Introduction to Mythology Contemporary Approaches to Classical and World Myths

by Thury, Eva M.; Devinney, Margaret K.

• ISBN13: 9780190262983
• ISBN10: 0190262982
• Additional ISBN(s): 9780190263041
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2016-02-10
• Publisher: OUP
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

About This Book

Introduction to Mythology: Contemporary Approaches to Classical and World Myths

ISBN: 9780190262983

Introduction to Mythology: Contemporary Approaches to Classical and World Myths is a comprehensive textbook designed for students and educators interested in the study of mythology. This book is a go-to resource for anyone looking to delve into the rich and diverse world of myths from various cultures around the globe.

Who Uses It?

Primarily, this book is used by students and instructors in introductory mythology courses at the college and university levels. It's also a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the basics of mythology, including professionals looking to refresh their knowledge or expand their understanding of cultural and historical narratives.

History and Editions

The fourth edition of Introduction to Mythology: Contemporary Approaches to Classical and World Myths has been updated to address user feedback, incorporating the latest research and discussions on critical perspectives in mythology. This edition includes detailed explanations, interpretations, and theory, making it an essential tool for students and scholars alike. The book has been in publication since 2016, providing a thorough and up-to-date exploration of myths from various sources around the world.

Author and Other Works

Eva M. Thury and Margaret K. Devinney are the authors of Introduction to Mythology: Contemporary Approaches to Classical and World Myths. Eva M. Thury is known for her engaging approach to explaining complex mythological concepts clearly and simply. Margaret K. Devinney brings her expertise in classical studies to the text, ensuring that it remains current and relevant.

Key Features

• Comprehensive Coverage: The book covers a wide range of myths drawn from sources all around the world, including Greece, Rome, Mesopotamia, Africa, China, and Mesoamerica.
• Critical Perspectives: The text approaches myths from various critical perspectives, providing students with a nuanced understanding of these cultural narratives.
• Detailed Explanations: Integrating original texts with explanations, interpretations, and theory, this book offers a thorough exploration of mythological themes.
• Bibliographical References and Index: The book includes bibliographical references and an index, making it easier for students to conduct further research.

Detailed Information

ISBNs and Formats

• Paperback: ISBN-13: 9780190262983
• eTextbook (365-Day Access): Available through eCampus (ISBN: Not specified, but available for $58.84 as of 4 seconds ago)
• eTextbook (No Expiration): Available through VitalSource and RedShelf (ISBN: Not specified, but available for $78.45 as of 4 seconds ago)
• Used Copies: Available through Textbooks.com and BiggerBooks (ISBN: Not specified, but available for $81.00 and $82.11 as of 4 seconds ago)

Publication Details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication Date: February 10, 2016
• Number of Pages: 944 pages
• Language: English
• Item Weight: Not specified
• Dimensions: 8 x 10 inches

Other Editions and Formats

• The book is available in various formats, including paperback and eTextbooks, ensuring that students can access it in the format that best suits their needs.

Related ISBNs

• The primary ISBN for this book is 9780190262983. However, it is also available in other formats and editions:
• ISBN-10: 0190262982
• eTextbook (365-Day Access): Not specified by ISBN, but available through eCampus.
• eTextbook (No Expiration): Not specified by ISBN, but available through VitalSource and RedShelf.
• Used Copies: Not specified by ISBN, but available through Textbooks.com and BiggerBooks.

This detailed information section provides a quick reference for all the available formats and sources for Introduction to Mythology: Contemporary Approaches to Classical and World Myths, making it easier to find and access the book in the preferred format.

Author Biography

Eva M. Thury is Associate Professor of English at Drexel University.

Margaret K. Devinney is Associate Professor Emerita of German at Temple University.

Table of Contents

*=New to this Edition
Preface
Time Line
PART I. INTRODUCTION TO STUDYING MYTH
1. What Is Myth?
2. Ways of Understanding Myth
PART 2. MYTHS OF CREATION AND DESTRUCTION
2A. Creation
3. Greece: Hesiod
4. Rome: Ovid (Creation)
5. The Bible: Genesis (Creation)
6. Mesopotamia: Enuma Elish
7. Icelandic/Norse: Prose Edda (Creation)
8. North America: Stories from the Zuni, Hopi, and Navajo (Southwest); and from the Iroquois League (Northeastern Woodlands)
9. Africa: Uganda and Nigeria
10. China: Nü Kwa, Kuan Yin, and Monkey
11. Mesoamerica: Popol Vuh
2B. Destruction
12. Rome: Ovid (Flood)
13. The Bible: Genesis (Flood)
14. Icelandic/Norse: Prose Edda (Ragnarok)
PART 3. HEROES AND TRICKSTERS
15. Theory: Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Dave Whomsley
16. Mesopotamia: The Epic of Gilgamesh
17. Applying Theory: A Lévi-Straussian Analysis of the Epic of Gilgamesh, G. S. Kirk
18. India: The Ramayana
19. Icelandic/Norse: Prose Edda (Heroes)
* 20. Arthurian Legend: The Holy Grail, Donna Lynne Rondolone
21. Africa: The Mwindo Epic
22. Greece: Oedipus the King, Sophocles
23. Theory: The Structural Study of Myth, Claude Lévi-Strauss
24. North America: Raven
25. African and African-American Trickster Stories
26. Greece: Prometheus
27. Applying Theory: Different Versions of Myths
PART 4. RITUAL AND MYTH
28. Theory: The Forest of Symbols, Victor Turner
29. Greece: Demeter and Persephone
30. Egypt: Isis and Osiris
31. Applying Theory: Meals in the Bible, Mary Douglas
32. Icelandic/Norse: The Rituals of Iceland, H.R. Ellis Davidson
33. Greece: Heracles and Dionysus
PART 5. DREAMS AND MYTH
34. Theory: Man and His Symbols, C.G. Jung
35. Applying Theory: How to Perform a Jungian Analysis
PART 6. FOLKTALE AND MYTH
36. Theory: The Morphology of the Folktale, Vladimir Propp
37. Applying Theory: A Proppian Analysis of The Wizard of Oz
38. Germany: Grimms' Household Tales
39. Rome: "Cupid and Psyche," Apuleius
40. Applying Theory: Highlighting Different Aspects of the Same Tale Using Multiple Analyses
PART 7. CONTEMPORARY MYTH
41. Daniel Boone: Building the Myth around the Man, Richard Slotkin
42. Stagecoach and Firefly: The Journey into the Unknown in Westerns and Science Fiction, Fred Erisman
43. Harry Potter: A Rankian Analysis of the Hero of Hogwarts, M. Katherine Grimes
44. The Vampire as Hero: Tales of the Undead in a Contemporary Context, Eva M. Thury
PART 8. LITERATURE AND MYTH
45. Poetry and Myth
46. "Yellow Woman": Native-American Oral Myth in a Contemporary Context, Leslie Marmon Silko
47. Narrative and Myth
Glossary of Gods, Heroes, and Antiheroes
Additional Works Cited
Credits
Index