ENG 155 MYTHOLOGY IN LITERATURE AND LIFE

Mythology in Literature: the Sword of Shanarra

Mythology is the study of myth, but how does the study of ancient myth guide today's modern myth? Mythology has been brought to life through art, film, and theatre, but those are just a few ways myths have been transformed through time. In some cultures myths are still passed down through oral tradition, with an expectation from the listeners to be wowed and awed at the telling. This essay we will look at Terry Brooks' The Sword of Shannara. Brooks' work is done in the literary art form, but how does his work relate to our world view of myth? What is used in his work as mythic symbolism? Is it modern myth or old myth presented in a new light? These questions will be addressed in this essay.

In the...