April 27, 2019
Questions to Ask When Creating Fictional Myths
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Over my week-long holiday I set myself a challenge to read the longest book on my shelf; "The Priory of the Orange Tree" by Samantha Shannon, which is over 800 pages. I can't begin to describe to you how detailed and cleverly woven the world-building in this book is. The way the world is designed, its scars and culture, moves through the characters' every actions. The world enthralled me and inspired this post.
"The Priory of the Orange Tree"'s world is built on a vast history that comes from long-standing myths. Myths are integral to culture, religion, and rituals. They are often the basis for celebrations and customs, and stories told over campfires. It's important to note the kind of myths we're talking about here; not necessarily a false story, but rather, according to Google: "a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining a natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events."
If you're unsure how to develop your story world's myths or are baffled where to start, here are some questions you can ask yourself:
1) Who are the central characters in the myth? What are their names, or have they been lost to history? Do they perhaps only have titles?
2) What is plot of the myth? What challenge was overcome, or what event took place? Eg. a great monster defeated, an empire founded, the impossible accomplished. How does the myth explain how the hero of the myth was able to overcome the challenge?
3) How long is the myth? Has it been summarised as it's been passed down, or lengthened?
4) What format is the myth told in? Is it passed on verbally, through art, or through written works? How many copies of it are there?
5) How sacred is the myth considered? Is it the center of their religion, nothing but a story, or an integral part of their history? Would it be blasphemy to disbelieve in it or change the story?
6) Has the myth been altered over time? If so, was it intentional, or a result of the time before its creation to the current time? What has been changed and what has stayed the same?
7) How truthful is the myth? Did the event truly take place, or is it all fabricated? What does the general public believe?
8) When and where is the myth told? Are there special storytellers which can be the only ones who share it with the people, or do parents whisper it to their children before bed? Or something else? Is there a specific holiday where the myth is recounted?
9) What do other cultures and people groups think of the myth? Do they believe it, share it, think it heresy, or something else? How would they respond if they were told the myth as if it were complete truth?
10) What cultural elements have emerged as a result of the myth? Are children scared to walk in the dark alone, is the myth's hero now the figure of their religion, or something else? How does it affect everyday life, if at all?
11) Why or why not will the myth continue to live on? Why do people choose to keep telling it, and what would it take for them to stop doing so?
12) What lessons does the myth present to those who hear it? What values or historical or religious event does it teach? What are its core themes?
13) If the hero of the myth was a person, do their descendants still live? What do they believe about the myth, and how do they interact with it? How have their lives changed because of it?
14) If the antagonist or enemy in the myth has living descendants, how do they feel about the myth? How has it changed their lives, standing in the community, or the way they view the world? Are they still considered enemies?
That's all the questions for today! I hope they'll help spark ideas and worldbuilding concepts for myths and much more. Below are other posts in this blog series:
"The Priory of the Orange Tree"'s world is built on a vast history that comes from long-standing myths. Myths are integral to culture, religion, and rituals. They are often the basis for celebrations and customs, and stories told over campfires. It's important to note the kind of myths we're talking about here; not necessarily a false story, but rather, according to Google: "a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining a natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events."
1) Who are the central characters in the myth? What are their names, or have they been lost to history? Do they perhaps only have titles?
2) What is plot of the myth? What challenge was overcome, or what event took place? Eg. a great monster defeated, an empire founded, the impossible accomplished. How does the myth explain how the hero of the myth was able to overcome the challenge?
3) How long is the myth? Has it been summarised as it's been passed down, or lengthened?
4) What format is the myth told in? Is it passed on verbally, through art, or through written works? How many copies of it are there?
5) How sacred is the myth considered? Is it the center of their religion, nothing but a story, or an integral part of their history? Would it be blasphemy to disbelieve in it or change the story?
6) Has the myth been altered over time? If so, was it intentional, or a result of the time before its creation to the current time? What has been changed and what has stayed the same?
7) How truthful is the myth? Did the event truly take place, or is it all fabricated? What does the general public believe?
8) When and where is the myth told? Are there special storytellers which can be the only ones who share it with the people, or do parents whisper it to their children before bed? Or something else? Is there a specific holiday where the myth is recounted?
9) What do other cultures and people groups think of the myth? Do they believe it, share it, think it heresy, or something else? How would they respond if they were told the myth as if it were complete truth?
10) What cultural elements have emerged as a result of the myth? Are children scared to walk in the dark alone, is the myth's hero now the figure of their religion, or something else? How does it affect everyday life, if at all?
11) Why or why not will the myth continue to live on? Why do people choose to keep telling it, and what would it take for them to stop doing so?
12) What lessons does the myth present to those who hear it? What values or historical or religious event does it teach? What are its core themes?
13) If the hero of the myth was a person, do their descendants still live? What do they believe about the myth, and how do they interact with it? How have their lives changed because of it?
14) If the antagonist or enemy in the myth has living descendants, how do they feel about the myth? How has it changed their lives, standing in the community, or the way they view the world? Are they still considered enemies?
That's all the questions for today! I hope they'll help spark ideas and worldbuilding concepts for myths and much more. Below are other posts in this blog series:
More in the 'Questions to Ask When' series...
What kind of myths do you see in fiction? Have you ever created myths in your storyworld? Will you be entering the contest?
Have a wonderful day! <3