What is Myth: The Inheritance and Interpretation of Sacred Narratives

Author: Lü Wei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-12-01
Features: This book is a specialized work on the study of mythological inheritance and interpretation. The author employs theoretical methods of formal analysis and symbolic analysis to discuss a case study—the Chinese formation and variations of the world flood myth. Using the most frequently used concepts in modern folk literature research—motif, function, type, and archetype—as analytical tools for the flood myth, the author points out the effectiveness and limitations of these concepts. It proposes corrective categories and propositions suitable for mythological narrative research—"functional motifs" and "archetypal typification"—and tests them in specific logical-empirical research.