| Description |
1 online resource (385 pages) |
| Physical Medium |
polychrome |
| Description |
text file |
| Contents |
Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; Note on Transliterations and Abbreviations; 1. The Story of Myth; 2. Ritual's Handmaid; 3. Narrating Myths; 4. The Greek Mythic Story World; 5. Characters; 6. Metamorphoses; 7. Heroes; Epilogue; Notes; References; Acknowledgments; Index of Names and Terms; Index Locorum. |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and indexes. |
| 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.-- Provided by publisher. |
| Local Note |
eBooks on EBSCOhost EBSCO eBook Subscription Academic Collection - North America |
| Language |
In English. |
| Subject |
Mythology, Greek -- Comparative studies.
|
|
Mythology, Greek. |
| Genre/Form |
Comparative studies.
|
| Subject |
Discourse analysis, Narrative.
|
|
Discourse analysis, Narrative. |
|
Heroes -- Mythology -- Greece.
|
|
Greece. |
|
BODY, MIND & SPIRIT -- Spirituality -- Paganism & Neo-Paganism. |
|
Heroes -- Mythology. |
|
RELIGION -- Antiquities & Archaeology. |
|
HISTORY / Ancient / Greece. |
| Other Form: |
Print version: Johnston, Sarah Iles. Story of Myth. Cambridge : Harvard University Press, ©2018 9780674185074 |
| ISBN |
9780674989573 electronic book |
|
0674989570 electronic book |
|
9780674989559 electronic book |
|
0674989554 electronic book |
|
9780674989566 electronic book |
|
0674989562 electronic book |
|
9780674185074 |
|
0674185072 |
| Standard No. |
10.4159/9780674989573 |
|
