Structural Mythology

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Structural Mythology

Introduction

The structural approach to mythology has helped anthropologists to enhance their understanding of the psychological approach in many ways. Comparative mythology is a specific approach to the study of myths where a line of congruence is drawn between the characteristics and themes as they exist in different cultures. The approach is essentially aimed at identifying patterns, themes and ideas within different myths that are similar to one another. It is within the confines of comparative psychology that the structural approach to mythology exists. This particular approach seeks to examine the underlying structures that are common between different mythologies.

Discussion

The structural approach to mythology exists within the confines of comparative psychology. This particular approach seeks to examine the underlying structures that are common between different mythologies. For instance, a wide range of myths exist in different cultures identify bravery as a positive human characteristic. Similarly, many myths explain how men who are drunk on power corrupt themselves absolutely. The structural approach to mythology aims to identify and study such characteristics and themes. Levi-Strauss in particular dedicated his works to examining the fundamental structures of myths in relation to the abstract connection that existed between its various elements instead of their sequence in the plot.

Levi-Strauss also advocated that the major elements of myths could be categorized into two contrasting opposites based on the concept of duality. He was also determined to prove that the purpose of myths was simply to act as a mediator between these oppositions so that they could aid in the resolution of contradictions and tensions that were common in cultures as well as human lives. On the other hand, another league of scholars has staunchly supported the theory that many myths that exist within different cultures share a common unmistakable relationship. Following the psychological approach to mythology, they have identified the unmistakable presence of identical psychological forces that form the essence of mythologies in different cultures and draw a line of congruence between their themes.

For instance, a number of students from the Freudian school of thought have unraveled striking similarities between the classic Greek tale of Oedipus Rex and popular stories in other cultures. Citing this observation as the basis of their argument, they propagate that myths in different cultures express the, to a great extent, similar teachings that have existed in other cultures.

For the latter half of the last century, leading scholars of the west have move towards studying mythology with a renewed structural perspective that was absent previously. Rather than relating myths as fiction, fable and invention, they have accepted them as true stories that carry a lesson for humanity. This newly engraved semantic value to the term "myth" has made its use equivocal in contemporary parlance.

Levi-Strauss takes the help of countless examples in “The Structural Study of Myth" to demonstrate his analysis of the structural model. However the primary purpose of his article is to serve as a guide to mythological analysis. Levi also discusses the supposed paradox that myths generally pose ...