Myth and Early Anthropological Theory (the 20th century)
‘The way in which myths function in living societies'Sir James George Frazer, The Golden Bough
Frazer approached myth and culture from an evolutionary perspective
v The ‘mute signs’ of primitive magic
v The largely use of allegorical use of ritual in primitive religion
v The abstract symbolism of civilized religion
Malinnowski, Primitive Psychology, 79
“Myth is a vital ingredient of human civilization; it is not an idle tale, but a hard-worked active force; it is not a intellectual explanation or an artistic imagery, but a pragmatic charter of primitive faith and moral wisdom.”