43 pages • 1 hour read
Mircea Eliade, Transl. Willard R. TraskThe Myth of the Eternal Return
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1949A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In The Myth of the Eternal Return, Mircea Eliade examines the religious beliefs of archaic societies, contrasting their cyclical understanding of time and sacred rituals, which reflect a recurring divine creation, with the linear, historical perspective of modernity. Eliade explores how these societies' ontological views shaped their rituals and coping mechanisms for suffering. Topics of suffering and despair are discussed.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Mircea Eliade's The Myth of the Eternal Return, translated by Willard R. Trask, is praised for its deep analysis of religious symbolism and historical recurrence, offering insightful perspectives on ancient traditions. However, some readers find the language dense and the argumentation occasionally disjointed, potentially challenging for casual readers.
Who Should Read The Myth of the Eternal Return?
Readers who enjoy exploring the philosophical aspects of history and religion will be captivated by The Myth of the Eternal Return by Mircea Eliade and translated by Willard R. Trask. This book appeals to those who appreciated The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell and Time and the Other by Johannes Fabian.