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.
List of Figures. Preface.
1. Introducing "Myth".
2. Comparative Approaches:.
The Rise of the Comparative Method.
Max Müller and Solar Mythology.
James Frazer.
The World According to Frazer: Problems and Presuppositions.
The Urmyth: A Study in and of Comparison.
Comparison of the Greek and Hittite Myths of the Divine Succession.
3. Psychology:.
Freud and the Discovery of the Unconscious.
Psychoanalysis to Myth Analysis.
Freud and Anthropology.
Freud in his Social and Theoretical Context.
4. Ritual Theories:.
Social Anthropology.
Jane Harrison and Ritualism.
Walter Burkert and Biosociology.
Burkert's Homo Necans.
5. Structuralism:.
Saussure and Structural Linguistics.
Syntagmatic Structuralism.
A Critique of Syntagmatic Structuralism.
Paradigmatic Structuralism.
Mediation.
Total Structure.
Totalizing Structure.
6. Social Ideologies:.
Structure and Ideology.
Poststructualisms, Postmodernism, and Ideology.
Decrypting Ideology.
An Ideological Analysis of the Myth of Heracles.
Epilogue.
A Little Further Reading.
Bibliography.
Index
