The Power of Myth

Why do planting cultures, hunting cultures, and later “high civilizations” produce different figures of divinity? What do these various figures say about a society’s understandings of creative energy, wisdom, and life’s mysteries? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Campbell and Moyers point to Star Wars as a prime example of modern mythology. What other stories could be considered influential modern myths? Analyze your story of choice in reference to the archetypal mythological themes, symbols, and messages that Campbell notes throughout the book.

The book is structured as an extended transcript of a discussion between the expert, Joseph Campbell, and the curious amateur, Bill Moyers. Why do they present the information as a transcript of the original dialogue rather than translate the information into a narrative? What would be lost or gained with a change of structure? Use the text to support your answer.