The Nature of Greek Myths

by Geoffrey S. Kirk

Book Overview

Publisher: Theories of myths abound. They have been seen as echoes of cosmological and meteorological events; as attempts to explain the odder goings-on in the world-a sort of primitive science; as... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140135367
• ISBN13: 9780140135367
• Release Date: December 1990
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Length: 332 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.1" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

G.S. Kirk provides analysis, not fun

As a doctoral student, I would not recommend anything written by Kirk to anybody but an academic. What Kirk does is to deconstruct, in the technical sense, theories of myth in the agora that is the Greek pantheon, explaining how no theory can completely map upon the confusing state of Greek religious thought and text. It is not perfect but nevertheless sufficient. The reader would do himself well to reread Derrida prior to attempting Kirk's formulation of Greek myth.

On the other hand . . .

Although I've not read this book, after reading the vituperative attack above I feel I must mention that no less a critic than classics scholar Bernard Knox (himself as enjoyable to read as he is informative) has compared Kirk's book to Dodds' "epic-making" _Greeks and the Irrational_, saying of Kirk's work in myth that it "presents the same stimulating combination of professional expertise and new perspectives." Coming from Knox, this is high praise indeed.If you're looking for a quick "who did what to whom," you'd best go with Edith Hamilton. But if you want an insightful and informed adult journey into the character and substance of myth, perhaps this is the book you seek.