In Alexander Dumas’s 1847 novel The Man in the Iron Mask, the three musketeers are once again united to defend honor and the crown. This time, they work together to replace the King of France with his twin brother–the titular Man in the Iron Mask. Yet, while much of this story is literary nonfiction, the kernels of truth are compelling. In fact, there was a real Man in the Iron Mask. With that said, historical mysteries are interesting because when they remain unsolved for centuries, speculation tends to overshadow factual accounts. This is definitely true in the case of the man in the iron mask, who was an unknown figure in history, likely imprisoned for political crimes against King Louis XIV.
Continue reading The Real Identity of Alexandre Dumas’s The Man in the Iron MaskTag Archives: Folklore
The Ferocious Ogres of Folklore and Myth
According to folklore, Ogres are, in fact, not like onions. That is, while they actually do have layers, they are far more terrifying than their portrayals in media. For instance, ogres come in many shapes and sizes. This includes their description in famous literature, to their awesome power in roleplaying games.
Continue reading The Ferocious Ogres of Folklore and Myth
The Boggart, Folklore’s Little Prankster
There are many iterations of violent cryptids out to harm humanity throughout folklore. You have your dragons, medusas, ogres, and vampires. Sometimes, though, you have some annoying but helpful ones. The Brownie in Scottish mythology is one of them, and so is this post’s topic: the Boggart.
Continue reading The Boggart, Folklore’s Little Prankster
Wendigo Analysis: Origin, Description, and Symbolism
The cold and forbidding forests of Canada and Northern Michigan are home to a plethora of natural wonders. Surely, the frozen landscape is beautiful enough. But when the winter wind howls and the trees crack–surely something evil creeps in the frightful dark. In Indigenous cultures, the beast goes by the name “wendigo.” This post will analyze the lore around this monstrous creature and see how the strength of folklore influences culture and history to this day.
Continue reading Wendigo Analysis: Origin, Description, and Symbolism
Folklore: The Ghost of Michigan’s Charles Hackley
States all have their fare share of ghosts, from the phantom soldiers in Gettysburg, PA, to the ghost of Uncle Charlie in IA. Michigan has its host of specters as well. The ghost of Charles Hackley, for instance, still haunts parts of Muskegon. Hackley, a successful business man and investor in the city, has been seen in spectral form in public and private buildings on multiple occasions throughout the years. As it stands, his legacy in life was grand, but so was it in death.
Continue reading Folklore: The Ghost of Michigan’s Charles Hackley
Folklore: The Paulding Light in Michigan
Folklore is graced with a fantastical flavor, which makes it so interesting, whether that be Zeus throwing lightning bolts at frightened peasantry, or Johnny Appleseed walking clear across the country to keep fruit alive in the hearts of the American people.
Continue reading Folklore: The Paulding Light in Michigan
The Buggy Woman of Crawford Bridge
Bridges have a place in literature and folklore, from Ichabod Crane’s flight from the Headless Horseman in Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” (based on folklore from the Hudson Valley), to the bridge in Ambrose Bierce’s fatalist short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” The Buggy Woman of Crawford Road Bridge also has a horror element.
Continue reading The Buggy Woman of Crawford BridgeFolklore: The Buggy Woman of Crawford Bridge, MI
Tuscola County, MI—Bridges have a place in literature and folklore, from Ichabod Crane’s flight from the Headless Horseman in Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” (based on folklore from the Hudson Valley), to the bridge in Ambrose Bierce’s fatalist short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” The Buggy Woman of Crawford Road Bridge also has a horror element.
Continue reading Folklore: The Buggy Woman of Crawford Bridge, MI
Exploring Folklore Around the Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb
While now considered erroneous, it was once plausible to believe that the mummies of Ancient Egypt sought revenge from beyond the grave through a curse. A mummy’s curse to be correct. In some circles, these curses are still very real, while to others they are no more than coincidental correlation. Nonetheless, Egyptian curses still inspire wonder and spectacle today.
Continue reading Exploring Folklore Around the Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb
Folklore: The Horrific Crimes of the Sawney Bean Family
If you have ever seen The Hills Have Eyes (1977) or Wrong Turn (2003) then you have some background knowledge as it relates to the contents of this post. Why? Because it features a deranged family, murder, and cannibalism in the form of the Sawney Bean Family.
Continue reading Folklore: The Horrific Crimes of the Sawney Bean Family
You must be logged in to post a comment.