This article is about the word, for other meanings see Quest (disambiguation)

A quest is a journey towards a goal with great meaning and is used in mythology and literature as a plot device. In literature, the objects of quests are often a lengthy distance from the hero's starting position. This requires much travel and allows the author to showcase the exotic locations and cultures of their fantasy world. Look up quest in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The word mythology (from the Greek μυθολογία mythología, from μυθολογειν mythologein to relate myths, from μυθος mythos, meaning a narrative, and λογος logos, meaning speech or argument) literally means the (oral) retelling of myths – stories that a particular culture believes to be true and that use supernatural events or characters to explain the... Literature is literally acquaintance with letters as in the first sense given in the Oxford English Dictionary (from the Latin littera meaning an individual written character (letter)). The term has generally come to identify a collection of texts, which in Western culture are mainly prose, both fiction and non-fiction... A plot device is a person or an object introduced to a story to affect or advance the plot. ... Literature is literally acquaintance with letters as in the first sense given in the Oxford English Dictionary (from the Latin littera meaning an individual written character (letter)). The term has generally come to identify a collection of texts, which in Western culture are mainly prose, both fiction and non-fiction... Travel is the transport of people on a trip or journey. ... A fantasy world is a type of fictional universe in which magic or other similar powers work. ...

Perhaps the original quest motif is the quest of Gilgamesh, who goes out in search of the secrets of eternal life. Another ancient quest tale is the story of Odysseus, who finds many dangers between him and his goal, which is simply to return home. This quest tale was told by Homer in The Odyssey. The Golden Fleece is the object of another famous quest from the tale of Jason and the Argonauts in Greek mythology. Perhaps the most famous quest motif from fiction centers around the Holy Grail in Arthurian legend; this is an interesting use of the motif, in that those who tell tales of the Holy Grail not only get to deal with heroes who succeed, like Percival/Perceval/Parsifal or Sir Galahad, but also with heroes who fail, like Sir Lancelot. According to the Sumerian king list, Gilgamesh was the fifth king of Uruk (Early Dynastic II, first dynasty of Uruk), the son of Lugalbanda. ... Odysseus and the Sirens. ... Bust of Homer in the British Museum For other uses, see Homer (disambiguation). ... The Odyssey is the second of the two great Greek epic poems ascribed to Homer, the first being the Iliad. ... In Greek mythology, the ram with the Golden Fleece (Okros Satsmisi in Georgian) was given to Nephele of Thessaly by Hermes for her to transport her children, Helle and Phrixus, away from Ino. ... Jason (Greek: Ίασων, Etruscan: Easun) is a hero of Greek mythology who led the Argonauts in the search of the Golden Fleece. ... In Greek mythology, the Argonauts were a band of heroes who, in the years before the Trojan War, accompanied Jason to Colchis in his quest for the Golden Fleece. ... Greek mythology consists of a large collection of narratives detailing the lives and adventures of a wide variety of gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines, which were first envisioned and disseminated in an oral-poetic tradition. ... In Christian mythology, the Holy Grail was the dish, plate, cup or vessel used by Jesus at the Last Supper, said to possess miraculous powers. ... The Matter of Britain is a name given collectively to the legends that concern the Celtic and legendary history of the British Isles, centering around King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table. ... Percival or Perceval is one of King Arthurs legendary Knights of the Round Table. ... A potrait of Sir Galahad by George Frederick Watts. ... In the Arthurian legend, Sir Lancelot (Lancelot du Lac, or Lancelot of the Lake; also Launcelot) is one of the Knights of the Round Table. ...

A familiar modern literary quest is seen in the tale of Frodo Baggins's quest to destroy the One Ring in The Lord of the Rings. The One Ring, its baleful power, the difficult method which is the only way to destroy it, and the spiritual and psychological torture it wreaks on its Bearer, is used by Tolkien to tell a meaningful tale of friendship and the inner struggle with temptation, against a background of epic and supernatural warfare. Frodo Baggins is the main character of J. R. R. Tolkiens monumental and mythological novel, The Lord of the Rings. ... The ring-inscription appearing to Isildur (top) and Frodo (bottom) in Peter Jacksons The Fellowship of the Ring. ... The One Ring, as envisaged by Gerald Stiehler The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy saga by the British author J. R. R. Tolkien, his most popular work and a sequel to his popular fantasy novel The Hobbit. ... J. R. R. Tolkien in 1972, in his study at Merton Street (from by H. Carpenter) John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (January 3, 1892 – September 2, 1973) is best known as the author of The Hobbit and its sequel The Lord of the Rings. ...

In the hands of others, however, the arbitrariness of the quest, the MacGuffin character of its objects, and the thin plot devices used to make its accomplishment difficult, make the quest motif one of the more obvious and less satisfying devices in fiction. However, the quest device is still used in many derivative role-playing games and computer role-playing games and works of mass market fantasy fiction. This article is about the plot device; a MacGuffin is also a block cipher named after the plot device. ... A role-playing game (RPG) is a type of game in which players assume the roles of characters and collaboratively create narratives. ... Computer role-playing games (CRPGs), often shortened to simply (RPGs), are a type of video or computer game that uses traditional gameplay elements found in pen-and-paper role-playing games. ... Mass-marketing is the process of widely marketing a mass-produced item. ... For other definitions of fantasy see fantasy (psychology). ...

A stereotypical quest in such a role-playing game will announce that the heroes must assemble some artifact, which unfortunately for them has been broken into several pieces, each of which is guarded by terrible threats which the heroes must overcome. The quest allows the heroes to shine and show the qualities that make them heroic. Sir Galahad, a hero of Arthurian legend From the Greek cognate , in mythology and folklore, a hero (male) or heroine (female) is an eminent character archetype that quintessentially embodies key traits valued by its originating culture. ... This article is about artifacts in fantasy and roleplaying. ...

In literature as well as video games, side-quests are often used to develop both world and character depth. These miniature plots may or may not have to do with the story's focus (being hereafter called the main quest), and often include a romantic interest, a second major quest that is separate from the main quest, or the videogame's stereotypical "Helping the Neighborhood Solve Its Problems."

The first is the most often used, as most readers/players prefer to have a character that is plausibly real. It often shows the depth of a character's personality, gives opportunity for a seemingly perfect character to have flaws, and presents a possibility for the character's downfall. Sadly, it is sometimes overdone and is without any real thought or planning behind it.

The second is an umbrella, and often includes the romantic interest. One example is in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, the major quest being the binding or destruction of the dark one, with major side quests being the securing of politcal power, romantic interests, and the growth of personal strength or power. Often times, such as in The Wheel of Time, these major side quests are stepping stones to the completion of the final goal.

The third is the most irritating to the avid gamer; the stereotypical "newbie" level. In the beginning of the game, the character is weak and needs some means of experience and so helps the neighbors solve problems. These side-quests are usually menial in nature and have little to no bearing on the main quest, and include such actions as finding a lost book, finding a lost child, or ridding a basement of rats. Luckily, the gamer quickly passes through this level.

A fourth kind is that of a distraction. While most often used in gaming, it is occasionally found in literature as well. This side-quest usually has no bearing on the plot, consisting of raising pets, playing sports or carnival games, as well any other conceivable thing designed to take the mind off the main quest.