Help with an english question....

Question

Why would literature of any culture- either oral literature of written literature- include stories of monsters overcome by herioc human warrior types?

Answer 1

Ah the ole Greek mythology.  At that particular point in history stories like these were all that they had.  We appreciate them now by reading and studying them, even as boring as they may seem.  Know how you feel, I've been there.  

Answer 2

Because life ends and death, which is an unknown monster, overmasters us. It's a hard point to accept. If a human hero can best a monster, perhaps we don't really die--perhaps humanity will see its lost dear ones.