Book: Mythology

(Image from C/W Mars Catalog)

Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton (1942) is really one of those books that you should not judge by its cover, metaphorically speaking. When I first began reading it, I was horrified by some of the statements being made about the gods and ancient Greek culture. Things like leaving Demeter and Dionysus out of the list of the twelve Olympians (p. 25-26) and claiming “The terrifying irrational has no place in classical mythology. Magic, so powerful in the world before and after Greece, is almost nonexistent” (p. 18) immediately struck me as odd and against Greek mythology as I learned it. It seemingly ignores the supernatural abilities of the gods and their often irrational behavior in rewarding and punishing mortals; not to mention the existence of Hecate, goddess of witchcraft. Other statements such as,

If Hesiod did write [the Theogony], then a humble peasant living in a lonely farm far from cities, was the first man in Greece to wonder how everything had happened, the world, the sky, mankind, and to think out an explanation. Homer never wondered about anything.

p. 22

are downright dangerous for anyone just learning about mythology for the first time, since it incorrectly portrays the development of classical mythology in its written form.

It is not that I fault Hamilton for anything that she says. The most alarmingly wrong statements come from the introduction and the first two chapters that identify the gods and their relationships, but throughout the book there are little cultural statements and interpretations that reflect the scholarship of the time. It is very important to keep in mind that this book was written in 1942 and scholarship has changed in the intervening 60+ years. The way we interpret most of these stories and our understanding of ancient Greek society has changed so that some of the ways Hamilton summarizes the stories leaves out important pieces or presents facts that are now considered incorrect. Normally, this would not be a big deal, but I know that this book is used as summer reading for AP European History in New York, which is often the first introduction for high school students to Greek mythology. Without proper instruction, this book has the potential to give students the wrong impression about some of these tales and Greek society.

With proper instruction, however, this book is actually much better than the alternative “Age of Fable” in Bulfinch’s Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch (1855). Hamilton includes a brief introduction to each of her tales where she identifies the original sources that she draws upon. She also covers the stories as completely as possible by sometimes referring to multiple sources rather than following any one account. Bulfinch, by comparison, primarily summarizes Ovid’s Metamorphoses and does not go into detail about alternative versions that may have existed. The one up side to Bulfinch’s work is that he references modern works of poetry and fiction that make allusions to the Greek tales, broadening the reader’s understanding of why some of these tales remain important today.

On the whole, the fact that this book is still being taught in schools as an introduction to Greek mythology drives me crazy. However, I understand that there is no other alternative that I know of that works as well at giving a brief introduction to the tales of Greek mythology that is still easy to read and understand. I know that not all high school teachers have studied classical mythology extensively, so this book makes an excellent addition to the curriculum. I can only hope that this book, despite its inaccuracies, does its job well of getting more students interested in Greek mythology so they can gain a more rounded understanding of our modern culture and literature.

Bulfinch, T. (1998). Bulfinch’s Mythology. New York: The Modern Library.

Hamilton, E. (1942). Mythology: Timeless tales of gods and heroes. New York: Grand Central Publishing.

Note: I have chosen not to address the second section of Hamilton's book which is on Norse mythology because it is too short (only 17 pages). Although it does a similarly good job of giving a brief introduction to Norse mythology, I feel that it is too brief in its treatment of the material and simply reading The Prose Edda would itself provide a better introduction.

Book: Ireland

(Image from C/W Mars Catalog)

Ireland: A Novel by Frank Delaney (2005) is one of the best novels I have read in a while. I will admit that I am usually not that interested in historical fiction but I picked up this book on the recommendation of a family friend who said it was a tale about the last traveling storyteller in Ireland. On the most superficial level, that is what the story is about, but it also has so much more to say about the art of storytelling and the history of Ireland itself.

The book follows a young boy, Ronan, growing up in Southern Ireland in the 1950’s, after a travelling storyteller visits his home and changes his life forever. The storyteller’s vibrant tales of the history of Ireland inspire the boy to learn all he can from the mysterious man, sparking a life-long journey of discovery of both his own history and that of his country. Through a mastery of the art of storytelling, the book switches back and forth between Ronan’s journey and the stories that he hears and tells along the way.

Almost every character Ronan encounters has their own story to add, demonstrating the pervasiveness of storytelling across all walks of life. Everyone has their own piece of history to share and their own style of storytelling. Those humanistic elements are part of what help weave the history of Ireland together into one narrative that is meaningful to the characters as their own story progresses.

What I love most about this book is the way that it makes history fun and accessible. As I said before, historical novels are generally not my favorites, but hearing history through the voices of storytellers who are able to give life to the events and bring a distinct perspective makes it all much more interesting. The use of a storyteller’s voice gives the history a bit more depth, connecting the vast past to the present in a way that cannot be conveyed through a single narrative the way most novels are written.

The history of Ireland is itself a very interesting subject, considering the number of times it has been invaded. As the boy’s history professor in college explains,

… all history is a matter of interpretation, mostly by the victors. In the case of our little island it has been rather different, because the history of Ireland was also written by the vanquished – the repeatedly defeated, the hung, drawn, and quartered, the kicked and beaten. And haven’t we made the most of our victimhood?

p. 231

It is this perspective of the vanquished yet proud and vivacious Irish that is given throughout the book, especially in the stories that are told. These tales run the gamut from stories of mythical events, romance, and heroism to religious and political battles that all helped shape the country. They tug at your heartstrings while making you laugh and truly demonstrate the ability of storytelling to transport you into another culture and lifetime.

On the whole, Ireland is a must read book for anyone interested in the history of Ireland or the traditions of storytelling that have survived there. Although I cannot speak to the veracity of the stories that are told, it is not really something I care to research because it is much more about the meanings and artistry behind the stories that matter. It is easy to get swept away by this enchanting book, just as easy as it is to get swept away by Ireland itself.

I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a week in Ireland in October 2008 and experience the land and the culture for myself. It was the kind of experience that is difficult to describe to others because it is nearly impossible to find the words to describe the majesty of the land and the warmth of the culture. However, Delaney’s book comes pretty close to conveying just some of what makes Ireland so special.

Delaney, F. (2005). Ireland: A novel. New York: Harper.

Book: Pendragon

(Image from C/W Mars Catalog)

Pendragon: The definitive account of the origins of Arthur by Steve Blake and Scott Lloyd (2002) is a fascinating academic book that puts forth the theory that there was a historical Arthur, a 6th century Welsh warrior, whose prowess on the battlefield spawned a tradition of legends in Wales which was later adapted and expanded into the legends of King Arthur that are so familiar to audiences today. Using textual evidence from early Welsh poems and histories, as well as current place names and archaeological evidence associated with Arthur and his family, Blake and Lloyd build an argument placing Arthur in North Wales, possibly as the warlord under King Maelgwn (p. 180). Additionally, Blake and Lloyd point out that that the Welsh traditions never have Arthur fighting Saxons or Picts as he does in later Latin texts, but instead is focused on fighting enemies of local, British origin (p. 161).

The book is focused on presenting, in detail, the Welsh materials that support this theory of the origins of Arthur. The way the evidence is laid out and built up, going from the birth of Arthur, through his family and battles, all the way to his death, makes for a very convincing argument. Anyone interested in the historical origins of the Arthurian legends should absolutely read this book.

However, the importance of this book does not necessarily lie in the argument it ultimately presents, but more in the perspective that it gives on the generation and growth of Arthurian legends themselves. Blake and Lloyd are not concerned with the later romances that have become the standardized versions of Arthurian legend, such as the work of Chretien de Troyes and Malory. However, they continually reference these tales, and especially the Historia Regum Britanniae by Geoffrey of Monmouth, in order to illustrate the differences between the Welsh Arthurian tradition and the elements that were added for propaganda and entertainment as the stories were adapted for British and French medieval audiences. Ultimately, Arthur is proven to be the perfect example of the way in which legends and heroes can be created and their exploits expanded and adapted generation after generation and across various cultures, to the point where any historical remnants are greatly obscured by time.

This book really opens the doorway for some new interpretations of Arthurian legend. It gives us the opportunity to explore the story of the warlord under a (potentially tyrannical?) king’s command, who through his skill and leadership is able to build his own reputation up to eventually eclipse his king, either during his own lifetime or in the pages of history. As an aside, this seems to be one of the goals of the BBC television series “Merlin,” which tells the story of how a teenaged sorcerer Merlin and prince Arthur grow into the legendary men of the romances while under the rule of Arthur’s father, King Uther Pendragon. I will admit that at first the show seemed rather ridiculous for taking this approach, but having read this book, it actually makes much more sense (even if I do not agree with everything that happens).

This book also makes me think that the story of Geoffrey of Monmouth and the political situations that caused him to develop his version of Arthur’s life would make an interesting example of the process of storytelling. It would be wonderful to see more exploration into the history and social implications of the various Arthurian traditions, especially as they pertain to political and cultural identities that have grown around the figure of Arthur as a hero.

All in all, Pendragon is an important book for anyone interested in understanding more about the origins of Arthurian legend, both in terms of the historical man and how the legends grew over time. It provides some great points of reference for looking at current incarnations of Arthur, such as that on BBC’s “Merlin” and other movies.

Blake, S and Lloyd, S. (2002). Pendragon: The definitive account of the origins of Arthur. Guilford, Connecticut; The Lyons Press.

Introduction

Hello, hello!

Welcome to my new blog all about mythology, folklore, and storytelling. My goal here is to share my thoughts and perhaps spark some debate about various figures and stories from mythology and folklore that are currently used in movies, television shows, and books. I will be looking at works of both fiction and non-fiction, integrating history and social studies into what is hopefully a bit of a broader look at the way storytelling is done today, and how myths and legends are treated and retold.

For me, storytelling is an essential part of life and understanding the stories that we tell is a doorway into understanding a person, society, or culture. Mythology and folklore are those stories which have survived the test of time in various formats and are told over and over again from one generation to the next. By looking at these stories and trying to understand why they were originally told and then why and how we are still telling them today, a lot can be learned about our current culture.

You will probably notice pretty quickly that I have some favorite topics, such as Arthurian legend, Greek mythology, dragons, and of course feminism. As a mythology and folklore major at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, I minored in Classics and also focused on Norse mythology, even spending a semester abroad in Denmark. My studies focused primarily on creation myths and storytelling, touching upon Hinduism, Native American mythology (especially the Iroquois), and various other cultures from around the world. However, I understand that it is difficult to cover any topic thoroughly in a blog post, so I will mostly be approaching these issues on a book by book, movie by movie, or tv show by tv show basis, overlapping when I can.

I encourage people to join the discussion at any point and contribute their thoughts and opinions on the issues being discussed. Storytelling is an art that is in constant fluctuation and multiple perspectives should be considered when discussing any figure or story.

What are some of your favorite myths or folktales?

PS The title for my blog does come from the opening sequence of the BBC's "Merlin". I love the show and will probably be commenting on it at some point but I would like to say that no copyright infringement was intended, it just seemed like and appropriate title.