Like Magic: Transforming Folktale and Myth into Writing Material

“From Disney’s defanged happily-ever-afters to fractured fairy tales showcasing the villain’s perspective such as Wicked and Maleficent, retellings of folk and fairy tales are all around us,” says instructor Erin Rodoni. “Did you know that Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was inspired by the myth of Prometheus? Or that the Hades and Persephone myth has inspired a range of literature encompassing everything from the poetry of Nobel Prize winner Louise Glück to the YA phenomenon Twilight? Whether through overt retellings or through more subtle reimaginings, writers continue to draw from elements of folklore and myth to engage the reader and to pour their own stories into these age-old forms.”

In this 5-week class we will explore fairy tale, folklore, and mythology as literary forms with their own logic and patterns. We will compare retellings that center different perspectives and motivations, reimaginings that subvert tropes and expectations. Students will explore their own relationships to the tales they are most drawn to, from any tradition, using that sense of connection as a way into generating new work each week, with the opportunity to present a piece for group feedback during the final stretch of the class. There will also be opportunities to submit pieces in progress for instructor feedback via email outside of class time.

“Together, we will seek out and identify narrative arcs, settings, themes, character types, and resonant images that can be repurposed in your own stories, poems, or essays,” says Erin. “We will discuss how and why these elements are endlessly malleable, just waiting to be reinvented by the alchemy of a new What If.”

About The Writing Salon's Remote Classes

Due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19, The Writing Salon is running all classes in a remote learning format. You will be able to participate in live class meetings via Zoom videoconference. To attend classes, you'll need a phone, tablet or computer and access to the internet. You can participate in the class from wherever you'd like, whether on your living room couch or in your office. Before your class meets, you'll receive an email from The Writing Salon with more information about Zoom and your remote class. If you have any questions about remote learning, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at hello@writingsalons.com.