Question:
What are examples of Greek mythology in English literature?
♫Erica♫
2007-10-29 20:30:34 UTC
Can anyone give me the names of poems, short stories or other English literary works based on Greek mythology?
Nine answers:
ck1
2007-10-29 20:36:31 UTC
William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream is full of Greek mythology.



Other plays by Shakespeare are influenced by Greek mythology, too. For instance Troilus and Cressida and Macbeth (you could say the 3 witches are like the 3 fates) as well as others.



There's also George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion. Though Ovid (whose tale he based it on) is a Roman poet, the Romans took from a lot of Greek mythology: in their gods and works.



Addition: I forgot to mention Frankenstein by Mary Shelley...she even calls it "Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus."



A lot of poets were influenced by Greek mythology, too, like Alfred, Lord Tennyson and George Gordon, Lord Byron.
katke
2017-01-03 17:00:29 UTC
Greek Mythology In Literature
luppens
2016-11-14 08:39:18 UTC
Examples Of Mythology
2015-08-14 17:30:01 UTC
This Site Might Help You.



RE:

What are examples of Greek mythology in English literature?

Can anyone give me the names of poems, short stories or other English literary works based on Greek mythology?
2007-10-29 22:05:26 UTC
How about Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelly? Or:



Romeo and Juliet/play by William shakespeare (Pyramus and Thisbe)



Pygmalion/play by George Bernard Shaw (Pygmalion)
2007-10-29 20:59:28 UTC
Greek Mythology is everywhere!

Look at Hermione Granger in Harry Potter: Means "well-born," "earthy," or "stone." Refers to peony-type flowers. The feminine version of Hermes. In Greek mythology, was often known as the patron saint of high magic (no surprise our Hermione is so gifted). She was the daughter of Helen of Troy and King Menelaus of Sparta. In the Aeneid, Hermione was kidnapped by Pyrrhus, but her loving Orestes came and murdered Pyrrhus while he was praying. Hermione is also a character in Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale. The character is accused of adultery and dies before the intermission. At the end of the play she is brought out as a statue, and finally returns to life at the very end of the play. A possible connection to her petrification in Chamber of Secrets?



Or Narcissa Malfoy: "Narcissism" means "the excessive love of oneself." In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a man who believed himself to be the most handsome man on the planet. He died of grief, because he could not get love from his reflection in the water. When he was buried, a flower bloomed on his grave - a narcissus. Narcissa is often described as having a look like a nasty smell has been placed under her nose. Is this due to the nasty smell of the narcissus flower?



One of my favorite books East is based on a Greek Mythology story. I can't rememer which story it is but a girl marries someone but has never seen what he looks like. She finally gets courious enough to see him while he is asleep. It really is interesting.



But yes, Greek mythology is everywhere. Shakespear used it alot as well.
Diana
2007-10-29 21:08:50 UTC
"Ulysses" by James Joyce

"The Odyssey: A Modern Sequel" by Nikos Kazantzakis

"Till We Have Faces" by C. S. Lewis (story of Cupid & Psyche)



British Poet Laureate Ted Hughes did two volumes of poetry with his take on Ovid's "Metamorphoses."



A series of books based on mythology were written by women writers, including "The Penelopiad" by Margaret Atwood (inside Odysseus's wife's mind while he was away; good stuff!) and "Weight" by J. Winterson about Atlas.



Are you counting stuff like "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand? Then we could go on forever!
solitary walker
2007-10-29 21:00:28 UTC
Ode to Psyche by John Keats
cavidda
2007-10-29 20:34:21 UTC
Shakespeare's play: "Troilus and Cressida."


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