These unique and memorable poems delve into the tapestry of ancient myths and legends. They transport readers to realms of gods, goddesses, heroes, and mythical creatures.
These lyrical poems weave timeless tales of creation, heroism, love, and betrayal. Poets explore the symbolism and allegories embedded in mythology, drawing parallels to contemporary human experiences.
These poems celebrate the enduring fascination with mythology, reflecting on its role in shaping cultures, morals, and collective imagination throughout history.
Tennyson’s ‘The Lady of Shalott’ narrates the tale of the cursed Lady entrapped in a tower on the island of Shalott, who meets a tragic end.
The poem refers to Thomas Malory's 'Morte d'Arthur' and features Arthur's legendary city of Camelot, its court, and the knight Sir Lancelot. The Lady cursed to view the world through a mirror echoes the mythology of fairy tales. Tennyson was even influenced by Thomas Keightley's 'Fairy Mythology' (1828), a guide to the mythological world of fairies. The poem itself seems a distinct work of mythology influenced by various other mythical tales that Tennyson interweaves with innovation and creativity while deftly addressing his age's societal concerns by delving into the apparent escape of myths.
In Part VIII, while May sets her adulterous plans into motion, deities Pluto and Proserpina debate about the nature of women.
This section heavily features two Roman mythological deities, Pluto and Proserpina, which reflects Chaucer's interest in various mythologies. The two engage in a heated debate about the nature of women, which Pluto views as evil and morally reprehensible. Chaucer chooses these two deities so he can highlight the equal evil possessed by man, as Pluto abducted Proserpina and held her hostage before she became his wife.
‘Odysseus to Telemachus’ by Joseph Brodsky is told from the perspective of the epic hero, Odysseus, while he is stranded on Circe’s island.
Mythological references imbue the poem with a sense of timeless grandeur and metaphorical resonance. Drawing upon ancient Greek mythology, the poem explores themes of heroism, fate, and the influence of the gods, weaving these mythic elements into the narrative to illuminate the human struggles and desires at play.
My dear Telemachus, The Trojan War is over now; I don't recall who won it. The Greeks, no doubt, for only they would leave
‘Horatius’ by Thomas Babington Macaulay is a long narrative ballad about Horatius Cocles, a legendary hero from early Roman history.
The legend of Horatius Cocles is a part of the Roman political myths about the end of the Roman monarchy and the beginning of the Republic. While there's no evidence of a real Horatius Cocles, some people, like the Romans did, believe that he was a real man. However, regardless of whether he is real or not, his legend lives on in the myths of Rome.
In Olga Broumas’s ‘Calypso,’ the speaker conjures up a dreamy world, imagining sensual women to fulfill her sexual desires.
The poem reimagines the myth of Calypso from Greek mythology through the lens of lesbianism. The speaker shares similarities with the mythological Calypso, both embodying unapologetic desire and sexuality, offering a sense of empowerment. While not explicitly identified as Calypso, the speaker may serve as a modern counterpart or be considered a reinterpretation of the mythological figure. The myth also compliments the poem's fantastical element, which creates an otherworldly space for lesbian expression.
Tennyson’s ‘Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal’ illustrates lovers’ union and the speaker’s desire through intricate nature imagery at twilight.
In Greek mythology, Danaë was locked away by her father, King Acrisius of Argos, as an oracle prophesied that Danaë's son would one day kill Acrisius. Despite this, Zeus, the king of the gods, was captivated by her beauty and visited her in the form of golden rain, which poured into her chamber and impregnated her. Just as Danaë could not resist Zeus's divine passion, the beloved is depicted as open and accepting of the speaker's desires as the poem states, 'lies the Earth all Danaë to the stars.'
Sujata Bhatt’s ‘A Different History’ explores postcolonial identity, cultural hybridity, and the lasting trauma of colonization.
The reference to Pan emigrating to India signifies the integration of Western and Eastern mythologies, cultural assimilation, and cross-cultural similarities. The poem also delves into Hindu mythology, mentioning gods manifesting as animals and the goddess Sarasvati, symbolizing knowledge. This fusion of mythologies underscores similar spiritual values, beliefs, and the interconnectedness of different cultures, enriching the poem's exploration of identity and culture in a postcolonial era.
David Constantine’s ‘Watching for Dolphins’ presents urbanites seeking spirituality in nature, symbolized by their quest to spot dolphins.
The Aegean Sea alludes to Aegeus, the Greek mythological king, suggesting a desire for divine intervention or a mystical experience. Additionally, the poem mentions satyrs, who were lewd, part man, part beast creatures in Greek mythology. They were closely related to the God of fertility, also known as the God of wine and pleasure, Dionysus. The mythological references add layers to the poem's meaning while reinforcing its association with Romanticism, as romantics often employed Greek mythology.
‘Leda and the Swan’ is a standout sonnet by W.B. Yeats, featured in his 1928 collection, The Tower. The poem explores the Greek myth of Leda, seduced by Zeus as a swan, and is considered one of Yeats’ finest works.
This poem is deeply rooted in Greek mythology. It retells the story of Zeus and Leda, which is part of a larger myth that includes the birth of Helen and the fall of Troy. Yeats uses this myth not only as a retelling but as a way to reflect on power, fate, and history. Because mythology is the very foundation of the poem, it is the most accurate and central topic to associate with it.
In ‘Lycidas,’ Milton employs the pastoral elegy to memorialize the death of his friend, Edward King. As he transforms King’s life into an allegory, Milton interrogates Christian ideology and the form of epic poetry.
This poem contains numerous mythological references. By calling upon a variety of mythic gods and figures, Milton expands the scope of the poem to encompass a wide range of ideas stemming from King's death.
William Butler Yeats’s ‘The Second Coming’ delves into the hopeless atmosphere of post-World War I Europe through apocalyptic imagery.
Drawing on elements of Christian mythology, Yeats references the “Second Coming” and infuses it with new meaning by invoking a Sphinx-like beast from the Spiritus Mundi. This blend of myth and apocalyptic vision shows Yeats’ fascination with cycles of history and the collision of mythological past and modern destruction.
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
In ‘The Frog Prince’ by Stevie Smith, the principal subject of contemplation is a frog and everything that is linked with enchantment, satisfaction, and transformation into the subject of true happiness.
The poem relates to the realm of mythology as motifs and archetypes are featured in it, and among them, there can be the prince turned into the frog and the kiss given by the maiden. These elements allude to the very old traditions and add a measure of fable and myth to the poem, connecting it with the fairytale genre. The other feature that adds to the mythological nature of the work is the theme of change and the potential of freedom.
‘Adonais’ is a lament for the untimely death of the mystical figure Adonais, symbolizing the young and talented John Keats.
Greek mythology plays an important role throughout the poem, helping Shelley frame Keats’s death in a larger symbolic context. He names Keats as “Adonais,” drawing from the myth of Adonis, a beautiful youth mourned by gods. Shelley also refers to Urania and other classical figures to show how poetry and grief have been shaped by myth. These references allow him to give Keats a legendary status, suggesting that his life and death belong to a timeless tradition.
Gary Snyder’s ‘Milton by Firelight’ is based on Satan’s comment in Paradise Lost and how it is relevant in the present time given the condition of the environment and humankind.
The poem uses references to Milton's 'Paradise Lost' and other myths to discuss the clash between ancient beliefs and modern life. By incorporating these old stories, Snyder reflects on their relevance today and how they influence our understanding of the world, blending historical myths with contemporary issues.
Our Poem Guides, PDFs, Study Tools, and Articles are created by a team of qualified poetry experts to provide an unparalleled in-depth look into poetry.
