Myth: A Very Short Introduction

Myths are among humanity’s most enduring forms of story, but scholars have disagreed sharply about what myths are, why societies create them and how they function. Robert A. Segal introduces the major theories of myth developed across anthropology, psychology, religious studies, sociology, literature and related fields, comparing the questions each discipline asks and the explanations it offers.

Segal considers influential approaches associated with figures including Frazer, Freud, Jung, Lévi-Strauss and Campbell, exploring myth in relation to ritual, religion, science, philosophy, society and the unconscious. Rather than offering another collection of ancient stories, this Very Short Introduction is a guide to the study and interpretation of myth itself—particularly useful for readers who want to understand the intellectual frameworks behind modern discussions of mythology.