In the 1970s and 80s, Northrop Frye and Jay Macpherson co-taught a very influential course at the University of Toronto's Victoria College on the history of Western mythology—Frye focusing on the biblical myths; Macpherson on the classical. Biblical and Classical Myths recreates the thought behind that course, with Frye's lectures—unpublished until very recently—supplemented by Macpherson's popular 1962 textbook on classical mythology, Four Ages: The Classical Myths.

Frye's lectures on the Bible make up the first half of the book. He expounds on an array of topics, including translations of the bible, sexual imagery, pastoral and agricultural imagery, and law and revolution in the bible. Four Ages makes up the second half. Macpherson narrates the major classical myths from stories of creation to the myths' survival in later European traditions.

By complementing the biblical tradition with the classical, this volume imparts a comprehensive understanding of western mythology. With a preface by Alvin Lee, general editor of the Collected Works of Northrop Frye, Biblical and Classical Myths is an essential volume and represents a unique achievement in scholarship.

Contents

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Preface to the Combined Edition Abbreviations Symbolism In The Bible  Foreword  1 An Approach to the Bible and Translations of the Bible  2 The Shape of the Bible  3 Images of Paradise: Trees and Water  4 Parody and Manifest Demonic: Trees and Water  5 Sexual Imagery: The Bride and the Bridegroom; The Great Whore and the Forgiven Harlot  6 Pastoral and Agricultural Imagery  7 The World of Angels; Leviathan, Dragons, and the Antichrist  8 Demonic Parodies and the Hero from across the  9 The Double Mirror: Exodus and Gospel  10 The Metaphor of Kingship  11 King, Priest, and Prophet  12 The Question of Primogeniture  13 Genesis: In the Beginning  14 Genesis: Creating the Sexes; Exodus: A Revolutionary Heritage  15 Law: Ordering a Society  16 Law and Revolution; Wisdom: The Proverb  17 Wisdom: Playing before God; Ecclesiastes: Vanity of Vanities  18 Job: A Test  19 Job and the Question of Tragedy  20 Job and Restored Humanity  21 The Language of Proclamation: Style and Rhythm in the Bible; The Gospel: Rewriting the Commandments  22 Revelation: Removing the Veil  23 Revelation: After the Ego Disappears  24 The Language of Love  Maps  Note on the Illustrations  Notes  The Bible and Further Readings Four Ages: The Classical Myths  Foreword  Introduction  1 In The Beginning   The Creation   The Golden Age   War in Heaven   The Reign of Zeus   Prometheus   Pandora's Box   Deucalion's Flood   Phaëthon  2 Spring and Winter   Demeter and Persephone   Adonis   Hyacinthus   Narcissus   Orpheus  3 Loves of the Gods and Metamorphoses   Loves of Zeus: Callisto, Io   Pan and Syrinx   Apollo and Daphne   Clytie   Endymion   Arachne   Procne and Philomela   Midas' Touch   Ceyx and Alcyone   Nisus and Scylla   Philemon and Baucis  4 The Heroes   Perseus   The Labours of Heracles   Jason and the Golden Fleece   Bellerophon and Pegasus   Theseus  5 The Royal House of Thebes   The Children of Agenor   Zeus and Semele   Ino and Athamas   Pentheus   Actaeon   Oedipus  6 The Tale of Troy   The Apple of Discord   The War   The Fall of the City   The Returns    The Return of Menelaus    The Return of Agamemnon    The Return of Aeneas    The Return of Odysseus  7 Cupid and Psyche  8 Conclusion: The Passing and Afterlife of the Gods  Family Trees   Family Tree of the Olympians   Family Tree of the Royal House of Thebes  Mythology–History Chart  Maps   The Greek World   The Mediterranean World  Sources of Quotations  Note on the Illustrations  Note on Classical Names  Notes  Suggestions for Further Reading Biblical Indexes Index of Classical Mythology

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Tags: Mythology, Literature, LiteraryCriticism

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Kevin Osborn & Dana L. Burgess, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Classical Mythology (2nd Edition)"

Pierre Grimal, "The Concise Dictionary of Classical Mythology" The best reference.

Lesley Bolton, "The Everything Classical Mythology Book"

Joseph Campbell, "The Hero With A Thousand Faces (Commemorative Edition)"

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Paul Barber, "Vampires, Burial, and Death: Folklore and Reality"

Maria Tatar, "The Annotated Classic Fairy Tales"

Maria Tatar, "The Classic Fairy Tales (Norton Critical Edition)"

Jack Zipes, "The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales"

Alan Lupack, "The Oxford Guide to Arthurian Literature and Legend"

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