5 Myths & Legends Featuring Unforgettable Heroes

Myths and legends offer a rich tapestry of moral lessons, cultural heritage, and timeless heroes whose stories endure through the ages. Whether you're guiding middle school students or more advanced learners, these legendary figures invite deeper reflection, creativity, and an appreciation of the world's diverse cultures. Below we explore five captivating myths and legends featuring unforgettable heroes and the resources needed to craft an engaging and cohesive teaching unit.

1. The Fenris Wolf - Norse Mythology

The Fenris Wolf is a tale of heroism, tragedy, and fear. The Fenris Wolf myth comes from Norse Mythology and draws on names we know from the famous Marvel movies. The trickster Loki is Fenris Wolf's father. The gods are terrified of the evil strength of the Fenris Wolf and fear seals his fate due to the prophecy of the Fenris Wolf bringing an end to all of the gods. Out of this fear, The Fenris Wolf is chained with magic to a rock until the day he breaks free and ends the world. As he is chained he bites off the hand of the god Tyr, the only god brave enough to put his hand in the mouth of the wolf making this myth intriguing due to their relationship.

The relationship between Tyr, the god of war, and the Fenris Wolf makes this myth unforgettable. Tyr is the only one who feeds and cares for Fenris Wolf as a pup before ultimately losing his hand to him by chaining him to the rock, emphasizing a heartbreaking betrayal by both sides. The gods' fear of the Fenris Wolf creates a moral dilemma. Fate cannot be denied in this myth, as much as the gods try to defy it! 

Norse mythology serves as an engaging gateway for students beginning their exploration of ancient mythologies. This brief myth invites reflection on morality while offering a deep dive into a fascinating yet often overlooked culture. The unexpected twists and turns make the heroes unforgettable and the unclear moral lines foster critical thinking. I begin with my Introduction Slides to Norse Mythology Slides as an accessible way to introduce the world of Norse mythology to students. Included is everything a student needs to to fully appreciate Norse mythology, the major gods, places, and of course the major themes before diving into some of the myths! You can find these Slides and all of my resources for teaching the Fenris Wolf myth here.

2. Sigurd the Dragon Slayer - Norse Mythology

Sigurd’s destiny as a dragon slayer is set in motion long before his birth, entwined with the treachery of gods and dwarves. It begins when Loki, the trickster god, kills a son of the dwarf king Reidmar, sparking a quest for vengeance. In retaliation, Reidmar captures both Loki and Odin, but Loki manages to steal the cursed gold of the dwarf Andvari, securing their freedom. The gold corrupts Reidmar’s son, Fafnir, who murders his father and transforms into a dragon to guard the gold. Fafnir’s brother Regin runs in fear but looks for a hero to kill Fafnir and take the gold for himself. Sigurd is the hero-dragon-slayer. Regin uses Sigurd as an apprentice to learn how to build weapons and the time comes to kill the dragon. Sigurd successfully slays the dragon and becomes wise from eating the dragon’s heart. He then realizes Regin plans to kill him, but Sigurd kills him first, taking the gold for himself.

Sigurd is unforgettable because he is a triumphant dragon slayer. He is fearless, wise, and in the end, is unexpected. This story is full of revenge, deceit, and betrayal. This epic battle of a dragon slaying adds suspense and anticipation making it a must-read adventure. 

Now that students have entered the world of Norse mythology with a second myth, they can begin exploring archetypes. Norse mythology certainly follows an archetype that students can now identify including heroism, superhuman qualities, divine intervention, and a quite serious quest. Using a graphic organizer, exploring the archetype in Sigurd the Dragon Slayer brings students knowledge of these timeless patterns that shape myths and legends across cultures.

Once students have demonstrated a solid understanding of the archetypal patterns and completed their reading of two Norse myths, they are prepared to engage in deeper analysis. Students will write a Norse myth of their own. I always encourage students to refer back to the details about the characters, settings, and conflicts they’ve learned about in the myths. Utilizing a graphic organizer to brainstorm their own Norse myth enables students to incorporate key archetypal elements while allowing for creative expression. You can find this myth writing activity and all of my resources for teaching the myth of Sigurd the Dragon Slayer here.

3. The Sword in The Stone - Welsh & Celtic Mythology

This classic tale begins with the death of King Uther Pendragon of Britain. With no clear heir, Merlin, the wise magician, reveals that the next, true king will be revealed when an enchanted sword is pulled from a stone. Arthur, an unknown young squire, pulls the sword from the stone while helping his foster brother Sir Kay find a sword for the tournament. Arthur does not know at the time that this sword represents great power. Once revealed, the sword is returned to the stone, but Arthur is the only one who can retrieve it and ultimately takes his throne as the rightful heir to the kingdom of Britain and is destined for greatness.

Arthur’s story is a classic tale of the underdog. Arthur was not a royal in line for the throne and had no idea of his powerful lineage. Besides being a tale Disney has told, this myth holds power over people because of its timeless values of heroism, morals, magic, and human struggle. 

“The Sword in the Stone" is an exciting opportunity for students to examine their values. How do they compare to the knights of long ago? Students will analyze the code of chivalry from King Arthur’s time, and take time to reflect and think critically about their moral code and the rules they try to follow in their own lives. The Code of Chivalry activity is a powerful activity that allows students to decide what makes them chivalrous. You can find this value defining activity and all of my resources for teaching the legend of “The Sword in The Stone” here.

4. Sir Launcelot du Lake - Welsh & Celtic Mythology

Chivalry, combat, loyalty, and remorse are all themes that run through the legend of Sir Launcelot du Lake. As one of the loyal members of King Arthur’s Round Table and the greatest knight, Sir Launcelot is chosen to go on a quest to save Queen Guinevere after she is kidnapped. Sir Launcelot and Queen Guinevere have a forbidden secret romance that leads to the downfall of the Round Table and Camelot. 

The allure of this story is of course the forbidden love story. Launcelot is a heroic knight but with a tragic flaw of struggling with love. This epic love triangle and human struggle make for an intriguing myth. 

While students won’t be riding off onto the battlefield with a sword and shield in hand, designing a coat of arms is a fun way for students to consider the symbols they would use to represent themselves. After reading about the Knights of the Roundtable students have six guided steps to help them create a coat of arms that represents their personality. Complete with a motto that they stand by, and this activity is always a winner.

Similar to an activity students do after immersing themselves in Norse mythology, after reading two of King Arthur’s legends, students write their own legend about one of the Knights of the Round Table. This exciting writing task begs for creativity! Following the archetype of a heroic quest, and using a real knight of the Round Table plus a medieval weapon, these tales of deceit, love, and glory will be a ton of fun to read.  You can find this coat or arms and legend writing activities as well as all of my resources for teaching the legend of Sir Launcelot Du Lake here.

5. Theseus - Greek Mythology

The myth of Theseus is a tale brimming with unexpected twists and heroic feats. Theseus uses his cunning intelligence to defeat the powerful Minotaur by using his powerful intelligence. Theseus doesn’t know he is a demigod adding to the excitement of his defeats of his foes. Everyone cheers for Theseus as he uses intelligence to defeat the beast of the labyrinth and is able to escape. Theseus’ adventures are full of the unknown allowing for exciting battles. 

Now that students have been exposed to myths from several cultures, we return to examining archetypes. Examining the Greek archetype of heroism, morality vs. divinity flawed heroes, and heroism and tragedy balance the good and bad in the world. The Greek archetype reveals the human experience and is something we can connect with. Students follow the path of a Greek archetype to identify all of the specific elements in a comprehensive chart. 

Next, I introduce an essay. Students have met a variety of heroes as they’ve read different myths and legends. Ask them to compare Theseus to a hero from another culture. This culminating activity invites students to compare and contrast the diverse archetypes and heroes they've encountered across various cultures. Through a well-developed essay, students will develop a thoughtful analysis of ancient cultures. Using a Venn diagram and an outline will help students develop their thoughts in an organized pattern and demonstrate all they have learned! You can find this comparison essay and all of my resources for teaching the myth of Theseus here.

Mythology is a mirror into certain cultural values. Myths are also truly exciting to read. Rooting for the underdog, or holding your breath through battles make for a very engaging unit on mythology. Using some of the resources highlighted above and reading about these 5 heroes will make the unit truly unforgettable. You can find all of my resources for teaching mythology here.