Poetry: Mythology & Folklore

The poems in this Collection illustrate the rich traditions of exploring or creating mythology, folklore, and fables through poetry. The Mythology & Folklore Collection includes selections ranging from "The Epic of Gilgamesh" to modern retellings of classic fairy tales and Greek myths by poets such as Anne Sexton and Louise Glück.

The Tyger

by William Blake

Publication year 1794

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Good & Evil

Tags Lyric Poem, Science & Nature, Romanticism, Mythology, Animals, Education, Education, British Literature, World History, Classic Fiction

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Ulysses

by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Publication year 1842

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Aging

Tags Poetry: Dramatic Poem, Mythology, Education, Education, British Literature, World History, Fantasy, Victorian Era, Classic Fiction

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Works and Days

by Hesiod

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Siblings

Tags Religion & Spirituality, Classic Fiction, Ancient Greece, Mythology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classical Period, World History, Fantasy

“Works and Days” is a didactic poem by Hesiod dating to approximately the eighth century BCE. Hesiod begins the poem with the traditional invocation to the muses, but he deviates slightly from this tradition by including personal information; the poem is an explanation of a dispute between Hesiod and his brother Perses over a family inheritance. The poem’s thematic concerns, which Hesiod explores by arguing how harmful his brother’s actions are not only to himself... Read Works and Days Summary