The Key Elements of Mythology

Gods, goddesses and mystical beings are part of the myth. They can disguise themselves as mortals, have human feeling and interact with the human world.

• A Struggle for Power

• Supernatural or Non-Human Characters

• Explanation of the Origin of Life and the Natural World

Often times , main characters , in myths do not get along because they want to have the most control. this fight could occur between two supernatural forces, a supernatural force and a mortal, or two members of a single family. The argument usually ends with some sort of punishment or death.

• A Struggle of Power

• Supernatural and Non-human Characters

• Tension between Opposing Forces

Myths show a strain between two characters who are on different sides. Usually one of the main characters or the hero has the responsibility of resolving this conflict.

• Supernatural or Non-human Character

• A Struggle for Power

• Tension between Opposing Forces in the Universe

Neither gods nor human seems to be able to escape their destiny. Usually, the destiny of these character begins with some type of prediction about the characters future.

• Superhuman or Non-human Characters

• Fate and Prophecy

• Explanation of the Origins of Life and the Natural World

This is the end of a journey for a human character in a myth. Often times it involves travel between the current world, and others worlds like Mount Olympus or the Underworld.

• Fate and Prophecy

• Explanation of the Origin of Life and the Natural World

• A Quest or Completion of a Task

Myths can attempt to explain how the world came to be and even the purpose of humans on earth. Science could not be relied upon and so this element helps to gain an understanding of the start of the world.

• Explanation of the Origin of Life and the Natural World

• Fate and Prophecy

• A Quest or Completion of A Task

“A long, long, long time ago, even before Perseus was born, his grandfather, Acrisios, the king of Argos, was given a prophecy that he would someday be killed by his grandson. To protect himself from this fate, the terrified king imprisoned his only daughter, Danae, in an underground dungeon so that she could never marry or have children.” (Shrouded in Myth)

• A Struggle of Power

• A Quest or Completion of a Task

• Fate and Prophecy

“Cronus was so enraged that war between the father and son became inevitable. Zeus eventually dethroned his father Cronus, who was banished from his kingdom and deprived forever of the supreme power. Cronus’ son now became supreme god.” (Cronus Myth)

• A Struggle for Power

• A Quest or Completion of A Task

• Supernatural or Non-human Characters

“I stared at the horse who had just sprung from the wheelchair: a huge white stallion. But where its neck should be was the upper body of my Latin teacher, smoothly grafted to the horse’s trunk.”

(The Lightning Thief, p. 74)

• Explanation of the Origins of Life and the Natural World

• A Supernatural or Non-Human Characters

• A Struggle for Power

"So let me get this straight," I said. "I'm supposed go to the Underworld and confront the Lord of the

Dead." "Check," Chiron said. "Find the most powerful weapon in the universe." "Check." "And get it back to Olympus before the summer solstice, in ten days." "That's about right."

(The Lightning Thief, p. 146)

• Fate and Prophecy

• Tension between Opposing Forces in the Universe

• A Quest or Completion of a Task