Monster is a term for any number of mythical beasts that frequently appear in mythology, legend, and horror fiction. They are also a mainstay of Dungeons & Dragons and similar role-playing games. "Monster" usually, but not always, implies that these creatures are larger than human size. It almost always implies that the creatures are powerful and hostile to the hero, and must be overcome to succeed in the quest.
Some well known monsters are:
- Bigfoot
- Cthulhu
- Frankenstein's monster.
- Godzilla (see Toho Studios; kaiju)
- Gorgon
- Grendel
- Hydra
- Jabberwock
- King Kong
- Loch Ness monster
- Roc
- Scylla
- Sphinx
- Tarasque
Some well known monster types are:
- cyclops
- basilisk
- centaur
- dragon
- giant
- giant ape
- giant insect
- giant squid (kraken)
- goblin
- golem
- gryphon
- harpy
- hippogriff
- minotaur
- ogre
- orc
- troll
- undead
- werewolf
- yeti
Famous stories involving monsters:
- Beowulf
- The Call of Cthulhu
- Dracula
- Frankenstein
- Saint George
- The labors of Hercules
- The Hobbit
- Jack and the beanstalk
- The Lord of the Rings
- Saint Martha and the Tarasque
- The Odyssey
- The myth of Perseus
See also: cryptozoology; mythical beast; role-playing bestiary