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Myths as Normative Frames for Qualitative Interpretation of Life Stories

The Union Institute Graduate College

Myths offer a source of norms against which contemporary life events can be interpreted in the ancient tradition of meaning making. The author uses his son's initiation in the Grand Canyon to illustrate the normative use of myth for qualitative inquiry and interpretation. Ancient and cross-cultural coming of age myths, especially the Grail Legend, provided the lens through which their experiences became focused and illuminated. Enduring archetypal myths are inherently normative, both descriptively and prescriptively. By using them to interpret modern life events, one reconnects contemporary qualitative inquiry with its ancient predecessor forms of meaning making.

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