Other Classics Commons^™

Prometheus The Trickster: Prophecy, Power, And Deception, Chris Griglack

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

This article interprets Aeschylus’s Prometheus Bound through the lens of trickster mythology, arguing that Prometheus functions as an atypical trickster deity whose primary tool is not deception of appearance but foreknowledge of fate. Rather than opposing Zeus through force, Prometheus manipulates divine power by controlling access to prophecy, transforming knowledge itself into a means of resistance. His gift of fire to humanity and his refusal to disclose the prophecy of Zeus’s downfall are shown to be parts of a single strategy: the calculated use of foreknowledge to constrain a tyrannical ruler. In this reading, prophecy operates less as an immutable …

Two Roads To Hell: Rebirth And Relevance In Musical Adaptations Of Katabatic Myth, Jarrod Deprado

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

The paper examines two myth-inspired musicals—The Frogs by Burt Shevelove and Stephen Sondheim and Hadestown by Anaïs Mitchell—concerning journeys to the underworld that benefit society. Both musicals undergo adaptation and revision processes that reflect the political and social concerns of the day. The Frogs depicts Dionysus’ journey to Hades to bring back a poet (originally Euripides, now George Bernard Shaw). However, it was not until the 2004 Broadway adaptation that overtly anti-authoritarian messages were added, aimed at the Bush administration. As a “folk opera,” Hadestown retells Orpheus’ descent to the Underworld to rescue Euridice as a commentary on economic …

Discovering Dune: Essays On Frank Herbert’S Epic Saga., Edited By Dominic J. Nardi And N. Trevor Brierly, G. Connor Salter

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

G. Connor Salter reviews Discovering Dune: Essays on Frank Herbert’s Epic Saga, edited by Dominic J. Nardi and N. Trevor Brierly, considering its new contributions to studies of Frank Herbert's work. Essays included fit into four categories (Politics and Power, History and Religion, Biology and Ecology, and Philosophy, Choice and Ethics) and range from Herbert's use of ecology in Dune to how game theory may help explain certain characters' apparent ability to see the future. Discovering Dune also includes an appendix which contains the only up-to-date bibliography of Herbert's work (primary and secondary sources).

Mythlore At 50: A Celebration (1969-2019), The Mythopoeic Society

Mythcon Souvenirs

A booklet filled with things you already know, set out fair and square with no contradictions.

• The History of Mythlore, Tolkien Journal, and The Mythlore Index Plus
• The Stat Sheet: Statistics, Superlatives, Lists, and Interesting Facts
• Mythlore Staff and Board Members
• Checklist of Issues and Formats for Mythlore and Tolkien Journal.

Tolkien 2005: The Ring Goes Ever On, The Tolkien Society

Mythcon Souvenirs

The idea to organise an event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of The Lord of the Rings was mooted several years ago. I can remember it being discussed at The Plough & Harrow hotel, the location for the 1998 annual general meeting. We felt that this event should be held in Birmingham and subsequently, Trevor Reynolds and myself visited both Aston and Birmingham Universities. Aston was chosen due to the fact that it was more centrally placed for attendees to get to and far more compact that the Birmingham campus. In time the 2005 organising committee started …