We have to keep in mind that mimesis (Auerbach) and mimetics (Girard) are narrative theories of how storytelling literature engages the senses and memory. As there's no sci validity to either approaches, there's no falsifiable outputs that can be tested. They have nothing to do with reality, as words have nothing to do with thoughts.

Mimetic thought (Merlin Donald, eg) is an evolutionary phase of behavior that's been segregated from episodic, mythological and analytic. But that neither Girard or Auerbach have made theoretical distinctions in their literary approaches, they're invalid.

Memes are as yet unverifiable units of behavior that may have scientific value. The jury is still out.