This not a collection of myths but a study of mythology itself, and a literature anthology as well. It offers a thoughtful explication of the archetypal quest tale, in ways that will make students aware of its universal value in embodying human responses to the universe. Called the "monomyth," the hero tale subsumes within it virtually all the literary themes we know, and this popular text forges connections between myth and literature that any student can readily grasp.
Those who are familiar with the first edition of
Introduction to Myth
will note considerable changes in the text. Three new stories and several new poems have been added. In addition, the introductory chapter has been thoroughly revised and expanded to include more information about what myths are, including theories about their origins, and also about the role of the female in mythology.