The study of both myths as literature and literature as myths---in the former case, myths are read for their own specific literary merit and as historical precursors to later literary texts (Sophoclesâ trilogy of plays surrounding the myth of Oedipus would be one example); in the latter case, which has been the more influential of the two approaches, literary texts are read as creative reworkings of myths. A number of prominent scholars have operated in this field: the most notable are Mircea Eliade, Leslie Fiedler, Frye, Northrop, RenĂ© Girard, Jung, Carl, G. Wilson Knight, and RicĆur, Paul.