I have been content for my entire career to be identified as a “myth critic,” even though that label is 50 years out of date. Myth criticism was a school for a brief period back in the 60’s, appeared like spring daffodils and just as quickly disappeared. Its one abiding name is that of Northrop Frye, and even he is often regarded in academia as one who, however brilliant, is not merely unfashionable but mistaken. I used to warn students headed for graduate school (back when we had any) that their love of mythology, including the literature that recreates mythology for a later era, would most likely be regarded as, at best, naïve, at worst, reactionary. I still believe, with Frye, that literature produces patterns that, if not universal, are at least widespread, frequently cross-cultural, and fascinating to many people, even if they are not sure why they are fascinated. We can call the narrative patterns myths if we keep in mind that
June 10, 2022
June 10, 2022
June 10, 2022
I have been content for my entire career to be identified as a “myth critic,” even though that label is 50 years out of date. Myth criticism was a school for a brief period back in the 60’s, appeared like spring daffodils and just as quickly disappeared. Its one abiding name is that of Northrop Frye, and even he is often regarded in academia as one who, however brilliant, is not merely unfashionable but mistaken. I used to warn students headed for graduate school (back when we had any) that their love of mythology, including the literature that recreates mythology for a later era, would most likely be regarded as, at best, naïve, at worst, reactionary. I still believe, with Frye, that literature produces patterns that, if not universal, are at least widespread, frequently cross-cultural, and fascinating to many people, even if they are not sure why they are fascinated. We can call the narrative patterns myths if we keep in mind that