What's your favorite mythological poem or story?

[EOL]

I'll second Milton's Paradise Lost

 

[Replicant]

I'd have to say Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came , by Robert Browning. Beautiful, brooding, sad thing.... creepy too. The Lady of Shalott is another classic - by Lord Alfred Tennyson - and T.H. Whites Once and Future King is good as well... Hell, all the Norse stuff is neat... but nothing beats Childe Roland ; at least not in my eyes.

I totally agree with you here, Childe Roland is a must read for fans of fantasy. The poem actually served as the inspiration for Stephen King's Dark Tower series, which he's termed as his life work. There's so much allegory in the poem, so much bravery, and the imagery is fantastic. Very creepy and black at times, like something out of Dante's inferno.

Browning doesn't lay out the meaning of the poem either, which I like. What does the dark tower represent? It's never really stated. I've always thought that Roland's quest is representative of man's search for meaning. The tower appears to be death itself.

Browning seems to imply that mankind can make meaning out of life by finding a heroic calling, a quest, if you will. Whether or not he accomplishes it is not of importance. Roland didn't conquer death at the end, but his defiance -- blowing his horn at the tower in a supreme challenge -- makes the poem great.

 

[Hadraniel]

Anythin with Medea. She must be the the greatest villian ever. If you do not agree with me you have to read Seneca's Medea. Man she not only beats good guys, she destroys thier lives and everything they love.

One of the few villians in stories that I can say I really hate with a passion.

 

[mmadsen]

I'd have to say Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came, by Robert Browning.

Which is included in My Last Duchess and Other Poems, a Dover Thrift edition available for $1.50. I'll have to pick up a copy!

 

[runic]

I would have to go with the Norse Eddas especially the "The Sayings of Har : Havamal "from the Poetic Edda. Really into the Rune Poem part (St 138-146).
Also The lay of Skirnir : Skirnismal about the lovesick Freyr.

 

[Ace]

Got to go with the Eddas myself. I understand the Northmen, they aren't that different than us unlike the Greeks.