'There is no doubt about it, the moment when the story-teller acquires the mythical way of looking at things, the gift of seeing the typical features of characteristics and events...
...that moment marks a beginning in his life. It means a peculiar intensification of his artistic mood, a new serenity in his powers of perception and creation.
'This is usually reserved for the later years of life; for whereas in the life of mankind the mythical represents an early and primitive stage, in the life of the individual it represents a late and mature one.'
- Thomas Mann (I think!), quoted by Kerenyi, 1951, in 'The Gods of the Greeks,' Thames and Hudson, London.
Just a little self-congratulation on my part in the latter part of that quote!!! Actually, Kerenyi goes on to say that nowadays (in the 50's!!) the 'mythical way of looking at things' no longer necessarily occurs in later life...
Photo downloaded 16th May, 2010, from:
http://www.fanpop.com/spots/greek-mythology/articles/2605/title/psyche.
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