Why would anyone raise, as an issue, the fact that a premise is a classic? Does this not ignore the fundamental importance of such themes, which is why they re-occur?

Aren’t they outgrowths (or products) of themes and thoughts that are hard-wired into the human psyche? Isn’t that why we continually revisit stories about – for example – parental ambivalence toward children (specifically fathers toward sons, but parents toward kids in general, and come to think of it, vice-versa)? Of course the case of Oedipus is double-barreled since he not only gets Mum, he offs Dad. No wonder kids were put out to be raised by peasants in the forest.

But we re-write these themes over & over, don’t we? Doesn’t that mean they’re really embedded and important to us?

So… what about this “deal with the devil” notion?

Where does the line between “trope” and “archetype” lie? What are the diagnostic attributes of each? What’s the difference between “guy in tights with cape and sidekick” and “superhero fighting for truth, justice, and the American (or Serbian or Inuit) Way.” (And yes, I realize that the subject of that latter blurt did not – regularly – sport a sidekick).

What’s the difference between Odysseus and Poldy?

DQ