The Hero: A Study in Tradition, Myth and Drama (Dover Books on Literature & Drama)

Book Description:

"Lord Raglan argues his case ably and well."--Nature.
"... vivid and provocative."--The Times [London] Literary Supplement.
"... well planned, packed with fact, and effectively written."--Saturday Review of Literature
His mother is a virgin and he’s reputed to be the son of a god. But he loses favor and is driven from his kingdom to a sorrowful death. Such heroic figures from myth and legend, the author contends, are invested with a common pattern that satisfies the human desire for idealization. Lord Raglan outlines 22 typical motifs from heroic tales, illustrating his theory with events from the lives of Oedipus, King Arthur, Robin Hood, and other legendary characters. A fascinating study that will appeal to a wide audience as well as to scholars of folklore, mythology, and history.