From Villains to Damsels: How to Make Ancient Tales Fresh, Legal, and Emotionally Powerful
Can you retell an existing story? Yes—but with caution.
Writers have long been inspired by old tales, legends, and classic literature. Retelling a beloved story can offer a rich canvas for creativity—but it also comes with legal and artistic challenges.
So, before you launch into rewriting Cinderella or reimagining Beowulf, here’s what you need to know about copyright law.
Understanding Copyright: What You Can and Can’t Use
Copyright law protects original works of authorship, including books, plays, and characters. If a story is under copyright, you can’t rewrite it without permission, even if you change names or locations.
You can, however, draw inspiration from:
- Stories in the Public Domain: These are works whose copyrights have expired. In most countries, copyright lasts for 70 years after the author’s death (though some countries vary).
- Traditional Tales: Fairy tales, ancient myths, biblical stories, and folklore are typically safe to use, as they are usually public domain.
- Historical Figures or Events: While real-life people aren’t copyrighted, creative portrayals of them (like a novelized version of Cleopatra’s life) may be protected.
Tip: Use resources like Project Gutenberg to access thousands of free, public domain texts. When in doubt, consult a copyright attorney or simply choose a different source of inspiration.
The Dual Challenge of Retelling Myths
Retelling classic stories means writing for two audiences at once:
- Those familiar with the original: These readers will compare your version to the source. They’ll appreciate subversion, irony, or added depth—but only if your take is clever and respectful.
- Those unfamiliar: They need your retelling to stand on its own. If your story leans too heavily on knowing the original, it may confuse or bore new readers.
To succeed, your version must feel complete, emotionally engaging, and accessible, even without knowledge of the source material.
Creative Strategies for Retelling
Here’s how to make a classic story uniquely yours:
1. Change the Point of View
One of the simplest and most powerful tools is to tell the story from a different character’s perspective. Consider:
- The Villain: What if the so-called “bad guy” was misunderstood? What if their actions were motivated by love, duty, or revenge for a past injustice?
- The Victim: Many myths and fables, especially those from patriarchal eras, feature women as helpless or passive. Rewriting from the “damsel’s” point of view might reveal a spy, a revolutionary, or a woman in control of her own fate.
- A Side Character: Think of The Wizard of Oz told from the Tin Man’s perspective—or Hamlet from Ophelia’s eyes.
2. Add a Modern Lens
Bring timeless themes into a contemporary setting. Issues like gender equality, political oppression, or mental health can add resonance and relevance to ancient tales.
3. Shift Genre or Tone
Turn a tragedy into satire, a fable into a thriller, or a romantic tale into a dystopian sci-fi. Genre-bending allows you to showcase timeless narratives in unexpected ways.
Deep POV vs. Omniscient: Choosing the Right Narrative Voice
Many modern readers prefer Deep Point of View (POV) because it creates a visceral, emotional connection to characters. This immersive style pulls readers inside a character’s head and heart, ideal for retellings focused on internal struggle or reinterpreted motivations.
However, some myths—especially those with sweeping themes or epic scales—may benefit from omniscient POV, allowing the narrator to span generations, gods, and kingdoms.
Choose the POV that serves your new version of the story best.
Examples of Effective Retellings
- “Wide Sargasso Sea” by Jean Rhys – A prequel to Jane Eyre, told from the perspective of Bertha, the “madwoman in the attic.”
- “Circe” by Madeline Miller – A feminist retelling of the Greek myth, told from the witch Circe’s POV.
- “Wicked” by Gregory Maguire – Reimagines The Wizard of Oz through the lens of the Wicked Witch of the West.
Why Retell a Story?
Retelling myths and classic tales isn’t just an exercise in nostalgia. It’s a way to:
- Challenge assumptions
- Give voice to the voiceless
- Explore universal human truths from fresh angles
When done legally and thoughtfully, reinterpretations breathe new life into stories that have shaped cultures and imaginations for centuries.
Happy rewriting—and may your retelling offer both homage and originality.