The Ageless Influence of Greek Mythology on Literature
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When we consider age-old tropes in literature, Greek or Roman mythology are the more popular narratives that many novels follow. From two of the greatest poems written by Homer, the Iliad and Odyssey, to modern bestsellers such as Song of Achilles, the fascinating tales of Greek mythology remain popular to this day. What’s more, nearly all of western literature can trace their roots back to the lessons from Greece. Some of our favourite (and loathed) novels read in English class such as Frankenstein by Mary Shelley draw their roots from ancient Greek mythology. In fact, Frankenstein was originally called the modern Prometheus. Nonetheless, it would be inaccurate to claim that these novels have remained unchanged over the centuries since the fall of ancient Greece in 146 BCE. They have undergone profound changes that continue to permeate modern literature today.
Classic Literature
Of classic Greek literature, the two poems, Iliad and Odyssey, by the Greek poet Homer may come to mind. However, these two poems only scratch the surface of the broad expanse of ancient Greek literature. For instance, the Library of Greek Mythology by Apollodorus is considered to be one of the most comprehensive collections of Greek mythology. Plays such as Medea, Hecuba, and Alcestis by Euripides or Antigone, Philoctetes, Ajax, and Electra by Sophocles are also other documentations of classic Greek mythology. These are the plays and poems that paved the way for the future of Greek-inspired literature. While no account of Greek mythology is completely accurate (mythology itself is developed naturally by instincts of society to explain the unnatural), when we consider the accuracy of novels based in Greek mythology, these classics are often considered as an appendix.
Modern literature
To a large extent, modern Greek mythological literature, which is agreed to begin around the early 1900’s, remains true to the tales it was based on. To take a common example and one dear to my heart, the Percy Jackson series written by Rick Riordan is an example of near perfect adaptation. Observing the mythology in Percy Jackson alone, the tales and references are mostly accurate. A hot-headed and arrogant Ares, a collected and welcoming Hestia, and a bitter but wise Hades – all these are common characteristics of these gods based on their upbringing and history. While there are some inaccuracies such as the fact that Dionyeses was never punished to the Mortals or that Athena never had children, the artistic liberties only add to the novelty of the series. Many of us would likely welcome them for the depth and change that they bring to the universe of Percy Jackson.
Still, differences exist even between modern novels that have adapted Greek mythology. Circe, by Madeline Miller, was a novel that I read recently. While series such as Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the more lighthearted Mythomania bring Greek mythology to the modern world, books like Circe or Song of Achilles recount the individual perspectives of characters during Ancient Greece. While both are equally enjoyable in their own respect, I find that novels that create their own stories of Greek folklore to be more freeing.
Though the adaptations of Greek mythology have changed over time, the pervasiveness of these mythos is undeniable. The fairy tales we are told as a child to the books we pore over in higher education all have their roots in the classics of Greece. Plus, the popularity comes as no surprise. Greek mythology’s beings are all human-like, with a depth that few mythologies have. The Titans and Gods have a rich history, and they captivate people from all walks of life. Modern literature itself is a testament to that fact.