An introduction to the content and form of the major ancient myths, chiefly Greek. The emphasis will be on interpretation, with topics to include myth, folk-tale, and legend, myth and ritual, psychological uses of myth, and the structuralist school of Claude Lévi-Strauss. Particular attention will be paid to male/female archetypes, with secondary readings from Camille Paglia and Robert Bly. Comparison will also be made to several non-western mythologies. Counts towards Area of Cancentration in Gender Studies. This course is offered in alternate years. Next anticipated offerings will be fall semesters of 2012 and 2014.
