The Centaur

By John Updike

Subjects: Fathers and sons, High school teachers, Centaurs, Chiron (Greek mythology), Fiction

Description: This story retells the Greek myth of the centaur, Chiron, who sacrifices his immortality for Prometheus. In the retelling, Olympus becomes Olinger High School; Chiron teaches general science; and, Prometheus is his 15-year-old son. Set in 1947 Pennsylvania.