelie Court were malicious, and were known to be especially mischievous. They might as a group lead a traveler into getting lost, frighten cattle or eat them, destroy or cause defects in tools or machinery, among other various things.
Yeats’ distinction of Trooping Fairies and Solitary Fairies divided them into the nobility and higher ranking fairies, and fairies who preferred to be left alone altogether. The trooping fairies were called as such because they preferred to travel in long processions, and the solitary fairies because they were rarely seen with any other member of their species. Trooping fairies could be either benevolent or sinister, and the same rule applies to solitary fairies, although a solitary fairy is more likely to be especially territorial, or malicious. Brownies fell into the category of solitary fairies, although they were domesticated, and could actually help around the home.