Myth and Knowing: An Introduction to World Mythology

by Scott A. Leonard, Michael McClure, Michael McClure (Joint Author)

Overview

Myth and Knowing is by far the most comprehensive world mythology textbook. The text/reader format provides both jargon-free discussions of current themes and thinkers in the ongoing scholarly conversation about myth and a broad selection of complete myths chosen for literary merit and the cultural sensitivity of their translations. Rather than being genre-driven, the book emphasizes the psychological, religious, and cultural meanings of myth, presenting these with the intent of fostering in students a love of literature.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780767419574
Publisher:	McGraw Hill LLC
Publication date:	02/18/2003
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	432
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Scott A Leonard (Youngstown, OH) is a professor at Youngstown State University

in Ohio.

Michael McClure (Lexington, VA) is a professor at Washington and

Lee University in Virginia.

Table of Contents

Chapter One: Purposes and DefinitionsThe Study of MythologyWhat is Myth Historically?The Rise of MythologyMythology During the EnlightenmentMythology in the 20th CenturyMythology TodayReading MythologyWorks Cited and Suggestions for Further ReadingChapter Two: Creation MythsThe Birth of OrderClassifying Cosmogonic MythsTypes of Creation MythsReading Creation Myths"Amma and Nummo Create the World" (Dogon/Nigeria)"The Creation, from The Eddas" (Norse/Iceland)"From Chaos to King Zeus" (from the Theogony/Greek)"Out of the Blue" (Modern retelling from Iroquois sources)"The Creation of Ulligara and Zalgarra" (Sumerian/Iraq)"Creation Myth from the Vishnu Purana" (Hindu/India)"Genesis: The Creation Account" (Hebrew Scriptures)"The Popul Vu" (Maya/Yucatan and Guatemala)Works Cited and Suggestions for Further ReadingChapter Three: The Female DivineThe Great GoddessArchetypal PsychologyGoddess as Literary Character TypesReading the Female Divine"The Fire" Goddess (Hawaiian/Hawaii)"White Buffalo Calf Woman" (Brule Sioux/North American Great Plains)"The Courtship of Inanna and Dumuzi" (Sumerian/Iraq)"A Taste of Earth" (modern retelling of Vietnamese materials/Vietnam)"Kali Beheaded" (modern retelling of Hindu materials/India)"Calisto and Arcas" (from Ovid's Metamorphosis; Roman/Italy)"On the Origin of the World" (Gnostic/Egypt)Works Cited and Suggestions for Further ReadingChapter Four: The Male DivineThe Prehistory of GodThe "Sorcerer" of Trois FreresThe "Shaman" of Trois FreresImages of the MasculineReading the Male Divine"Bhagavad Gita" (Teachings 1, 2, 6, and 11; Hindu/India)"Enki and Ninhursanga" (Sumerian/Iraq)"Orunmila Gives the Orishas Their Powers and His Friendship with Eshu" (Yoruba/Nigeria)"Thor's Dual with Hrungnir" (Norse/Iceland)"Quetzalcoatl Rescues the Precious Bones and Discovers Corn" (Aztec/Mexico)Works Cited and Suggestions for Further ReadingChapter Five: Trickster MythsThe Embodiment of AmbiguitiesReading Trickster Myths"Why We Tell Stories about Spider" (Ga/West Africa)"Ajapa, Aja the Dog, and the Yams" (Yoruba/Nigeria)"How Coyote Placed the Stars" (Wasco/Oregon)"Coyote Man and Saucy Duckfeather" (modern myth; Peter Blue Cloud)"The Trouble with Rose Hips" (Lipan Apache/American Southwest)"Old Man Coyote Meets Coyote Woman" (Blackfoot/South-Central Canada, North-Central U.S.)"The Treasures of the Gods" (Norse/Iceland)"The Seven Great Deeds of Ma-ui" (Oceania)"Prometheus" (from the Theogony/Greek)"Pa Pandir, or Daddy Moron" (Malaysian)BibliographyWorks Cited and Suggestions for Further ReadingChapter Six: Sacred PlacesThe Grounding of MythologyGulliford's Nine Categories of Sacred PlacesDeloria's Four Categories of Sacred SitesSites of Longing and FearCombining Interpretive Strategies"The Zuni and the Grand Canyon" (modern Zuni account/Arizona)"The Emergence" (ancient Zuni account/Arizona)"Bighorn Medicine Wheel" (modern account/Wyoming)"The Medicine Wheel" (medicine man Hyemeyohsts Storm/Wyoming)"Sacred Landforms in Japan" (Japan)"The Mountain of the Lotus and the Fan" (Japan)"Yoshoji and the Goddess Fuji" (Japan)"Ten Thousand Treasure Mountain" (Yao/China)"Kobo Stories" (Buddhist/Japan)"The Waters of Eternal Life" (Jewish/Italy, 11th c.)"The Castle in the Lake" (Bon/Tibet)"The Cormorants of Utrost" (Norway)"The Areca Tree" (modern retelling of ancient Vietnamese materials)"Biriwilg Becomes a Painting" (Aboriginal Australia)Works Cited and Suggestions for Further ReadingIndex