Part 8 Myth and Literature

Part 8 Myth and Literature References to myths enrich our enjoyment of literature, music, and performances.

Rationale • In this section we move from “living” mythology and ritual to literary works by artists who incorporate the stories, places, and characters from the mythological tradition in their own efforts. • As we read literary works — or listen to song lyrics and view films which contain elements of the mythological tradition — we can gain much more information and enjoyment if we are aware of the mythological connections they include. • Understanding mythological stories can provide access to what almost amounts to a secret language of unspoken references.

Changing Views on Using Myth in Literature • In the early days of Christianity in Europe, manuscripts about the ancient Greek and Roman gods were frowned on, as they represented stories about a rival religion, one which, in the minds of most people, had been replaced by Christianity. • By the Middle Ages, literary production grew at a constant pace, but the fear of non-Western, non-Christian influence led to an emphasis in art and literature on Biblical, religious, and ethnically heroic themes. There was not much knowledge of classical literature except for works by Ovid, used as allegory for Christian beliefs.

Changing Views on Using Myth in Literature, 2 • The wars called the Crusades (lasting 200 years from the end of the 11th century) took many Europeans to Jerusalem and other parts of the Middle East. • In the great libraries maintained by Islamic empires, these Christians rediscovered the works of ancient Greek and Roman writers that often incorporated mythological stories. • A surge of interest arose in ancient Greek and Roman culture. This was called the Renaissance ("rebirth"). • The invention of the printing press in the mid-15th century made classical literature more accessible to the reading public. • In turn, the lively interest in ancient Greece and Rome helped lead to a general shift from the religious and theological perspective to a more secular focus on all aspects of human nature (thus, the term “humanism").

Changing Views on Using Myth in Literature, 3 • In the 17th century in England, George Chapman's translations of The Iliad and The Odyssey made Homer's epics even more widely accessible. Because most literate people were so familiar with traditional myths and their characters, poets often alluded to mythological figures in their works, even if the ancient story was not the main theme. • In the late 18th century, classical mythology again came into favor in Europe. A good example of this trend is the popularity of a type of poem called the “pastoral.” In it, Greek shepherds and shepherdesses inhabit an idealized and tranquil landscape — which in its simplicity seemed an antidote to the increasingly industrialized and urban world of the readers. • Later, archeologists were returning to Europe carrying statuary and huge pieces of ancient monuments. From the mid-18th and throughout the 19th century, the English, Germans, and other Europeans were getting to actually see remnants of the cultures of classical mythology, even without traveling to the Middle East. The personages and events depicted on these again excited the interest of the public as well as the academic communities.

Mythology in the Western Tradition

Mythology in the Western Tradition, 2

Further Trends • A growing body of literature in the United States reveals the richness of Native American mythology. • Folk and fairy tales often appear in modern literature. • New versions of classical fairy tales are aimed at particular audiences. These stories, or “duplications,” maintain the ideas and belief system of the original, but alter them to suit a new audience. • More creative incorporations transfer old tales into other perspectives and styles of writing. These "revisions" are different from duplications. They draw upon a well-honored tradition without remaining bound to its aims or style of writing.

Part 8 Myth and Literature