I started my undergrad as a divinities student, before realizing it was all bull-shit. Father taught history at a prep school, a healthy love for history was ingrained into me at a young age.
A pair of good primers for modern thought of/on folklore/mythology: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0195147723?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00