Here GC [poster Grey Cloud] (misunderstands or rather refuses to accept)
the comparative
technique. He desires to have each myth told in its entirety and analyzed,
so the reader can learn the metaphorical meanings or ethical lessons that
are symbolized or defined. But this is not the way the comparative method
is properly used. It's purpose is not to explain the detailed meanings of
a single myth, rather it is a means of extracting an unusual detail or
motif and relating it to other myths from other cultures with a similar
unusual detail or motif. This process requires that many elements of a
specific myth must be ignored (it is a filtering process) as local, and
therefore irrelevant, embellishments. It is in essence a forensic
technique.

Noting that a myth depicts some bizarre or unusual occurence that is
repeated in other cultures is central to the technique. The probabilities
of the same bizarre or unusual events independently appearing in myths of
seperate cultures are exceedingly small, and an explanation is required.
The author explores this in detail taking theories such as diffusion into
consideration.

Thunder blog nick c  Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:04 pm