Which novel did T. S. Eliot praise for utilizing a new "mythical method" in place of the old "narrative method" and demonstrates the use of ancient mythology in modernist fiction to think about "making the modern world possible for art"?
A. Virginia Woolf's The Waves
B. Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness
C. James Joyce's Finnegans Wake
D. E. M. Forster's A Passage to India
E. James Joyce's Ulysses
Answer (3)
E would be the answer - Ulysses by Joyce
T. S. Eliot praised James Joyce's Ulysses for its use of a "mythical method," marking a modernist departure from the traditional "narrative method" in literature, and for making the modern world possible for art through the use of mythology in modernist fiction. Hence the correct option is E.
This mythical method is illustrated in Joyce's use of ancient mythology within the context of modernist fiction to envision "making the modern world possible for art." Joyce's groundbreaking work elevates the everyday experiences to the level of epic heroism by paralleling the narrative with Homer's Odyssey, thereby fusing contemporary Dublin with ancient myth. James Joyce's works, especially Ulysses, are seminal examples of modernist literature, profoundly influencing how stories can be told beyond a linear narrative, focusing on the complexity and inner life of characters. As demonstrated in Ulysses, the mythical method provides an intricate framework that challenges the reader to engage deeply with both the text and its layered meanings.
T. S. Eliot praised James Joyce's Ulysses for its use of a new "mythical method," which merges ancient mythology with modern life. Published in 1922, the novel parallels the experiences of Leopold Bloom in Dublin with the adventures of Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey , reflecting the complexities of the modern condition. This innovative approach marked a significant shift in literary narrative techniques, highlighting the potential for mythology to influence contemporary art.
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