Myth

Myth is a complex but vital component of an understanding of religion, and issues surrounding the modern discipline of mythology are often fraught with difficulty. In Myth: Key Concepts in Religion students will find all the tools they need to achieve an understanding of this complicated topic.

Structured around a typical programme of study, Robert Ellwood’s accessible introduction covers all the major theories concerning the meaning and interpretation of myth, from structuralist to psychoanalytic, and includes illustrative examples throughout, including modern literary and cinematic myths, from The Lord of the Rings to Star Wars.

1. Encountering Myth
2. Types and Theories of Myth
3. Creation Myths
4. The Hero's Journey: The Warrior
5. The Hero's Journey: The Saviour
6. Eschatological Myth: The End of the World
7. Myths of Evil
8. Nationalistic Myth
9. The Sources of Myth
10. The Psychology of Myth
11. Mythologists

12. Modern Myth

    Robert Ellwood was Professor of Religion at the University of Southern California from 1967 until his retirement in 1997. He is author or editor of over 25 books, including textbooks in world religions and religious studies, histories, and works on spirituality.