Modern fantasy is a literary genre that is distinguished by story elements that violate the natural, physical laws of our world. Elements such as talking animals, imaginary worlds, fanciful characters, and magical beings are particular to this genre. Modern fantasy authors don’t just make up an imaginary story;  they create a make-believe world with its own set of physical laws and imaginary but believable characters. These stories also invite the reader to reflect on an issue or issues of the human condition.

Mythical creatures, supernatural animals or beings that don’t exist in real life, are ubiquitous in modern fantasy. Most mythical creatures originate from ancient mythologies. Throughout history, mythology have always been the inspiration of storytellers, but it is in fantasy literature that mythology has made its presence felt, strongly influencing fantasy stories with tales of gods, heroes, and monsters. Today, mythical creatures still make their presence felt, and its appeal is as strong as ever, appearing it seems in every fantasy tomes.

Here is a list of five popular mythical creatures and how they have evolved in modern fantasy stories.

 

Fairies

 

Fairies, often depicted as small winged creatures with a penchant for mischief, can be traced back to Old French medieval stories. But it was William Shakespeare who made a significant contribution to the portrayal of fairies in literature when he introduced Puck, a clever and playful fairy, in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Then came Tinker Bell of Peter Pan (J. M. Barrie), who was significant in the popularization of fairies. Her tiny stature, luminous wings, and spirited personality became the modern fairy archetype and became a cultural icon.

Modern authors like Neil Gaiman and Philip Pullman, with their adult fairy tales, challenged traditional roles and characteristics of fairies, reinventing them as creatures with more depth and complexity. Holly Black in her Modern Faerie Tales, introduced us to fairies of complex natures and living in urban streets. Other others like Sarah J. Maas and Julie Kagawa of the Iron Fey series portrayed fairies that reflect the complexities of the modern world.

 

Mermaids

 

The myth of half-human, half-fish creatures can be traced all to ancient Babylon but has appeared in the folklore of many cultures around the world. Mermaids as mythical creature has captivated the human imagination for centuries. While some cultures depicted mermaids as beautiful and romantic, sometimes they took on a more destructive depiction, bringing harm and death to humans. It was the 1837 fairy tale The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson that popularized mermaids while later Disney film adaptations secured the mermaids’ place in popular culture.

In the twenty-first century, mermaids have taken on supernatural qualities, but the idea of a beautiful, kind woman still lingers. Their continuing presence in cultural representation, reimagined or otherwise,  reaffirms their place in our collective consciousness.

 

Werewolves

 

A werewolf is a human who can transform or shapeshift into a wolf. This idea was widespread in European folklore during the medieval period, but the various stories involving werewolves differs according to tradition. It was in the late sixteenth century to early seventeenth century that the fasciation for werewolves peaked, and a number of treatises were written, particularly in France.

In the twentieth century, werewolves became part of the horror fantasy genres, describing them as malevolent creatures highly resistant to injuries but vulnerable to silver weapons. A 1928 novel, The Wolf’s Bride: A Tale from Estonia, by Aino Kallas tells a story of a werewolf who was under the influence of a malevolent forest spirit. Over time, the depiction of a malevolent werewolf has changed to even heroic, such as in the Underworld and Twilight series. Still, werewolves, like in the novel The Howling, remain willful and ferocious.

 

Dragons

 

Dragons are magical legendary creatures common in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Dragons in Western cultures are depicted as winged, horned, and can breath fire. In Eastern cultures, dragons are wingless, serpentine, intelligent creatures.

There is a very long history of dragons running through the myths and literature, but it was the unnamed dragon in Beowulf that became the central to the lore of dragons. It became the benchmark for a dragon’s depiction as a ferocious, mighty, and destructive creature.

In the late nineteenth century, particularly in children’s fantasy genres, the traditional depiction of dragons underwent a transformation. Rather than frightening, they are depicted as harmless and benevolent. These stories moved past ingrained ideas about dragons and overturned a millennia of prejudice against dragons. Today, writers are coming up of new ways to portray dragons. Game of Thrones present dragons that can be befriended and bonded with while Marie Brennan, in her Lady Trent series, has a more naturalistic perspective on dragons. So does Elizabeth Peter’s Summer of Dragon.

 

Giants

Giants appear in many folklore and myths. They are portrayed as huge mythical beings usually in humanlike form. Famous giants include the mighty Celtic giants Cormoran and Gogmagog, the African giant Bumba, and the Greek giant Pallas. Throughout history giants have been depicted by various cultures in fascinating and diverse ways. Giants are often portrayed as monsters, cruel and evil, often clumsy or stupid; but they can be also gentle, light-hearted behemoths.

Traditional fairy tales that feature giants include Jack and the Beanstalk, The Valiant Little Tailor, and Jack the Giant Killer. Among the classics, there’s The BFG by Roald Dahl, Gulliver’s Travel by Johnathan Swift, and the Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde. In these stories, writers explore themes like overcoming obstacles, personal growth, adventure, etc. Modern authors today still feature giants. For example, Niel Gaiman, with his Odd and the Frost Giants, and Jorge Aguirre of Giant’s Beware.

Our enduring fascination for these mythical beings continues to impact popular culture, making lasting impressions in movies and entertainment, art, and, of course, literature.

 

There is no doubt, mythology has shaped the stories of modern fantasy literature. Mythology may have evolved and adapted to the modern world, with authors finding new ways to retell, reinterpret, and reinvent myths; but it has never failed to inspire us.

 

Sources:

Rhody, Gabrielle. “Mythological Creatures for Fantasy Writers.” January 16, 2017. https://writefortheking.wordpress.com/2017/01/16/mythological-creatures-for-fantasy-writers/.

The Guardian Labs. “Myths and Magic.” Accessed August 11, 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/mythical-creatures/ng-interactive/2019/aug/26/most-legendary-mythical-creatures-history.

Tuttle, John. “Mythology’s Influence on Modern Science Fiction and Fantasy.” Last modified December 22, 2017.  https://www.sffworld.com/2017/12/mythologys-influence-on-modern-science-fiction-and-fantasy/.