Where do fairy tales and legends come from? At least one well-known tale is rooted in a real historic event.
Category Archives: What Tales Tell
The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle May Finally Be Solved
The source of many bizarre tales, this area of the Atlantic Ocean has claimed a surprising number of ships and planes. But it’s not sea monsters or extraterrestrials causing the chaos.
20 Writing Tips from Fiction Authors
What makes for a great story? Find out from the pros.
Shared Stories: Common themes in myths and legends across cultures
Just as many cultures have a version of the Cinderella story, similarities in myths and legends appear around the world.
Japanese ‘Prince’ Was Switched at Birth and Raised a Pauper
What happens when someone born poor is raised in wealth, and vice versa? Read about how the lives of two Japanese men shed light on how we succeed, or don’t.
Best children’s books with wishes
Some of the stories you loved best when you were younger probably concerned wishes. Why are wish tales so popular?
Real Landscapes of the Great Flood Myths
A geologist explores the intersection between his own field and myths around the world.
Rick Riordan: Mythology for middle school
In this short video, the author of novels based in Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Norse mythologies discusses why mythology and middle school are a perfect fit.
Greek Mythology
From “how and why” stories to legends and myths about gods and goddesses, Greek mythology helped explain the world to people.
Was There a Trojan War?
Read about what archaeologists excavating a site in modern-day Turkey have determined.
Visit Seven Storybook Castles in Germany
Germany is home both to the Grimm brothers, authors of our best-known fairy tales, and stunning castles that would make the perfect setting for those tales.
Little Red Riding Hood gets an evolutionary makeover
Using big data, researchers dig deeply into the origins of one of our best-known tales.
Rings, dwarves, elves, and dragons: J.R.R. Tolkien’s Old Norse influences
J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpieces of fantasy, including The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, sprang from the rich storytelling traditions of the far north.
Author Says a Whole Culture—Not a Single “Homer”—Wrote “Iliad,” “Odyssey”
The tale of the Trojan War reached 21st-century readers largely through the oral tradition. Learn about its source and why it still matters today.
How to Beat Writer’s Block
All writers suffer “writer’s block” at some time. Two psychologists have developed an intervention to get writers back to telling their tales.
‘Hamilton’ the Broadway musical is now a dazzling book
Usually books inspire plays and movies. However, the smash Broadway musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, inspired a book that details the play’s social and cultural significance.
The Forgotten Female Action Stars of the 1910s
Action-adventure heroes aren’t only men. Early films starred many women in action roles, even performing daring feats in ankle-length skirts! Learn about the tales told in their films.
In Focus: The Prince and the Pauper
The theme of class can be reflected in photographs as well as prose. Compare Twain’s story with the 1920 King George V incident.
The Fairy Tales That Predate Christianity
Could the tale of Little Red Riding Hood be more than 2,000 years old? Find out about its evolution and the 58 different versions related to this familiar tale.
The World’s Oldest Papyrus and What It Can Tell Us About the Great Pyramids
A recently discovered treasure trove of papyri tells us more about ancient Egyptian life and culture. Read what a travel journal found with the other papyri reveals about the lives of everyday workers during the time period when the Pyramids were built at Giza.