Custom and Myth by Andrew Lang
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"Custom and Myth" by Andrew Lang is a collection of essays exploring comparative mythology and folklore, written in the late 19th century. The work critically examines the conventional methods of understanding myths, particularly those rooted in linguistic analysis, arguing that such approaches are often inadequate. Lang delves into various mythologies—including Greek, Indian, and indigenous traditions—to propose that many stories share common origins and themes, shaped by the human experience rather than being
mere products of language. At the start of the book, Lang dedicates his collection to E.B. Tylor and outlines his motivation for the essays, noting his dissatisfaction with the prevalent scholarly methods of comparing myths. He critiques the idea that myths arise purely from corruptions of language and discusses the importance of examining folklore and savage beliefs to uncover deeper meanings. Lang introduces the anthropological perspective, suggesting that myths can be better understood by studying their persistence across cultures, highlighting their ties to humanity’s primal instincts and shared experiences. The opening sets the stage for the subsequent essays, which promise a journey through the intricacies of myth and cultural expression. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Lang, Andrew, 1844-1912 |
|---|---|
| Title | Custom and Myth |
| Credits | Transcribed from the 1884 Longmans, Green and Co. edition by David Price |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 66.6 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | BL: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Religion: General, Miscellaneous and Atheism |
| Subject | Religion |
| Subject | Folklore |
| Subject | Mythology |
| Subject | Manners and customs |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 14080 |
| Release Date | Nov 17, 2004 |
| Last Update | Dec 18, 2020 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 710 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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