Download Writing A Greek Myth

Instructions
How to Write a Modern-Day Greek Myth
1
Think of a natural occurrence that is not easily understood without modern science. The
Greeks used myths to explain the world around them, with the Gods often causing such
phenomena as the seasons and storms. To write a Greek myth, you could also choose
something that happens in the natural world, the cause of which is not immediately
obvious. Volcanoes and earthquakes are some examples.
2
Create characters. In Greek mythology, the protagonists were often heroes or Gods. The
Gods tended to have special powers; for instance, Zeus could transform himself into other
forms, such as animals, and was said to be behind the rain and drought.
Meanwhile, the heroes were also remarkable. Heracles, for example, was a demi-God -his father was Zeus but his mother was a mortal -- and he successfully completed many
feats, including ridding the city of Troy of a monster.
Bear such characters in mind when deciding who shall be the protagonists in your story.
Remember that their special powers should be used to cause the natural occurrence you
chose. If you are writing about a volcano, you may want to create a character that lives
beneath the ground and punches the world above when he's angry, causing an explosion
on the surface of the Earth.
3
Imagine an initiating incident. An initiating incident is the event that sets the ball rolling
in a story. In Greek mythology, the Gods often punished mortals for doing wrong. It may
be that the mortals in your story have indulged in unacceptable or immoral behavior and
the natural occurrence is doled out as a consequence.
4
Write about conflict. The middle section of stories often explores conflict between
characters, which is resolved at the end of the tale. Greek mythology was often based
around dualities, such as the fight between good and evil or light and dark. Take the
conflict that has arisen from the initiating incident, which may be the mortals being
punished for wrong doing, and attempt to resolve it. This could take the form of the
mortals attempting to appease the gods, for example.
5
Write an ending that resolves the issue and teaches the reader about life. Greek myths
often attempted to answer questions such as "Why are we here?" and "What is our
purpose?" as well as conveying the proper way to live and values by which to live.