Religion and mythology in Oscar Wilde's poem 'The Sphinx'

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, British
Cover of the book Religion and mythology in Oscar Wilde's poem 'The Sphinx' by Melitta Töller, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Melitta Töller ISBN: 9783638898508
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: January 25, 2008
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Melitta Töller
ISBN: 9783638898508
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: January 25, 2008
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 2005 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,0, LMU Munich (Department für Anglistik und Amerikanistik), course: Oscar Wilde, 28 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Introduction A poet is sitting in his room beside a Sphinx. Within the poem the Sphinx forms his main focus of interest, his whole attention belongs to her: a cheap souvenir from some street corner. But inside of the poet's room the Sphinx no longer remains a little piece of stone but, right in front of his eyes, becomes a real-life Sphinx - the age-old female demon of death, who besieged the city of Thebes as a punishment for the king of Thebes who introduced homosexual love into Greek culture and thus incured Hera's hatred. The Sphinx, one of Oscar Wilde's most enchanting poems, is woven out of a net of various mythological beliefs and religious ideas. Wilde invokes a hotch-potch of varying creatures, who convey a magical atmosphere of ancient grandeur. In order to understand the poem one has to get to know the concepts that stand behind the various mythical creatures, gods and heroes. Therefore I will explain to which mythologies Wilde relates to and how they refer to each other. In this connection the time of Oscar Wilde has to be taken into consideration, too: Victorianism, with its crumbling of old values and conquering of new worlds; the period of decadence; the period of aestheticism. I would like to show some of the multitude of possible accesses, e.g. the identification of the Sphinx with the figure of the femme fatale; the personification of the Sphinx as the temptations and desires of the poet respectively The Sphinx as a metaphor for the loss of Christian faith in Victorian culture.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 2005 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,0, LMU Munich (Department für Anglistik und Amerikanistik), course: Oscar Wilde, 28 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Introduction A poet is sitting in his room beside a Sphinx. Within the poem the Sphinx forms his main focus of interest, his whole attention belongs to her: a cheap souvenir from some street corner. But inside of the poet's room the Sphinx no longer remains a little piece of stone but, right in front of his eyes, becomes a real-life Sphinx - the age-old female demon of death, who besieged the city of Thebes as a punishment for the king of Thebes who introduced homosexual love into Greek culture and thus incured Hera's hatred. The Sphinx, one of Oscar Wilde's most enchanting poems, is woven out of a net of various mythological beliefs and religious ideas. Wilde invokes a hotch-potch of varying creatures, who convey a magical atmosphere of ancient grandeur. In order to understand the poem one has to get to know the concepts that stand behind the various mythical creatures, gods and heroes. Therefore I will explain to which mythologies Wilde relates to and how they refer to each other. In this connection the time of Oscar Wilde has to be taken into consideration, too: Victorianism, with its crumbling of old values and conquering of new worlds; the period of decadence; the period of aestheticism. I would like to show some of the multitude of possible accesses, e.g. the identification of the Sphinx with the figure of the femme fatale; the personification of the Sphinx as the temptations and desires of the poet respectively The Sphinx as a metaphor for the loss of Christian faith in Victorian culture.

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book Measures for Successful Strategic Information Systems Planning by Melitta Töller
Cover of the book The Promotion of Freedom of Speech in China and South-East Asia: The Role of the United Nations by Melitta Töller
Cover of the book Voluntary Implementation of IFRS in German Non-Listed Companies by Melitta Töller
Cover of the book 'Is it cos they is black?' British society and its colonial immigrants in the TV series 'The Kumars at No. 42' and 'Ali G' by Melitta Töller
Cover of the book Paradox and the human psyche in William Faulkner's 'As I Lay Dying' by Melitta Töller
Cover of the book Female Génocidaires: What was the Nature and Motivations for Hutu Female Involvement in Genocidal Violence Towards Tutsi Women During the Rwandan Genocide? by Melitta Töller
Cover of the book Private label brands are a threat for high value manufacturer's brands such as 'Charmin'! by Melitta Töller
Cover of the book Überblick über die gesellschaftliche Stellung der muslimischen Frau by Melitta Töller
Cover of the book The Power of Derivatives in the Global Financial System by Melitta Töller
Cover of the book Mughal Architecture by Melitta Töller
Cover of the book Emotions in negotiations by Melitta Töller
Cover of the book Word Geography of England and Deutscher Wortatlas - A Comparison by Melitta Töller
Cover of the book What was Prohibition? by Melitta Töller
Cover of the book Analysis of Kodak Financial Report 2004 by Melitta Töller
Cover of the book The Ideology of Manhood in James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans by Melitta Töller
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy