Western culture, as we all know, inherits its fund of myths, legends, traditions and sacred stories from two principal sources: the Judeo-Christian, derived mainly from the Bible, and the Classical, originating in Greek and Roman literature. Until recently, this heritage was shared by virtually all educated people in western societies; it could therefore be assumed that any reference or even casual allusion to this material would be immediately identified. Not any more. To be sure, most people will recognize references to Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden, and the role of the famous wooden horse in the Trojan War, but could the same be said of other references such as Joseph and his coat of many colours or Theseus and the Minotaur? Possibly yes, possibly no. Let’s go deeper: would many of us be readily able to recall the story of Ahab and Jezebel or Procne and Philomela? And if not, does it matter?
Biblical and Classical Myths: The Mythological Framework of...
W.J. Keith is a professor emeritus of English at the University of Toronto. His publications include Canadian Literature in English (1985, 2006) and Canadian Odyssey: A Reading of Hugh Hood’s “The New Age/Le nouveau siècle” (2002).
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