Theseus

A myth is a story within a collective mythology that talks of gods, monsters, and/or heroes and how they shaped the world around them. Characters in myths are usually larger than life and can accomplish feats that would be beyond the skills and scope of the average person.

The story of Theseus in “The Cruel Tribute” is a myth for several reasons. First, it gives prominence to the role of the gods. Even though the focus is on Theseus, several moments give high priority to Athena and the other gods of Olympus. Second, the characters take on challenges of epic proportions. Theseus easily accomplishes the feat of defeating the Minotaur, a task that was repeatedly demonstrated to be impossible by average humans. Third, this story reinforces lessons of ancient Greek morality. Theseus stands above the rest of the people as a hero and a king, and proper recognition is paid to the gods who helped shape him.

Zoomorphism means that animalistic features or tendencies are placed onto non-animal characters or events in a story. The Minotaur is an example of zoomorphism in “The Cruel Tribute” because it is not an animal, though it is also not entirely human.