Category Archives: What Tales Tell

The Real Story of Hua Mulan Is More Impressive Than Any Disney Version

The recently released Mulan movie is actually based on an ancient ballad. Many debate whether this ballad is fact or fiction…

Japan university awards first-ever ninja studies degree

Think ninjas are just made-up characters who only live in stories? Think again! Genichi Mitsuhashi is the first students to graduate from a Japanese university with a master’s degree in ninja studies.

What really happened during the Salem Witch Trials

Watch: The Salem Witch Trials emanated from falsities, but the destruction they caused were all too real.

Why Are Dragons Important in Chinese Culture?

According to Chinese myths, dragons and humans lived side by side at one time. Learn why dragons are said to be protectors.

The (Still) Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe

Poe’s death is an unsolved mystery. This article present nine theories for the demise of this famous American writer.

Quiz: What YA mythological tale should you read next?

Reading books about heroic characters from other worlds can be a nice distraction during the pandemic. Take the short quiz to find a mythological recommendation tailored to your taste.

How we showed Homer’s Odyssey is not pure fiction, with a little help from Facebook

Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey may seem like pure fiction, but social media tools reveal that they’re at least partly based in fact.

9 Legends of American Folklore

Folktales show us a lot about who we once were and still are. Check out these descriptions of nine classic characters from American folklore: Paul Bunyan, John Henry, Sally Ann Thunder, Johnny Appleseed, Mike Fink, Pecos Bill, Geronimo, and Old Stormalong. Why were they so famous? Why are they still famous today?

A Fairy Tale Influence

In this interview, fairy tale author Jack Zipes discusses why fairy tales matter, who their audience is, and how they influence the horror genre.

Fairy Tales Are Over 6,000 Years Old

Researchers have tracked fairy tales back thousands of years.

Why Black Panther’s representation matters, according to the cast

If tales of superheroes serve to inspire us and reflect what we value, they should represent all of us. Hear from the director and cast of the blockbuster movie.

Why Myths Still Matter: Hercules and His 12 Healing Labors

Explore the plot and significance of a popular Greek myth.

The Pre-Viking Legend of Ragnarӧk

One of the best-known Norse myths about the end of the universe may have originated in a real-world ancient catastrophe.

Loch Ness monster could be a giant eel, say scientists

While scientists don’t believe there is a giant monster hiding out in Loch Ness, they are considering what creatures could live there based on DNA testing.

Types of Ancient Greek Medicine

Read about how ancient Greek medicine inspired many modern practices.

Greek Myths Have Scary Ideas About Robots and A.I.

While robots and artificial intelligence may seem like recent concepts, some argue that those ideas originated in ancient Greece.

Multicultural Cinderella Stories

“Yeh-Shen” may be the oldest version we know of the Cinderella story, but it’s far from the only variation on this familiar tale. Find out about other versions that span the globe.