Stardust: Fairytale themes

Which tropes and themes from fairytales do you see Gaiman using in Stardust? Which ones does he use, and which ones does he twist or subvert?

I like the theme of "How Many Miles to Babylon" with the journey Tristran takes. And tied in with that theme is the idea of doing good to the fairy folk since they will remember what you have done.

Subvert - not sure yet. Need to read more of the book to say for certain.

One of the things I really liked is how Tristran's stepmother *isn't* wicked and the witch-queen *doesn't* get killed off, which is a major departure from traditional fairy tales.

Watching the movie now - for twist/subvert, I'd say the succession to the throne is a huge subversion of the old king dying and the new king being crowned.

And when the Star falls to Earth she is hurt - definitely a departure from the "all goes well" theme of fairy tales. More subversion.

Lots!
3 witches; Curses rebounding on the curser; lion and unicorn, witches' moving house; judging people by looks;

I'm sure many more I've missed. I think there's something with the squirrel/nut references but it never seems to be finished.