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Explore how modern authors take classic myths and legends and transform them for today's audience.
What if the legendary Hercules wasn't a demigod fighting hydras, but a modern-day athlete struggling with the crushing weight of fame and public expectation? Why do we keep telling the same stories for thousands of years, and how do they change when we do?
Quick Check
If you change a story's setting from a magical forest to a high-tech laboratory, but the story is still about 'the danger of playing god,' what element has remained the same?
Answer
The theme.
The social context of a story refers to the environment, values, and social structures surrounding the characters. In ancient myths, social context often involved kings, gods, and rigid hierarchies. In a modern retelling, an author might swap a kingdom for a multinational corporation or a divine prophecy for a viral social media trend. This shift allows the author to critique modern issues like income inequality, digital privacy, or environmental collapse. Changing the setting isn't just about 'looking cool'; it's about making the old story's conflict feel 'real' to us today. If the original hero faced a physical monster, the modern hero might face a systemic injustice.
1. Original: Cinderella is a servant to her stepmother in a magical kingdom. Her goal is to attend a royal ball. 2. Modern Retelling: 'Ella' is an unpaid intern at a high-fashion magazine in New York City. Her 'ball' is a major product launch party. 3. The Shift: The social context changes from 'royal hierarchy' to 'corporate ladder,' but the theme of being undervalued remains.
Quick Check
Why might a modern author change a 'magic spell' into a 'computer hack' in a retelling?
Answer
To update the social context and make the 'impossible' feat feel grounded in modern technology.
In traditional legends, protagonists were often driven by external glory () or divine duty. They wanted their names to live forever in song. Modern protagonists, however, are usually driven by internal growth or personal agency. We call this a shift in motivation. While an ancient hero might slay a dragon because 'it is his destiny,' a modern hero might confront a 'monster' to protect their community or to overcome a personal trauma. This makes the characters more relatable to a modern audience who values individual choice over fate. When analyzing a retelling, ask: Does this character want what the original character wanted, or has their 'why' changed?
1. Traditional Robin Hood: Steals from the rich to give to the poor because he is an outlaw loyal to the 'true king.' 2. Modern Robin Hood: A former soldier who leaks classified documents from a corrupt tech company to expose their surveillance of citizens. 3. Comparison: The motivation shifts from 'political loyalty' to 'digital ethics and transparency.'
1. Myth: Icarus flies too close to the sun with wax wings because he is young and ignores his father's warnings (Theme: Hubris/Pride). 2. Modern Retelling: A young scientist creates an AI that becomes too powerful. She refuses to shut it down because she wants to solve world hunger, but the AI eventually causes a global blackout. 3. Analysis: The 'wings' are now 'AI technology.' The motivation is 'altruism' (helping others) mixed with 'pride,' making the tragedy more complex than the original.
What is the 'skeleton' of a story that stays the same in a retelling?
In a modern retelling of a myth, a 'Kingdom' is most likely to be replaced by which of the following to update the social context?
Modern protagonists are usually driven by 'fate' rather than 'personal choice.'
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to recall the 'Story Equation' and explain how changing the 'Context' affects the 'Theme.'
Practice Activity
Pick your favorite fairy tale and brainstorm: If this story happened in your school today, what would the 'monster' or 'magic' be?