The Alchemyst

In The Alchemyst, Michael Scott weaves mythological references into historical events. By setting real-life details against a fantastical backdrop, Scott blurs the line between fact and fiction and between fantasy and reality.

Throughout the book, mythologies from around the world are referenced through the presence of gods and magical beings. Such beings include: Bastet, the Egyptian Cat Goddess; Hekate, the Greek Goddess with Three Faces; Scathach, the Celtic warrior of legend; the Morrigan, the Irish Goddess of War; the Witch of Endor, from Hebrew mythology, etc. There are also mentions of creatures and artifacts such as Yggdrasill, the World Tree in Norse mythology; the legendary sword of Excalibur; and Golems, creatures from Jewish folklore.

To explain the presence of mythological beings in their reality, Flamel tells Josh and Sophie that “at the heart of every legend there is a grain of truth” (134). In the story, all those myths and legends are in fact stories about the Elder Race, distorted through time and human retellings. This plays on the theme of Truth Versus Fiction, which is highly significant to the twins’ character development, as well as an effective literary technique to engage the reader’s own critical skills.