Is the Retelling of Stories and Novels Always Legal?

No. Just because a story is free doesn't mean it's legal. If it violates copyright laws, for example, by being an unauthorized copy of a copyrighted work, it's illegal. So, you need to make sure the source of the free 'xx' stories is legitimate.

However, problems may arise when it comes to commercial use without permission. If someone retells a well - known novel and tries to sell their retelling as a new product without getting the rights from the original author or publisher, it is illegal. For instance, taking 'Harry Potter' and retelling the whole story in a slightly different way and selling it as your own creation would violate J.K. Rowling's copyright.

I don't have a definite answer. DC has a history of reinventing their storylines, so DC New 25 could be a partial retelling with some modifications or it could be a completely new take. It depends on how they approach it.

I don't think so. DC New 25 seems to introduce new elements rather than just retelling the old stories.

Retelling classic novels helps in preserving the essence of the original works. It can adapt the story to different cultures and time periods. A retelling of 'The Odyssey' could be set in a modern - day context, with the hero's journey paralleling that of an immigrant's struggle. This not only keeps the story alive but also gives it new relevance.

One challenge is staying true to the original essence. If you're retelling 'Romeo and Juliet', you can't deviate too much from the core themes of love and tragedy, or it won't feel like the same story.

It improves their memory. When they retell a story, they have to remember what happened in the story, which exercises their memory skills.

One benefit is that it preserves family heritage. Stories about ancestors and their experiences are like a time capsule. Also, for children, it's an educational tool. They can learn about different eras, cultures, and family dynamics through these stories. It can also be therapeutic. Sharing and listening to family stories can heal old wounds and create a more harmonious family environment.

It helps improve their language skills. When they retell, they use new words and grammar structures they learned from the story.

Most of them are legal. For instance, Project Gutenberg offers books whose copyright has expired, so it's completely legal to access and read them for free. On Wattpad, the writers themselves choose to share their stories freely, which is also within the bounds of legality as long as they own the rights to their works.