Mythology
in Writing
A structured online course tracing how ancient mythological traditions operate inside literary narratives. Each module pairs close reading with interactive quizzes and applied writing tasks, so participants build both analytical vocabulary and practical craft.
What the program covers
Eight modules arranged in three sequential periods. Each period shifts the focus from reading to analysis to writing, with quizzes reinforcing each transition.
Myth as Narrative Structure
Examines how mythological plots—creation, trial, descent—recur in fiction across centuries and cultures. Participants map these structures onto texts they already know.
Gods, Archetypes, Characters
From Olympus to folklore traditions. How divine figures translate into character psychology in modern literary fiction.
Symbol and Imagery Systems
Recurring objects—water, fire, threshold—and how authors use mythological resonance to load imagery with secondary meaning.
Comparative Myth Across Traditions
Greek, Norse, Slavic, and West African mythological traditions read side by side. Focus on structural similarities and distinct cultural inflections rather than hierarchy.
Ritual and Narrative Rhythm
Seasonal cycles and rite-of-passage patterns in prose pacing and chapter structure.
Subverting the Myth
How contemporary authors deliberately invert or fracture canonical mythological plots to generate tension and meaning.
Writing from Mythological Source Material
Guided exercises starting from a single mythological episode and expanding it into a contemporary scene. Emphasis on voice, point of view, and tonal control rather than plot fidelity.
Building a Personal Mythology
Final module. Participants identify a recurring pattern in their own writing and trace its mythological parallels.
Who leads the modules
The program draws on two specialists with distinct but complementary backgrounds. One approaches myth through literary theory and close reading; the other through oral tradition and folklore research. Past sessions have been documented in detail — see the full archive of speaking engagements and lecture notes.
Past speaking engagements
Ostap Bilyk
Literary Theory / Close Reading
Focuses on how mythological structures operate at the sentence level. Runs the first two periods of the course.
Daryna Koval
Folklore / Oral Tradition
Brings comparative mythology from field research. Leads Period 2 and co-leads the writing practice modules.
Practical questions
A few things participants ask before enrolling. If your question is not here, write directly to info@velokpundas.com and expect a reply within one business day.
No prior knowledge is required. The first module introduces foundational concepts and terminology before moving to more complex narrative analysis.
The course runs across three periods: foundations, applied analysis, and practical writing exercises. Each period contains two to three focused modules with embedded quizzes.
Quizzes provide instant automated feedback. There are no manual grades — participants track their own progress through the module completion indicators.
Yes. All completed modules remain accessible for review. Participants can revisit quizzes and reference materials at any time after enrollment.
Halyna Marchenko
Program coordinator
Questions about enrollment, schedule, or module access go through the contact page or directly to info@velokpundas.com.