Short description
"Theories of Mythology" provides students with both a history of theories of myth and a practical 'how-to' guide to interpreting myth, the most elementary form of narrative.
Both a history of theories of myth and a practical 'how-to' guide to interpreting myth.
Introduces the major theories of myth from the nineteenth century to the present day.
Covers comparative approaches, psychoanalysis, ritual theories of myth, structuralism, and ideological analysis.
Supplies readers with the theoretical tools for imitating each method.
Features detailed exemplary readings of familiar myths.
Long description
Theories of Mythology provides students with both a history of theories of myth and a practical 'how-to' guide to interpreting myth. The book offers a critical introduction to the major theories of myth from the nineteenth century to the present day, covering comparative approaches, psychoanalysis, ritual theories, structuralism, and ideological analysis. A clear and accessible exposition of the founding theorists and their scientific, intellectual and social contexts is combined with an analysis of each method's assumptions, goals, characteristic procedures and relative strengths. Featuring sample readings of familiar myths, the book supplies readers with the theoretical tools for imitating each method.
Review
"I have rarely been in a position to recommend a book with more enthusiasm. It is an extremely lucid introduction to theories of myth and is accessible to those with no prior knowledge. The book is the most comprehensive of its kind - and the most useful." Professor RLH Fowler, University of Bristol
Table of contents
- Prface
- Introducing "Myth"
- Comparative Approaches
- The Rise of the Comparative MethodMax Muller and Solar MythologyJames FrazerThe World According to Frazer
- Problems and PresuppositionsThe Urmyth
- A Study in and of ComparisonComparison of the Greek and Hittite Myths of the Divine Succession
- Psychology
- Freud and the Discovery of the UnconsciousPsychoanalysis to Myth AnalysisFreud and AnthropologyFreud in his Social and Theoretical Context
- Ritual Theories
- Social AnthropologyJane Harrison and RitualismWalter Burkert and BiosociologyBurkert's Homo Necans
- Structuralism
- Saussure and Structural LinguisticsSyntagmatic StructuralismA Critique of Syntagmatic StructuralismParadigmatic StructuralismMediationTotal StructureTotalizing Structure
- Social Ideologies
- Structure and IdeologyPoststructualisms, Postmodernism, and IdeologyDecrypting IdeologyAn Ideological Analysis of the Myth of HeraclesEpilogueBibliographyIndex