Theories of Myth, a companion to the author's World Mythology: An
Annotated Guide to Collections and Anthologies (Scarecrow Press and
Salem Press, 1996), has been written to serve the needs of college
undergraduates, high school students, and general readers approaching
the study of myth for the first time. Whereas the earlier volume
describes the plethora of anthologies, collections, and general
introductions to myth from around the world, Theories of Myth lists the
most important English-language studies of myth theory, which attempt to
answer the questions: What is "myth?" How does it function in human
society, and how is it to be interpreted? Here the reader will find the
most significant theoretical studies of traditional stories, legends,
tales and sagas from around the world, which attempt to address such
questions from a variety of perspectives. Includes an author/editor
index and a subject index.