A myth is a traditional story that attempts to explain a natural or social phenomenon. It usually combines historical events with fantasy. Such stories had appeared long before people learned to read and write; they passed from generation to generation through oral tradition. As a result, there is no single author of any myth, and there cannot be one.
An essay about mythology can reflect the reasons that brought ancient people to compose such stories. For this purpose, you should understand the natural phenomena, human relationships, and religious rites the myth describes. Your essay relies on analyzing the lessons people wanted to teach their descendants. That’s why you should see the differences between the ancient and modern vision of reality.
To better understand what is expected from you writing a myth essay, you’ll need topic ideas and some guidance. You will find both in this article, prepared by our experts. Below, you can also find some helpful myth essay examples.
It is better to know how myth differs from similar kinds of literary pieces. In this section, we’ll focus on mythology, legends, and folklore. Note that they are hard to classify and frequently overlap in many aspects.
Myths:
Describe ancient times.
Regarded as sacred truth.
Perceived as facts.
Characters are supernatural forces and beings.
Legends:
Describe historical times.
Regarded as history.
Are partially factual.
Characters are historical figures described as heroes.
Folklore:
Never specifies the time.
Regarded as secular art.
Are devoid of facts.
Characters are fictional figures or animals.
Myth Essay & How to Write It
So how should you write an essay about mythology? We have prepared a step-by-step guide.
Following this plan will help you get the highest mark:
Select a topic or myth to write about. If your tutor hasn’t limited you in the scope of questions to discuss in your writing, try to select a subject or angle of analysis that inspires you.
Investigate your material. Be sure to check if you can access sufficient materials on the topic you’ve selected. If not, move to the previous point. Take notes and use bookmarks with explanations. It will save you much time later. Also, make a summary of the most important passages.
Formulate your thesis statement. What would you like to tell the reader of your essay? Formulate the message of your writing. Explain what you want to convey in one concise and meaningful sentence.
Outline your paper. Envision it as a five-paragraph essay. It is often efficient to start from the main body that relies on your thesis, move to the introduction, and finalize the conclusion. List your arguments and one counterargument (if it is a persuasive essay). Think about which background information suits your introduction and which conclusion you will reach in the end.
Include the myths or historical facts. It is a mythology essay, remember? Make sure you’ve referenced the primary sources. Historical facts will add plausibility to your reasoning.
Write and edit. Follow your outline and correct it if necessary. Never grudge time for revising and editing as it can save your paper.
15 Myth Ideas for Essays
It is high time to decide what you will write about. The topics are not limited to ancient times if your assignment does not indicate the contrary. So, here you can find unique ideas for a myth essay from modern to personal mythology.
Our list is as follows:
Reasons why the Greeks imagined Zeus as an unfaithful husband.
Did myths transform into science or religion?
The story of Batman in The Dark Knight as a myth.
Compare and contrast Disney’s Hercules vs. the myth versions.
What is a myth from the point of view of Indian mythology?
How does Norse mythology describe the world’s creation, and what does it tell us about the Norse mentality?
Why do we no longer create myths, or do we just call them differently?
What is the central conflict in all Greek mythology?
Why was love so crucial in mythical gods’ relationships, and what does it tell us about ancient people?
How did the Iroquois creation myth explain the appearance of the first people, and how different was it from the Christian tradition?
How does the myth of Gilgamesh explain the human perception of immortality?
What are the myths that we encounter in our daily lives, and why are they no longer considered sacred?
The sexism and the role of women in Greek mythology.
Why was warfare the essential part of Norse myths?
Can superhero movies be classified as myths, legends, or folklore?
We hope our advice and topics will bring you to an A+ essay. Below we have collected the best myth essay examples for your inspiration. Share the page with your peers who may need our tips.
His pride in his role is evident in the words he speaks in which he seems to be almost condescending to them for appealing to other forces than himself in their burning of incense to [...]
Because of the scandal of his conception, he was sent to Athens and raised in the temple of Athena where he learned Athenian concepts of Law and Justice.
The details of the incident were never looked into carefully, since at that time Thebes was besieged by the Sphinx a horrible creature with the appearance of a winged lion with the face and the [...]
Considering the destruction, the loss of human lives and the reduction to slavery of even the Trojan Royalty, aside from the fact that the attack was done in stealth to a sleeping civilian population, Ulysses [...]
Greek God and Goddess have not been given any proper mention in The Bible, but at more instances it has been given reference as unknown gods and the goddess to the people of Asian origin [...]
Both the Eden story and the Flood Story have clear counterparts in the Gilgamesh epic, whose restless hero also has his parallel in Odysseus of the Iliad, even as Gilgamesh fated friendship with Enkidu can [...]
The human personality traits determined the gods and goddesses to be immortalized, hence the actions that were observed in the myths were as a symbol of the actual actions of men.
The opposition between Apollonian and Dionysian can be described to be in the center of modern literary analysis since literary work is a difficult interrelation between form and contents, norm and abnormality, which can be [...]
The myths tell that hera and Zeos were married in the garden of the gods, and in honor of the occasion, a marvelous tree, bearing apples of gold, sprang out of the earth.
The first site to visit is, of course, the story told in simple and easy-to-read print, the story of Odysseus' adventures."Oh Goddess of Inspiration, help me sing of wily Odysseus, that master of schemes!" So [...]
Homer, in his epic The Odyssey tells the story of the heroes of Trojan wars and the most enchanting of all the themes of the classic work is the loyalty of Odysseus to his wife [...]
Odysseus and his men reach the land of the Kyklopes, a rough and uncivilized race of one-dyed giants. Groaning in pain, the giant hurls boulders at them and prays to his father, Poseidon to wreak [...]
Meanwhile, the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus debate his future and Hermis, the messenger is summoned to order Kalypso to release Odysseus form her.
It is particularly mentionable that the most important element contributing to the tragedy of the play is the challenge of fate by the human powers especially that arises from the pride of kingship.
The reason for such attitude can be found in the patriarchal culture and the dominant role of free adult males in the Greek and Roman social life. However, this was not the only, and probably [...]
Homer is the first teller of the ancient myth about the Trojan war to both attract sympathy for the Trojans and warn against the flaws of such a government.
Hades is the god of the underworld, and he is the son of Cronus and Rhea. Dionysus is the god who represents wine-making, the fertility of the soil, drinking, and even theater; he is the [...]
After reviewing the two translations, this paper will argue that the version by Foley ranks as superior to the version by Evelyn-White, and the argument will utilize the following passages to prove said claim: the [...]
He led him to the highest point of the mountain and pointed him to a certain point on the land where there were lots of fig trees referred to as Mugumo in your native language.
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the reasons why Zeus was able to remain in charge of the gods and what the crucial difference between Zeus and the other gods was.
Iris blamed the Sky for the fine weather and the absence of rains for a long time as she was allowed to appear only after the rain. The Sky told her that people needed only [...]
The brevity of it is that myth is a message and its definition does not lie in the content it intends to convey but by the means with which it is conveyed.
Indeed, compared to the Greeks, who composed legends about the creation of the cosmos and the gods, the central place in Roman mythology is given to Rome itself and its heroic people and the specific [...]
The myth "Europa & Jupiter, the House of Cadmus" narrates the romantic story about the abduction of Europa by Jupiter. Immediately, the god in the guise of a bull jumped into the sea and began [...]
This myth is priceless for the researchers of Mesopotamian culture since it mirrors the religious traditions of that period, the treatment of gods, the perception of a hero, and attitudes to friendship and death.
Moreover, the difference in mentalities and perspectives peculiar to bearers of various cultures preconditioned the appearance of the unique masterpieces that could help to understand the peculiarities of peoples lives in ancient times.
According to the legend, which the story in question can be described as the creation of the Earth began as the wife of the chief of the sky complained about the dream that had been [...]
The ingenuity of the elders and respect of the societal culture is a critical governance issue. The governing figure in the story is Gisoolg who is the Great Spirit and creator.
The story of Icarus and Daedalus is told in a Roman source, Ovid's "Metamorphoses"; the Isle of Crete was blocked by the order of King Minos, but Daedalus wanted to return to his home, Athens.
At the age of sixteen, the sage Vishwamitra sought the help of Rama and Lakshmana to fight the demons. Rama banishes Sita to the forest because of rumors of her impurity.
The character of Achilles is real as it is presented in the poem although most of the powers that are portrayed through this character are mere fantasies.
Due to the events of this quest for knowledge, Odin was always depicted as a one-eyed man. Odin was an excellent warrior and the god of violence and fury.
This is one of the reasons why the depictions of god are prohibited by the norms of the Quran. This is one of the peculiarities that should be taken into account.
Eventually, Purusha was sacrificed by the gods and disassembled. Myth 1 The primordial divine beings, Purusha and Prakriti, interacted and made a sacrifice, which served as the starting point of everything.
Saying that the Dracula franchise has had a major impact on the European culture would be a huge understatement the character, as well as the story, quickly gained a cult following not only in Europe [...]
The trickster's creative force is sometimes used to whip the intelligence standing of society and to highlight the importance of creating new cultural traits that people feel are important and necessary in society.
She was the daughter of Gaia, considered to be the first prophet and represents the earth, and Uranus. She was married to Zeus, Father of the Great Achilles and was the mother of the Titan.
At the beginning of the play, the Chorus delivers the terrible news that Hekabe's daughter is the latest casualty of the Trojan War, and more specifically, Odysseus's machinations."They say that the Greeks, in a general [...]
The subject I decided to research for the paper is the mystery of Atlantis. It is enough to give the students a clear, detailed idea of the subject and educate them about this matter.
Greek mythology is a body of teachings used in ancient Greek to describe the human environment, the passing of time, and natural phenomena. The picture and the story behind it illustrate in many ways the [...]
That is why it was decided to choose the strongest and the bravest knight to visit the kingdom and try to talk to the dragon. The next day, the Black Knight went to the kingdom [...]
The ability to travel between galaxies and bend time is one of the major characteristics that are attributed to the God-like beings. In the end, it is clear that Nature is a divine part of [...]
Connecting the Story to the Bible: Where the Narrations Cross Being listed among the earliest specimen of the ancient literature, The epic of Gilgamesh bears a certain resemblance to another ancient book, which is the [...]
Since it was believed that Anat had extra-ordinary powers in matters related to reproduction, war, and harvest, the town of Zoan was expanded and the sanctuary of Anat was renamed as the City of Ramses.
Apollo is the son of the mighty Zeus and Leto. The strained relationship between Apollo and his father was to continue until Zeus turned Apollo's son into a constellation of stars.
The Muse is the giver of gifts and in this case it is the gift to create words that are melodious to the ear but at the same time the power to move the hearts [...]
The ideals of a given culture are determined by the social cultural conditions of a society or can also be greatly influenced by the views and the perceptions of the author.
In most ancient societies, children were the property of the parents, and those children who the parents deemed unfit were killed or sold into slavery.
The second aspect of the relationship between the Greek gods and humans is that the gods sought to influence human action to achieve their own "divine" ends.
For instance, the separation stage encompasses a "call to adventure, refusal to heed the call, and a crossing of the first threshold". The last part of a hero's journey according to Campbell is the Hero's [...]
Although it is traditionally considered that the key reason behind Pentheus's death was his denial of Dionysos as a god, it can also be argued that Pentheus's non-acceptance of Dionysos was only the factor, while [...]
This paper is aimed at discussing the journeys undertaken by the main characters; in particular one should focus on their motives of the protagonists and the way in which both Gilgamesh and Odysseus were transformed [...]
Enkidu, another man who is also depicted in the Epic of Gilgamesh as having a power in terms of how he treated his companions, meets King Gilgamesh in some of the scenes in the epic [...]
Achilles's armor is considered as one of the best and the most powerful, that is why it is not a surprise that Ajax and Odysseus wanted to have it after Achilles's death.
Several literatures available describe the position men and women occupied in the Greco-Roman mythology, with the most interesting consideration being on the position of the women in the Greek and Roman societies.
The author's description of the ensuing mayhem highlights the concept of pathos."On the first strike, the reports run for cover while the camera operator and the soundman persevered on, only to realise they stood no [...]
The first allegory used in the book is the one of the Monkey King who was a great person, who was recognized by gods from the very first moment of his birth, and who worked [...]
In this paper, the ideas to what extent Roman mythology is similar to Greek one, the differences and similarities of myths from different cultures, and the impact of these two mythologies will be introduced; a [...]
Plato and Hesiod tried to evaluate the ideas of justice in their worlds and the ways of how people prefer to use their possibilities and knowledge using the story of Prometheus; Plato focused on the [...]
The myth offers intrinsically narrates the war that Iris had with the sky due to the pride of Iris. The "Iris and Sky" myth fits in the etiological theme of the classical mythology.
As the reader explores the idea of divinity throughout most of the Greek mythologies and epics, it becomes clear that there is a strong connection between the people of Greece and their gods thus making [...]
Zhong Kui, the Demon Queller, or Shoki, as foreigners call this creature, is the keeper of the hearth and home in Japan and one of the most picturesque characters of Japanese legends.
The popularity of the theme of love affairs between the gods and the mortals can be explained with the peculiarities of the concept of divinity in Greeks and Romans.
Zeus' main weapon was the thunderbolt and he was commonly referred to as the father of men and gods. Zeus had to fight with the remaining Titans and he was able to vanquish one of [...]
An important aspect to note when it comes to the issue of eros and the Greek interpretation of this kind of love is the contribution made by the Plato in ensuring the nature and meaning [...]
However, the most common myth indicates that before creation of the heavens, the sea and the earth were made and whatever existed could only be described as lifeless, disorganized and shapeless matter.
The Biblical conceptualizations of the origin of man provide an excellent form of a myth in the antiquity while the relatively new myth of the Superman offers the best illustration of a myth in the [...]
But, the content of the myth is meaningful in terms of representation of human beliefs in the creation of the world, structure of the universe and reflect people's vision and explanation of the power of [...]
The wizard in 'The Circular Ruins' lives in the reality of ordinary men before he relocates to the ruins and he is regarded by others and views himself as a normal man.
However, later in his reign, Crassus fell into conflict with King Hyrodes and he was slew by Surena, one of the king's men. Crassus died in the hands of Surena after falling apart with his [...]
He was believed to be the creator and the controller of the sea therefore, people gave him respect and they make him to become angry. Poseidon was a god of the sea and therefore was [...]
In this case, the essence of titles, class and identity plays a significant role in the narration as the explanation of the human behavior and the reasons of the social conflicts.
Dido is the queen of Carthage and Dido's father was a king of the Phoenicians. After Medea's husband abandons Medea for another woman, Medea is married to another man in the land she fled to.
According to the author, the king is "given such glory of war, such honor of combat, that all his kin obey him gladly till great grow his band of youthful comrades".the character of the king [...]
In fact, majority of the traditions that people in the modern society carry out have their origin in Greece. One Greek mythology that has influenced the whole world is the celebration of the Olympic Games.
