Students should study mythology for some of the same reasons they should read novels. Mythology is entertaining, like novels. Mythology tells us a great deal about the views and life of those who wrote it, like novels ( an author is alive in their work). Mythology tells us about what we think of today as "pop culture". If we look at the works on the NY Times bestseller list, we can glean some great information about the reading public. If we look at books with the highest sales, we know what people are interested in and likely relate to. Mythology is the story of the masses in the same way novels are the story of today's masses.