retellings
Tales told again
Retellings are new versions of stories that already exist, whether myths, fairy tales, classic novels, or historical events.
The appeal lies in seeing familiar narratives through fresh perspectives—a villain's point of view, a different cultural setting, or a modern context.
Her novel is a feminist retelling of Bluebeard.
The term appears frequently in publishing and literary discussion, where retellings of public domain works have become a recognized genre.
Moral tale with animals
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
- epicImpressively grand in scope
- mythologyBody of traditional tales
saga · allegory · parable · fairytale · lore · ballad · tradition · heritage
Ordered historical record
- accountRecord of dealings
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- recitalSolo musical performance
- yarnTwisted strand for crafts
novel · biography · memoir · history · oral tradition · framing · perspective · voice
Continuation of prior work
- franchiseLicensed business operation
- fanfictionAmateur work using existing characters
- crossoverGenre-blending work or transition
- prequelLater work, earlier setting
reboot · remake · spinoff · expansion · continuation · side story · parody · homage
All gods of a religion
- deityWorshipped supernatural being
- heroOne admired for courage
- questSeeking journey for something
- oracleAuthoritative wisdom source
prophecy · mythos · underworld · nemesis · medusa · creation story · trickster · origin story
Make contemporary
- transformChange completely in form
- reviseAlter to improve
- updateNew version or information
- reimaginedConceived again differently
reworked · contemporary · reinvention · twist · recast · remix · transplant · cultural adaptation
fable
Moral tale with animals
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
- epicImpressively grand in scope
mythology · saga · allegory · parable · fairytale · lore · ballad · tradition · heritage · canon
chronicle
Ordered historical record
yarn · novel · biography · memoir · history · oral tradition · framing · perspective · voice · point of view
sequel
Continuation of prior work
- franchiseLicensed business operation
- fanfictionAmateur work using existing characters
- crossoverGenre-blending work or transition
prequel · reboot · remake · spinoff · expansion · continuation · side story · parody · homage · pastiche
pantheon
All gods of a religion
oracle · prophecy · mythos · underworld · nemesis · medusa · creation story · trickster · origin story · demigod
modernize
Make contemporary
reimagined · reworked · contemporary · reinvention · twist · recast · remix · transplant · cultural adaptation · loose adaptation
- book versionsrevisions, rewrites, translations, adaptations, abridged versions
- children's booksfairy tales, nursery rhymes, picture books, bedtime stories, Harry Potter
- fictionfiction, novel, novels, novella, novellas
- mythologyZeus, Apollo, Athena, Poseidon, Odin
- accountsbank account, checking account, savings account, joint account, personal account
- classical literatureHomer, Virgil, Ovid, Cicero, Plato
retellingsoriginal compositions
Freshly created musical works
original works · originals · primary texts · inventions · prototypes
retellingspremieres
Initial theatrical screenings
debuts · untold stories · breaking news · eyewitness accounts · firsthand accounts
- modern retellingOld story made new
- dramatic retelling
- fairy tale retellingReworked traditional story
- myth retellingReimagined traditional narrative