The Hero's Quest and the Cycles of Nature - by Rachel S McCoppin (Paperback)

About the Book

"This examination of the heroic journey in world mythology casts the protagonist as a personification of nature--a "botanical hero"--who begins the quest in a metaphorical seed-like state, sprouting into strength to face a mythic underworld. A cyclical promise of continuous life is realized, in which no element fully disappears"--

Book Synopsis

This examination of the heroic journey in world mythology casts the protagonist as a personification of nature--a "botanical hero" one might say--who begins the quest in a metaphorical seed-like state, then sprouts into a period of verdant strength. But the hero must face a mythic underworld where he or she contends with mortality and sacrifice--embracing death as a part of life. For centuries, humans have sought superiority over nature, yet the botanical hero finds nothing is lost by recognizing that one is merely a part of nature. Instead, a cyclical promise of continuous life is realized, in which no element fully disappears, and the hero's message is not to dwell on death.

Review Quotes

"Will make the reader think deeply about both myths that are familiar to them and those that are not. I recommend it as an interesting review of old stories in a fresh way that points out their relevance (or lack thereof) to our current ecological state."-Mythlore

About the Author

Rachel S. McCoppin is a professor of literature at the University of Minnesota Crookston. She has published in the areas of mythology, comparative literature, and multicultural pedagogy in scholarly books and journals.