Self-Reflection in Yeats’s Mythic Method

Abstract

Many modernists, including T. S. Eliot, James Joyce and W. B. Yeats, make frequent use of the term “myth” in their works because they want to objectify their ideal and subjective individuality by using a mythic method. Another reason why they depend on myths is that modernism emphasizes tradition in addition to modernity. Modernists accept E. H. Carr’s view of history that “History is the dialogue between the past and the present.” In case of Yeats, he adopted the Celtic myth as materials of his dramatic and narrative poems. He extracted stories from Ulster and Fenian cycles because they all dealt with heroes who fell in love. Through adopting these stories, Yeats wanted to create a pure and romantic Ireland and inspire Celtic nationalism. However, besides this purpose, in his works such as “The Wanderings of Oisin,” “The Old Age of Queen Maeve,” “Baile and Aillinn,” and “The Two Kings,” Yeats tried to reflect his own story, especially his unrequited love with Maud Gonne by revising Celtic myths. Thus, Yeats tried to juxtapose his own love story with the love story of his heroes in myths.