The Functions of the Myth in Modern and Contemporary Poetry

Authors : Rıouguı Abdelhalım

Pages : 337-348

Doi:10.30622/tarr.1438041

View : 94 | Download : 51

Publication Date : 2025-06-29

Article Type : Other Papers

Abstract :Poets have various purposes behind their poems, and each of them seeks to influence the receiver, using different methods and means. The most important aspect that writers tend to adopt in every age to create influence and acceptability among the receivers is the use of cultural and intellectual heritage, or reference to one of the elements of cultural heritage. This cultural heritage is divided into two types the tangible cultural heritage and the intangible cultural heritage. Yet, myth is considered to be the most important element of the cultural and intellectual heritage of each era and for every people. Consequently, myth is regarded as an important medium in modern and contemporary Arab literature. Firstly, it has a collective signification that expresses everyone, and a majority share in its understanding, influence and consecration. Secondly, it brings ambiguity into the text, which we know to be one of the most important aspects of modernity in literary texts. Therefore, myth serves several purposes when employed by the creator and writer. In this research, we focus on the most dominant element of cultural heritages, namely the myth, which, in modern and contemporary poetry, constitutes one of the means the poet employs to ensure that his purpose reaches the receiver and creates his acceptance. Each myth has one or more functions that the poet seeks to emphasize, in accordance with the objective he intends to reach through his poetic text. The research raises the question of what are the most important functions of myth in modern and contemporary literature, and why poets use it prominently in their poems in the modern and contemporary era. We have defined herein the myth and have explained its types: religious, historical, social and others. We have also demonstrated that the ability of the poet emerges through changing the course and the connotations of the myth according to the context in which he has set it, and not by referring to it as originally cited. We have also discussed the connotations and various functions of the myth: cognitive, intellectual, psychological, social, political functions... and so on. Finally, we have concluded that the myth in the poetic text is the genuine key to understanding the overall meaning of the text and knowing its characteristics. Yet, if the poet deliberately hides the implicit connotations of the text, the myth shall reveal them. It reveals the intentions of the poet and creates one of the aesthetics of his text.
Keywords : Mit, Mitin işlevleri, Modern ve Çağdaş Şiir, Arap edebiyatı.

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