Mythological Motifs in Robert Graves’ Story "The Shout"

The present paper investigates the presence of mythological motifs in Robert Graves’ story The Shout. The three different mythological devices analysed in this work give a clear picture about the connection of the given text with myths. The theoretical part emphasizes the role and aim of myths in narration and discusses the usage of myths as the trick of drawing the subject of the story. This research aims at proving the importance of observing mythological devices of the storyteller. It relates theory to practice by analysing direct and indirect motifs, and comparing the story with some well-known mythological patterns. For illustration the parallels between myths and the present story several books on mythology, philosophy and psychology were explored. The results prove that utilization of mythological motifs can be helpful for expressing and drawing the essence of the personality (character), thoughts of deep bases and goals of life.
English literature of XVI – early XX centuries is hardly understood without knowledge in mythology. Graves’ works dealt mainly with love, a marriage, birth and death, often set within a mythological framework. Mythology was for Graves a constant source of inspiration. Narration and myth in Graves’ works proved to be closely linked, reciprocally enriching, supplementing, explaining, supporting and excusing each other.

The present term paper deals with the investigation of mythological motifs in Robert Graves’ story The Shout. Three different mythological devices are selected for future analysis and comparison: archetypal images, dreaming and symbolism. In this way, mythological motifs of the story had been examined from the fields of unconscious, fantasy and reality.…