The Hero's Quest and the Cycles of Nature: An Ecological Interpretation of World Mythology

THE HERO'S QUEST AND THE CYCLES OF NATURE: AN ECOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION OF WORLD MYTHOLOGY. Rachel s. McCoppin. McFarland, 2016. 232 pp. ISBN 978-1476662015. $35.00. AS RACHEL MCCOPPIN EXPLAINED IN AN ONLINE INTERVIEW following release of her previous book, The Hero's Quest and Cycles of Nature: An Ecological Interpretation of World Mythology, Many cultures conceived of humans as inseparable from natural world, as equal to other living beings, and believed that time was cyclical, not linear, because death was something that appeared temporary. Therefore, many myths from cultures focus on message that death for all living beings is only one moment an endless, natural cycle--in spring and summer elements thrive, but fall and winter they wither and die [...]. When myths present humans as also adhering to this natural cycle, message of meaning of life and death is arguably a very different message than ones our contemporary culture offers. (Paul) Here McCoppin rather clearly articulates what she sees as central message of this second offering. Unfortunately, volume itself (like its predecessor) often muddies water as McCoppin unfolds her argument, and as this review will explain, still caused reviewer frustration several respects. On positive side, current volume is more focused and tightly argued than first, with fewer rough spots prose and a more inclusive (yet still incomplete) index. For example, it is missing entries such as Crete/Minoan culture and as well as important terms such as botanical hero-definition, and nature-dependent culture, perhaps because she does not clearly define either a succinct way within text. There are many thematic parallels between her first work and this one. As her previous volume, she draws examples from a wide variety of cultures, here including Rig Veda and Indo-European myth, Greek traditions such as Homer's Iliad and Odyssey and myth of Jason and Argonauts, Arthurian legend, Norse Volsunga Saga, Beowulf, Epic of Gilgamesh, and African, Native American, Inuit, and Slav myth (among others). She also continues her methodology of attempting to trace evolution of mythology from Paleolithic and Neolithic times, especially as it relates to Mother Earth Goddess. Indeed, many ways, this volume appears to be an expansion of an important thread her previous work, namely use of seasonal cycles mythology. This can be seen subtitle of book, touting it as an interpretation of world (the term usually referring to relations between life and environment). But it must be noted that author is particularly focusing on one very narrow part of ecological message of world mythology, inventing term botanical (i.e. relating to plants and their growth cycle) to describe her theoretical construct of hero in terms of a personification of nature (McCoppin 1). From beginning of her Preface McCoppin clearly sets her hero as superior to modern American superhero. She chastises this modern mythic construction (what has been termed American Monomyth by Jewitt and Lawrence) as a misrepresentation of mythic heroes, claiming it poses a disservice [...] to integrity of mythology. Myths of hero are for education of audience. The of heroic myth must relate to hero, so that wisdom hero gains is embraced by audience (2). Such superheroes are not relatable, and hence mythic message is lost. McCoppin also sets up a strong underlying ecological undertone for book, proclaiming that the wisdom audiences can receive from heroes educates them on necessity of embracing one's role within nature. Given current state of environmental destruction found our times, it is imperative that humanity remembers their tie to earth (2). …

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