Hi there! I’m Elliott, and today we’re diving into some common misconceptions about famous stories. Let’s clear up some myths and learn something new!
Did you know that Cinderella’s famous glass slippers might have been a mistake? The story we know today was popularized by a French writer named Charles Perrault in 1697. However, older versions of the tale existed long before that. In Perrault’s version, Cinderella wears glass slippers, but some people think she was supposed to wear slippers made of squirrel fur. The French words for “fur” and “glass” are very similar—”vair” and “verre”—which might have led to the mix-up.
Many people think the Grimm Brothers wrote all those famous fairy tales, but that’s not entirely true. They published their version of Cinderella in 1812, over a century after Perrault. They also collected stories like Rapunzel, Snow White, and Hansel and Gretel from various sources, rather than creating them from scratch.
When you picture Sherlock Holmes, you might think of a middle-aged detective. However, in the book His Last Bow, set in 1914, Holmes is 60 years old. This means he was born around 1854. In the first book, A Study in Scarlet, Holmes and his friend Watson are in their late twenties when they start solving mysteries together.
Unlike some modern movies and TV shows, the original Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle didn’t include any romance. Doyle described Holmes as being as unemotional as a machine, making it unlikely for him to fall in love.
In Romeo and Juliet, when Juliet says, “Wherefore art thou Romeo?” she’s not asking where he is. “Wherefore” actually means “why.” Juliet is questioning why Romeo has to be a Montague, the family her own family is feuding with.
Many people imagine Frankenstein’s monster as a green creature, but in Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, the monster is described as having yellowish skin that shows its muscles and arteries. The green image with neck bolts comes from the 1931 movie starring Boris Karloff. Also, remember that Frankenstein is the name of the doctor, not the monster!
In Bram Stoker’s original 1897 novel, Dracula wasn’t afraid of daylight. He could walk around during the day, although he looked quite different from modern portrayals, with a big mustache, pointed ears, and white hair.
Some people think Charles Dickens invented the word “humbug” in A Christmas Carol, but it was actually used long before that. It started as student slang for a trick or deception and later became a mild insult.
Is there a real King Arthur? We don’t know for sure. He appears in a 9th-century book called History of the Britons, which claims he fought in twelve battles. However, historians are still debating whether he was a real person or just a legend.
Was the Trojan War real? Archaeologists have found evidence of a city like Troy that was likely destroyed by the Greeks around 1175 BCE. However, the war might not have been exactly like the one described in The Iliad and could have been a series of conflicts instead of a single event.
Thanks for exploring these misconceptions with me! If you have any topics you’d like to learn about, feel free to share them. See you next time!
Imagine you are a writer like Charles Perrault or the Grimm Brothers. Write your own short fairy tale, but include a twist that challenges a common misconception. Share your story with the class and discuss how misconceptions can change the way stories are told over time.
Become a detective like Sherlock Holmes! Choose one of the misconceptions from the article and research its origins. Present your findings to the class, explaining how the misconception started and why it persists today.
Split into groups and choose a misconception to debate. One side will argue for the traditional story, while the other side will argue for the corrected version. Use evidence from the article and additional research to support your arguments.
Pick a misconception from the article and create an illustration that depicts the true version of the story. For example, draw Frankenstein’s monster as described in Mary Shelley’s novel. Display your artwork in the classroom and explain the differences to your classmates.
Create a quiz based on the misconceptions discussed in the article. Work in teams to come up with questions and answers, then host a quiz show in class. Test your classmates’ knowledge and see who can clear up the most misconceptions!
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, I’m Elliott. This is Mental Floss on YouTube. Today I’m going to talk about some misconceptions about famous stories.
**Misconception #1:** In the original version, Cinderella wore glass slippers. This is an interesting debate among linguists. The story that popularized the version of Cinderella that we know today was written by the French writer Charles Perrault in 1697. However, versions of the actual folk tale had been around for longer. In Perrault’s tale, Cinderella wears glass slippers, but some claim she was supposed to wear slippers made of squirrel fur, and Perrault may have written it down incorrectly. The French words for “fur” and “glass” sound and look very similar—“vair” and “verre.” There’s some debate about whether this was a case of mishearing another version or an update to the story.
**Misconception #2:** The Grimm Brothers wrote many of the fairy tales that we know. In reality, these stories were passed down for ages. The Grimm Brothers didn’t write their version of Cinderella until 1812, which was over a century after Perrault wrote it. They also borrowed from other sources. Other stories attributed to the Grimms, like Rapunzel, Snow White, and Hansel and Gretel, were not originally created by them.
**Misconception #3:** Sherlock Holmes and Watson are middle-aged. In fact, Sherlock Holmes didn’t always look like modern portrayals. In the novel *His Last Bow*, which takes place in 1914, Holmes is 60 years old. This would put his birth year around 1854. From the first book, *A Study in Scarlet*, we know that Holmes and Watson are around the same age and met in 1881, likely in their late twenties when their adventures began.
**Misconception #4:** Sherlock Holmes had a love interest. Unlike some modern adaptations, the original stories didn’t contain romance. Arthur Conan Doyle once wrote that “Holmes is as inhuman as a calculating machine and just about as likely to fall in love.”
**Misconception #5:** In *Romeo and Juliet*, “Wherefore art thou Romeo?” means “Where are you, Romeo?” In fact, “wherefore” means “for what reason” or “why.” Juliet is really asking “WHY are you Romeo?” because his family name, Montague, is the reason they can’t be together.
**Misconception #6:** Frankenstein is a green monster. In Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, the monster isn’t described as green; it’s more yellow and partially see-through, making its arteries and muscles visible. The iconic image of Frankenstein’s monster with bolts in its neck comes from Boris Karloff’s 1931 movie adaptation. Also, remember that Frankenstein was the doctor, not the monster.
**Misconception #7:** Dracula can’t go outside during the daytime. In Bram Stoker’s original 1897 novel, Dracula didn’t need to hide in the dark and walked around during the day. His appearance included a big mustache, pointed ears, and white hair, including on his palms.
**Misconception #8:** Charles Dickens invented the word “humbug” for *A Christmas Carol*. The term was actually in use for about a century before Dickens published his work. It started as student slang meaning a trick or deception and evolved into a mild insult.
**Misconception #9:** There’s a real King Arthur. The truth is we don’t know for sure. There’s no definitive proof of his existence, but he appears in a 9th-century Latin book called *History of the Britons*, which claims he fought in twelve battles. Historians debate the accuracy of this account.
**Misconception #10:** The Trojan War was real. Archaeologists have found evidence of a city like Troy that was likely destroyed by the Greeks around 1175 BCE. However, the war itself may not have been like the one described in *The Iliad* and could have been a series of conflicts rather than a single event.
Thanks for watching Misconceptions on Mental Floss on YouTube, made with the help of many wonderful people. If you have a topic for an upcoming episode that you’d like to see, please leave it in the comments. I’ll see you next week! Bye!
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Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Cinderella – A character from a fairy tale who is mistreated by her stepfamily but eventually finds happiness with the help of a magical intervention. – In literature, the story of Cinderella teaches us that kindness and patience can lead to a happy ending.
Fairy – A mythical being of folklore and romance usually having magical powers. – In many stories, a fairy appears to help the protagonist overcome difficult challenges.
Stories – Narratives created to entertain, inform, or convey experiences and lessons. – Historical stories often provide insight into the lives and cultures of people from the past.
Detective – A character in literature who investigates and solves crimes or mysteries. – Sherlock Holmes is one of the most famous detectives in literary history, known for his keen observation skills.
Love – A deep affection and care for someone or something, often explored as a theme in literature. – The love between Romeo and Juliet is one of the most tragic yet enduring stories in literature.
Monster – A frightening creature often found in myths and stories, symbolizing fear or evil. – In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein’s monster is a complex character who struggles with his identity.
Daylight – The natural light of the day, often used in literature to symbolize hope or clarity. – In the story, the hero finally saw daylight after escaping the dark cave, symbolizing his newfound freedom.
Humbug – Deceptive or false talk or behavior, often used to describe insincerity. – In Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” Ebenezer Scrooge initially dismisses Christmas as a humbug.
King – A male ruler of a nation or territory, often featured in historical and fantasy literature. – King Arthur is a legendary figure whose tales of bravery and leadership have been told for centuries.
War – A conflict between different nations or groups, often depicted in literature to explore themes of heroism, sacrifice, and tragedy. – The novel “All Quiet on the Western Front” provides a poignant depiction of the horrors of war.
