Mirth and Myth: A Journey through ‘Old Wives’ Tales’
Ah, the good old tales that grandmothers spun by the hearth, those superstitious stories we later dubbed “old wives’ tales.” This term actually dates back to Plato, who repeated the phrase in a number of writings and was so cited by Erasmus.
Feeling wiser yet? No worries—we’re just getting started. In English, a version of it appeared in John Trevisa’s translation of Polycronicon, “And useth telynges as olde wifes dooth” (1387). The phrase then wandered its way into the formidable works of playwrights and poets alike. “These are trifles and mere old wives’ tales,” wrote Christopher Marlowe in Doctor Faustus (ca. 1589), proving that even a pact with the devil can’t save you from age-old superstitions!
Arnold Bennett thought it catchy enough to slap it on the title of his 1908 novel, Old Wives’ Tale. Despite the evolving tastes and times, this age- and gender-biased cliché persists to the present day.
Expressions and Their Tagalongs
Similar Terms:
- Folklore
- Legends
- Superstitions
- Urban Myths
- Tall Tales
Proverbs and Synonyms:
- “That’s just a story for the birds!”
- “An old wives’ fable”
- “Fairy tale”
- “Folk wisdom”
- “Superstitious nonsense”
Antonyms:
- Fact
- Reality
- Truth
Quote to Make You Think
“Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition.” —Adam Smith
Recommended Reads & Watches
Literature:
- Old Wives’ Tale by Arnold Bennett
- Grimm’s Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm
- Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe
Music:
- “Superstitious” by Stevie Wonder
- “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye
Movies:
- Big Fish (2003)
- Coraline (2009)
- Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Quizzes: Test Your Cliché IQ!
Ah, fair reader, as we jot down these tales and truths, may your wisdom grow and your skepticism remain healthy. Until our next literary rendezvous, remember, not all that glitters is gold, and sometimes, a story’s worth is not in its factual weight but in its wisdom.
Yours in whimsical wordplay,
Ima Believer
