Companion to Literary Myths, Heroes and Archetypes - Hardcover

This collection of essays explores the nature and influence of myth and mythic figures in the context of literature. Each essay traces the life of a particular myth in fiction, poetry or drama, drawing on legends from all over the world, from prehistory to the modern age. This coverage aims to make the "Companion" a useful resource for students and teachers of literature and mythology. Alphabetically organized, the "Companion" examines 124 myths, which fall largely into four main categories, the cosmos, the psyche, society, and history/politics. Essays on classical figures such as Andromeda and Ulysses explore the origin, development and various incarnations of their subjects. There are also entries on later myths which have greatly influenced western culture, like Don Juan and Faust. The collection also describes places that have become literary myths, such as Eden and Atlantis, and heroic figures like Louis XIV and Napoleon. Alongside more familiar archetypes, the "Companion" also analyzes numerous non-European myths drawn from parts of the world as diverse as Africa, China, Japan, Latin America and India.