In your own words, why is it important to study the history of myth’s interpretation?

Description

In the last few sections of this week’s reading out of The Truth of Myth, Thompson and Schrempp offer a birds-eye view of the study of myth and discuss the importance of the history of myth studies for our understanding of how to analyze myth today. They also discuss four “monolithically inclined schools of theory that are now viewed by many as passé, but from which we feel that all students of mythology can retain at least some viable elements”: Dissemination and distribution Social evolutionism Myth-ritualism Psychoanalytic theory In your own words, why is it important to study the history of myth’s interpretation? What is Thompson’s and Schrempp’s underlying concern over the four “monolithically inclined” schools, and do you agree with their sentiments? What insights do you find useful as you move continue to hone your understanding of myth and its interpretation?