The Book of Myths

The book of myths symbolizes knowledge passed down in the form of stories. Myths are often associated with the origins of creation and stories that explain why something is the way that it is. Mythology is a large part of the formation of cultures and social norms. They also represent the stories we tell ourselves as individuals about how we grew to be the way that we are. The problem with relying solely on myths is that the stories they tell are not always complete truths. The speaker knows that the words in the book of myths have “purposes” and can be used as “maps,” but that truth lies in “the wreck and not the story of the wreck / the thing itself and not the myth” (53-63). The book of myths’ symbolism is as open to interpretation as the speaker’s identity, but...