The social function of literature takes on many forms. Literatures main function is to inform, arrange words into a meaningful format, yet the social function has far greater implications. Mythology can be defined as the study and interpretation of myth and the body of myths of a particular culture. Myth is an extremely complex cultural phenomenon that portrays the symbolic language and fundamental elements and hypothesis of a culture. The social function of mythology therefore is relative to many periods in history.

The study of mythology, as previously intimated is complex as it is interdisciplinary, encompassing both religious and philosophical beliefs: "A serviceable image of the physical environment and daily life of a society remote in time and place may be conjured up by an agile and well-furnished mind, but it is very much harder to apprehend its religious beliefs. Whatever the degree of our attachment to our own traditions, it is almost impossible for us to step out of their framework and strip famil

Oedipus also is a study in ideology, paralleling itself with texts such as The Waste Land and Paradise Lost. Some ideological concerns, however, may have been altered during translation as preconceived notions and ideals often rule interpretation. The issues raised by King Oedipus such as incest, parricide, genetics, values and faith are all relative to that period in time. Subjects that may have been taboo during the ancient Greece ruling may now today be considered less offensive and socially tolerated.

Christa Wolf's mythical novel Cassandra is indeed a unique insight into the lives of not only women of Greek Mythology, but also of women today. The interlinking threads that combine the past and present stories are masterfully woven by the use of background notes and reflections. Wolf uses many different techniques to differentiate her novel from the traditional norms, and in doing so, promotes her ideology using her own individual format.

Some topics in this essay:
Richard Neville, , Polanski's Chinatown, Superman Herculean, Likewise Levi-Strauss, Xena Television, King Oedipus, Snow White, Clark Kent, Xena Warrior, social function, social function literature, function literature, fairy tales, main character, bears resemblance, modern day, snow white, greek mythology, study mythology, audience aware,