MYTH

= A REDUCTION TO NARRATIVE SHORTHAND OF RITUAL MIME PERFORMED ON PUBLIC FESTIVALS

DISTINGUISH MYTH FROM:

1. PHILOSOPHICAL ALLEGORY

e.g., Hesiod's cosmography

2. ETIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION OF MYTHS NO LONGER UNDERSTOOD

e.g., Admetus yokes a lion and a boar to his chariot.

3. SATIRE

e.g., Silenus' account of Atlantis

4. SENTIMENTAL FABLE

e.g., Narcissus and Echo

5. EMBROIDERED HISTORY

e.g., Arion's adventure with a dolphin

6. MINSTRAL ROMANCE

e.g., story of Cephalus and Procris

7. POLITICAL PROPAGANDA

e.g., Theseus's federalization of Attica

8. MORAL LEGEND

e.g., story of Eriphyle's necklace

9. HUMOROUS ANECDOTE

e.g., bedroom farce of Heracles, Omphale, and Pan

10. THEATRICAL MELODRAMA

e.g., Thestor and his daughters

11. HEROIC SAGA

e.g., The Iliad

12. REALISTIC FICTION

e.g., Odysseus's visit to the Phaeacians

Return to list.