Mythology

Ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Norse people, used mythology to define their cultures, enlighten themselves about the surrounding world, and teach important life lessons within their societies. This study guide collection showcases a variety of mythological texts, from epic poems (Homer’s The Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid) to modern interpretations of mythology (Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman and The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood), demonstrating our timeless connection to a rich mythological past. To learn more about this genre, please visit our Folklore and Mythology Resource Guide.

Publication year 1995

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mythology, Action / Adventure, Military / War, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, History: World

The Winter King is a 1995 novel by Bernard Cornwell. It is the first volume of the Warlord Chronicles series, a reimagining of the legend of King Arthur stripped of magic and romance and instead steeped in the grim realities of Britain after the fall of the Roman Empire. It was followed up by Enemy of God (1996) and Excalibur (1997). By the time Cornwell published The Winter King, he had established his reputation as... Read The Winter King Summary


Publication year 1816

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Identity: Indigenous

Tags Fairy Tale / Folklore, Mythology, American Literature


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Mythology, LGBTQ


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Mythology


Publication year 1956

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Mythology, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Christian literature, Fantasy

C.S. Lewis’s final novel, Till We Have Faces, is a retelling of the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche. The novel is narrated by Orual, the Queen of Glome, and is framed as a complaint against the gods. Orual is the eldest of three sisters; her siblings are Redival and Istra—whom Orual calls Psyche. Orual is an ugly child who resents Redival’s beauty and whose only friend is her tutor, a Greek slave called the... Read Till We Have Faces Summary


Publication year 1831

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Mythology, Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, American Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Romance, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Community

Tags Romance, Fantasy, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Action / Adventure, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Mythology


Publication year 1209

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Classic Fiction, Romance, Mythology, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, German Literature, Fantasy


Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate

Tags Classic Fiction, Ancient Greece, Mythology, Education, Education, Drama / Tragedy, Classical Period, Fantasy

Trojan Women is a tragic play written by the ancient Athenian playwright Euripides. It was first performed in Athens in 415 BC, as part of a trilogy of plays depicting the legendary kingdom of Troy: the other two, now lost, were called Alexandros (about the Trojan prince Paris) and Palamedes (about the Greek hero Palamedes during the Trojan War). Trojan Women takes place in the immediate aftermath of Troy’s defeat, which ended the ten-year Trojan... Read Trojan Women Summary


Publication year 1957

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Mythology


Publication year 1842

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging

Tags Poetry: Dramatic Poem, Mythology, Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Victorian Literature / Period, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1593

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Classic Fiction, Romance, Mythology, Love / Sexuality, British Literature, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, Fantasy


Publication year 2018

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, African American Literature, Mythology, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World


Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings

Tags Religion / Spirituality, Classic Fiction, Ancient Greece, Mythology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classical Period, History: World, Fantasy

“Works and Days” is a didactic poem by Hesiod dating to approximately the eighth century BCE. Hesiod begins the poem with the traditional invocation to the muses, but he deviates slightly from this tradition by including personal information; the poem is an explanation of a dispute between Hesiod and his brother Perses over a family inheritance. The poem’s thematic concerns, which Hesiod explores by arguing how harmful his brother’s actions are not only to himself... Read Works and Days Summary


Publication year 1974

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Identity: Indigenous, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality

Tags Mythology, Love / Sexuality, Gender / Feminism, Education, Education, History: World


Publication year 1176

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Classic Fiction, Romance, Mythology, Narrative / Epic Poem, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, French Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Fantasy

Completed in the year 1181, Yvain, Or the Knight of the Lion is an epic poem by Chrétian De Troyes that tells the story of Yvain, one of King Arthur’s knights, and the many great deeds he performs as he attempts to earn the love of the Lady Laudine. One of the founding stories of the Arthurian legend, Yvain paints a vivid picture of the knightly code of chivalry during the Middle Ages. Its high... Read Yvain, or the Knight With the Lion Summary