How Myths Can Enhance Fantasy Stories

What do we mere mortals have in common with the Olympian gods and goddesses? We may not have Zeus’s strength or Aphrodite’s beauty, but we have similar desires for acceptance, love, and respect.

Many cultures have anthropomorphized deities by describing them as having human qualities, such as character flaws and emotions. These imperfect deities have played various roles in oral tradition, classical literature, and modern literature, from poems to novels. Indeed, a popular literary device in American and British literature is an allusion (an indirect reference to something widely known) to Greek and Roman mythology.

A more direct way to draw on mythology is to adapt or reimagine it. Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians exemplifies a modern fantasy novel series with elements of classical mythology. This middle-grade series appeals to today’s young readers because it integrates Greek mythology into a contemporary setting with struggles that adolescents can relate to.

Beyond Greek mythology, non-Western mythology also inspires fantasy stories, from middle-grade novels to young-adult ones. Malia Maunakea’s middle-grade fantasy novel Lei and the Fire Goddess features the Hawaiian goddess Pele. Melissa de la Cruz’s young-adult fantasy novel The Encanto’s Daughter depicts Filipino supernatural beings.

If you would like to weave myths into your fantasy plotlines, the following tips may help you.

1. If you come from an underrepresented ethnic background, consider writing about your culture’s mythology. By highlighting a lesser-known pantheon, your manuscript may stand out in a slush pile. At the same time, be careful about how you represent this kind of mythology. First, commercializing certain sacred stories may be considered taboo. Second, stories that are in the canons of active religions may be considered real, not fictional. Third, colonization fractured the literary canons of some cultures, so their stories may need to be methodically reconstructed.

2. Decide whether you want to have an allusion or a retelling. An allusion may be easier and faster to include in a fantasy story, but a retelling may be more exciting and satisfying to compose.

3. Focus on a lesser-known character. Are you fascinated by a particular mythological figure who is not as widely portrayed as Zeus? If so, can you write from this figure’s perspective?

4. After finishing your draft, consult a mythology expert. You can ask a literature professor at your local university to review your manuscript. Many professors are happy to share their knowledge with authors. 

5. Get a review from a sensitivity reader. A Google search can help you find sensitivity readers who specialize in mythologies. While myths have different versions, it is important that your portrayal of deities is as accurate as possible.

6. Get a review from a beta reader. A challenge of incorporating mythology, especially a lesser-known one, is that it can confuse a reader. As the writer, you may deeply understand a mythological figure and his or her origin story, but a reader who is unfamiliar with the lore may have trouble following the character arc. A beta reader can identify any parts that need more clarity.

These tips stem from my current work on a fictional short story that includes elements of Guam’s CHamoru/Chamorro mythology. Although I grew up learning about CHamoru/Chamorro legends, I still worry about accuracy because I am piecing together myths that were partially lost to colonization and time. 

In the end, I found that carefully incorporating mythology into a fantasy story is not a herculean task. Rather, it is another layer of care that we build into our stories so that they not only resonate with our readers but also honor our heritage.

Now, I know that I will never have the writing skill of Homer (the author of the Greek epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey). However, I try my best, striving for what Homer called “winged words.”