Myth, Mythopoeia and High Fantasy in Contemporary Indian Novels

Home , Fantasy, Genre, High fantasy, Low fantasy, Mythopoeia, Quest

Research Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL) A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal Vol.7.Issue 3. 2019 Impact Factor 6.8992 (ICI) http://www.rjelal.com; (July-Sept.) Email:[email protected] ISSN:2395-2636 (P); 2321-3108(O)

RESEARCH ARTICLE

MYTH, MYTHOPOEIA AND HIGH FANTASY IN CONTEMPORARY INDIAN NOVELS

Dr. SAMIR THAKUR1, Dr. SAVITA SINGH2, SHRADDHA SHARMA3 1Principal, RITEE College of Management Raipur (C.G.) 2Asst. Professor Department of English, Govt. NPG College of Science Raipur (C.G.) 3Research Scholar, Pt.Ravishankar Shukla Univercity, Raipur (C.G) doi: doi.org/10.33329/rjelal.73.235

ABSTRACT Myths are important to highlight the origin of world to society. Indian mythology and its innumerable sections have permanent influence on Indian literature as a whole, which can be considered a literary genre itself. Mythology in the Indian context encloses all-inclusive subject, to which everybody wants to be a part of life. Keywords – Myth, mythopoeia, Contemporary Indian novels . From the Greek mythos, myth means story mythology is like Chinese whispers. A story, told and or word. Mythology is the study of myth. As stories retold over generations, develops its own sub-plots, myths articulate how characters undergo or enact an introduces new characters and relatable events and ordered sequence of events. The term myth has changes perspectives according to the storyteller. come to refer to a certain genre of stories that share “Myth, history, and the contemporary – all characteristics that make this genre distinctly become part of the same chronological sequence; different from other genres of oral narratives, such as one is not distinguished from another; the passage legends and folktales. Many definitions of myth from one to another, consequently, is entirely repeat similar general aspects of the genre and may unproblematic”. -Partha Chatterjee ((2) be summarized thus: Myths are symbolic tales of the past and connected to beliefs or rituals, and serve Myths are important to highlight the origin direct social action and values. of world to society. Indian mythology and its innumerable sections have permanent influence on The classic definition of myth from folklore Indian literature as a whole, which can be considered studies finds clearest delineation in William Bascom’s a literary genre itself. Mythology in the Indian context article: encloses all-inclusive subject, to which everybody “The Forms of Folklore: Prose Narratives” wants to be a part of. Mythological themes in Indian where myths are defined as tales believed as literature first bear its most influential and destiny- true, usually sacred, set in the distant past or defying traces in the two epics, Ramayana and other worlds or parts of the world, and with Mahabharata. These colossal epics and its extra-human, inhuman, or heroic characters innumerable plots, sub-plots make these epics, (1) mythological series in ancient Indian literature. Indian literature is saturated with several types of Mythology in Indian context is the most mythological characters and their portrayal has utilised and admired genre. History proves that every relevance with the contemporary Indian society. generation have expressed their desire to enrich knowledge in myths, mythology and legends. Indian

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Whenever a new literary term is coined, it's set in an alternative, fictional ("secondary") world, a chance to observe not only the innovative authors rather than the real, or "primary" world. The but the readers as well. secondary world is usually internally consistent, but its rules differ from those of the primary world. By "Mythopoeia has taken off in the Indian contrast, low fantasy is characterized by being set in Diaspora because there has been a change the primary or real world, or a rational and familiar. in readership from a mature audience to a younger one. This lot has a desperate Indian mythological stories carry a new or yearning to reconnect. They want to different perspective. Especially of note are the consume mythology but in a well packaged novels based on the two epics Mahabharatha and and easily digestible way." — Ashwin Sanghi, Ramayana and there have been a spate of novels author of The Rozabal Line, Chanakya's containing stories through the eyes of different Chant and The Krishna Key characters. New existence of different re-telling will add to the already rich colours to mythic folktales. Mythopoeia genre is the stuff of legend. Imagination in this genre with respect to plot Mythopoeia is Greek for mythos-making. As the development and story-telling since the basic name suggests, it's a narrative genre where a fictional skeleton is already there on which the authors put mythology is created by the author. Lord of the Rings the skin of their works. for e.g., Chitra Banerjee's author JRR Tolkien first used the term as the title of Palace of Illussions, Ashok Banker's Ramayan -A one of his poems in order to explain and defend Retelling ,The Shiva Trilogy books by Amish Tripathi; creative myth-making. Mythopoeia is getting a fresh The Krishna Key by Ashwin Sanghi, Anand lease of life with popular book The Shiva Trilogy Neelakantan’s Asura: Tale of The Vanquished . books by Amish Tripathi; The Krishna Key by Ashwin Contemporary Indian Novel reclaims Indian Sanghi, Anand Neelakantan’s Asura: Tale of The history by using Indian myths, narrative strategies Vanquished . Indian authors aren't far behind. These and tradition in its portrayal, and foregrounds India writers are mining our nation's ancient epics to write by showcasing her literary heritage, philosophy, thrillers and fantasy series. myths, tradition and culture to an international English-speaking audience and poses a challenge to Amish Tripathi argue that the very term the realist and traditional historiographic means of mythology, which comes from the Greek word representing Indian history. Contemporary Indian mythos , means to hide the truth and that it is up to Novel is a work of fiction and therefore not bound by us to discover it through the story. According to the conventions of academic historiography. It Amish Tripathi, the only ancient civilisation that has contains same facts as historiography but presents kept its myths alive even today is India. This is not and interprets them through alternative narrative because the other myths aren’t as rich as ours but characters. because we have understood the philosophy behind them. Myths are not about the stories but about the Contemporary Indian Novel’s historical message you spread through them. And as societies discourse is variegated with Indian elements, and beliefs change, myths have to change along with mythopoeia and high fantasy is used to challenge them. Modernising and localising myths are ways of both the transition-narrative of modernity and keeping them relevant in modern times. Otherwise, traditional history-writing. they would die out. Whether that would make them Bibliography relatable is something readers will have to decide. Web sources High fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy fiction, defined either by its setting in an imaginary world or https://faculty.gcsu.edu/custom-website/mary- by the epic stature of its characters, themes and plot. magoulick/defmyth.htm(1) The term high fantasy was coined by Lloyd http://www.ennenjanyt.net/2007/09/reclaiming- Alexander in a 1971 essay, High Fantasy and Heroic indiahistory-myth-history-and-historiography Romance. High fantasy is defined as fantasy fiction (2)

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http://www.thehindu.com/books/myths-for- modern-times/article (3)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vamsee- juluri/writing-mythology

http://www.exoticindiaart.com/book/details/myth- in-contemporary-indian-literature http://www.indianetzone.com/39/mythological_the mes_indian_literature.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_fantasy

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1512725- indian-fiction-fantasy---a-rehashing-of- mythology

http://www.quora.com/Are-there-any-good-Indian- fantasy-novels

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sources_of_fantasy

https://www.google.co.in.myth+mythology.andhigh fantasyinindiannovels

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