The myth of the birth of the hero : a psychological interpretation of mythology / by Otto Rank ; authorized translation by Drs. F. Robbins and Smith Ely Jelliffe.

  • Rank, Otto, 1884-1939.
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The myth of the birth of the hero : a psychological interpretation of mythology / by Otto Rank ; authorized translation by Drs. F. Robbins and Smith Ely Jelliffe. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    the human mind: Nothing new is ever discovered as long as it is possible to copy. The theory of the elementary thoughts, so strenuously advocated by Bauer over a quarter of a century ago, is unconditionally declined by the most recent investigators [Winckler,^ Stucken], who maintain the migration and purloining theory. There is really no such sharp contrast between the various theories, and their advocates, for the theory of the elementary thoughts does not interfere with the claims of the primary com- mon possessions and the migration. Furthermore, the ultimate problem is not whence and how the material reached a certain people; but the question is, where did it come from to begin with? All these theories would only explain the variability and distribu- tion, but not the origin of the myths. Even Schubert, the most inveterate opponent of Bauer's view, acknowledges this truth, by stating that all these manifold sagas date back to a single very ancient prototype. But he is unable to tell us anything of the origin of this prototype. Bauer likewise inclines to this mediat- ing® view and points out repeatedly that in spite of the multiple origin of independent tales, it is necessary to concede a most ex- tensive and ramified purloining, as well as an original com- munity of the concepts, in related peoples. The same conciliatory attitude is maintained by Lessmann, in a recent publication^ [1908], in which he rejects the assumption of the elementary thoughts, but admits that primary relationship and purloining do not exclude one another. As pointed out by Wundt, it must be kept in mind, however, that the appropriation of mythical con- tents always represents at the same time an independent mythical construction; because only that can be permanently retained which corresponds to the purloiner's stage of mythological ideation. The ' Some of the important writings of Winckler will be mentioned in the course of this article. ' Zeitschriff f. d. Oesterr. Gym., 1891, p. 161, etc. Schubert's reply is also found here, p. 594, etc. Lessmann, Object and Aim of Mythological Research, Mythol. Bibliot., I, Heft 4, Leipzig.