The story of myth
Greek myths have long been admired as beautiful, thrilling stories but dismissed as serious objects of belief, even for the Greeks themselves. Indeed, for centuries scholars have argued that the stories that the Greeks handed down to us--the epics, the tragedies and the other compelling works that t...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Print Book |
| Language: | English |
| Subito Delivery Service: | Order now. |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| WorldCat: | WorldCat |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Cambridge, Massachusetts London, England
Harvard University Press
2018
|
| In: | Year: 2018 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Classical antiquity
/ Greek language
/ Mythology
|
| IxTheo Classification: | BE Greco-Roman religions |
| Further subjects: | B
Discourse analysis, Narrative
B Mythology, Greek Comparative studies B Heroes Mythology Greece B Heroes Mythology B Mythology, Greek Greece |
| Online Access: |
Table of Contents Blurb Literaturverzeichnis |
| Summary: | Greek myths have long been admired as beautiful, thrilling stories but dismissed as serious objects of belief, even for the Greeks themselves. Indeed, for centuries scholars have argued that the stories that the Greeks handed down to us--the epics, the tragedies and the other compelling works that the Greeks left behind--obscure the 'real' myths that supposedly inspired them, and have striven to excavate their hidden meanings. The Story of Myth, however, argues that it was precisely their nature as stories--as gripping tales, starring vivid characters--that enabled myths to do their most important work: to create and sustain belief in the gods and heroes that populated them, thus forming the basis of Greek religion. By drawing on recent work in narratology, sociology and folklore studies and by comparing Greek myths to other narratives--not only the myths of other cultures such as the ancient Near East, but fairy tales, fantasy works, 19th century ghost stories, modern novels, and television series, as well--author Sarah Iles Johnston reveals the subtle yet powerful ways in which the myths forged enduring bonds between their characters and their audience members, created coherent story-worlds, and made it possible to believe in extraordinary gods.-- |
|---|---|
| Item Description: | Includes bibliographical references and index Literaturverzeichnis Seite 329-344 Hier auch später erschienene, unveränderte Nachdrucke |
| ISBN: | 0674185072 |