What makes something mythic? What do mythic events and narratives have to do with us? In Mythology, David Leeming offers an unusual and effective approach to the subject of mythology by stressing universal themes through myths of many cultures. This anthology collects a wide array of narrative texts from the Bible to English literature to interpretations by Joseph Campbell, C.G. Jung, and others, which illustrate how myths serve whole societies in our universal search for meaning. Leeming illustrates the various stages or rites of passage of the mythic universal hero, from birth to childhood, through trial and quest, death, descent, rebirth, and ascension. The arrangement of texts by themes such as "Childhood, Initiation and Divine Signs," "The Descent to the Underworld," and "Resurrection and Rebirth" strip mythic characters of their many national and cultural "masks" to reveal their archetypal aspects. Real figures, including Jesus and Mohammed, are also included underli

Mythology: The Voyage of the Hero

Politics & Social Sciences

Leeming, David Adams

Social Sciences

Harpercollins College Div

The human mind has always sensed the existence of an active and conscious unknown - a state of reality separate from but dominant over earthly life. At time, it has ignored or even denied supernatural or occult powers, while at other times, it has actively sought knowledge of or union with them. At present, we are experiencing a period of the latter sort. In nearly every intellectual discipline, as well as most areas of popular culture, that which is "beyond the material" - literally "out of sight" - is being explored or exploited. This book, through a varied group of selections and through commentary, attempts to define and analyze this new interest.

Flights: readings in magic, mysticism, fantasy, and myth

Harcourt, Brace. Jovanovich

"God made Heaven, and then, after measuring the space underneath with a ball of thread, he began to form the earth. A mole asked to help, and God gave him the thread to hold while he wove the patterns of the earth. Sometimes the mole would let out too much thread, and finally the earth grew too large for the space under heaven. The mole was so upset that he hid under the earth. God sent the bee to look for him; he wanted the mole's advice on what to do about the mistake. The bee found the mole and he just laughed at the idea of advising God. The bee, however, hid in a flower and overheard the mole mumbling to himself about what he would do if he were God. 'Iwould squeeze the earth,' he said. 'That would make mountains and valleys and make it smaller at the same time.' When the bee heard this, he went directly to God and told him. God did what the mole had said, and everything fit fine." The myth of Rumanian Creation in which God weaves the earth from a ball of thread is just one the many stories that make up the wonderous world of creation myths. In virtually every culture throughout the ages, creation myths have played a vital role in providing not only explanations of the origins of societies but also specific cultural identities--serving as a "projection of an aspect of a culture's soul." 
Covering thousands of years of intricate creation tales, A Dictionary of Creation Myths is the first and most comprehensive work devoted to creation myths from cultures throughout the world.

A Dictionary of Creation Myths (Oxford Paperback Reference S)

Oxford University Press

What makes something mythic? What do mythic events and narratives have to do with us? In Mythology, David Leeming offers an unusual and effective approach to the subject of mythology by stressing universal themes through myths of many cultures. This anthology collects a wide array of narrative texts from the Bible to English literature to interpretations by Joseph Campbell, C.G. Jung, and others, which illustrate how myths serve whole societies in our universal search for meaning. Leeming illustrates the various stages or rites of passage of the mythic universal hero, from birth to childhood, through trial and quest, death, descent, rebirth, and ascension. The arrangement of texts by themes such as "Childhood, Initiation and Divine Signs," "The Descent to the Underworld," and "Resurrection and Rebirth" strip mythic characters of their many national and cultural "masks" to reveal their archetypal aspects. Real figures, including Jesus and Mohammed, are also included underlining the theory that myths are real and can be applied to real life. This edition is updated to include additional heroine myths, as well as Navajo, Indonesian, Indian, Chinese, and African tales.

Religion & Spirituality

Mythology; the voyage of the hero

Lippincott

A dictionary of terms, names, and places in the mythology of various cultures around the world

The Children's Dictionary of Mythology (Reference, Children's Dictionary Series)

Children's Books

Education & Reference

Franklin Watts

Explores the feminine image of the divine in myth and legend

Goddess: Myths of the Female Divine

Literature & Fiction

Page, Jake

History & Criticism

Replica Books

James Baldwin: A Biography

James Baldwin was one of the 20th century's most extraordinary men of letters. Through his many classic volumes of fiction and nonfiction, he passionately explored race and sexual relations with the vision that love could conquer these prejudices. In this biography, Leeming, Baldwin's life-long friend, examines every aspect of Baldwin's life.

Biographies & Memoirs

Henry Holt Co.

Beautifully presented series with dust jackets, lavish full-color images, and easily readable text. Historically accurate and informational.

Mythology (World of culture)

Newsweek Books

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Leeming, David Adams. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Leeming, David Adams

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Leeming, David Adams. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Mythology: The Voyage of the Hero

Flights: readings in magic, mysticism, fantasy, and myth

A Dictionary of Creation Myths (Oxford Paperback Reference S)

Mythology: The Voyage of the Hero

Mythology: The Voyage of the Hero

Mythology; the voyage of the hero

The Children's Dictionary of Mythology (Reference, Children's Dictionary Series)

Goddess: Myths of the Female Divine

James Baldwin: A Biography

Mythology (World of culture)