Literary cycles are groups of stories grouped around common figures, based on mythical figures or loosely on historic ones. One well known such cycle is the Arthurian cycle, the stories of King Arthur, Lancelot and the Knights of the Round Table. Another cycle that is frequently drawn upon centers around the Trojan War; the Iliad, the Odyssey, the Aeneid, and countless other epic poetry draws on this body of tales. Also there is a Charlemagne cycle, also known as the Matter of France; a Robin Hood cycle featuring Robin Hood; there are many more.

Irish literature includes four cycles, Fenian Cycle, the tales of Finn mac Cool and the Fiana ; the mythological cycle ; the historical cycle ; and the Ulster cycle , the tales of Cu Chulain .

The York cycle of mystery plays described the entire history of salvation in 47 plays that were developed in York in the 14th through 16th centuries.

The Cthulhu Mythos is sometimes known as the Cthulhu Cycle. These stories include those written by the originator H.P. Lovecraft as well as stories written by other authors inspired by him.