The Classic Myths in English Literature and in Art

The Classic Myths in English Literature and in Art is a richly revised and expanded guide to the ancient stories that shaped Western imagination. Adapted from Bulfinch, but so thoroughly reworked that it stands as a new book, it was reorganized for classroom use and enlarged with fresh myths, more poetry, fuller treatment of the Iliad, Odyssey, and Wagner's Ring, and improved commentary on art. Gayley presents myth as a living force in poetry, language, and visual culture, limiting the main focus to Greek, Roman, Norse, and German traditions because of their lasting influence on English literature. The volume moves from the creation of the world and the rise of the gods to the loves, punishments, transformations, and heroic deeds of Olympus, Troy, and the great houses of legend. It then carries the reader through the wanderings of Ulysses, the fate of Aeneas, the legends of Odin, Thor, and Loki, and the doom of Ragnarok. Alongside the stories, the book offers a vivid catalog of classical artworks and closes with a thoughtful study of how myths arise, survive, and continue to inspire. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.