Abstract
Classical mythology has been and remains an important element in Europe's cultural history. At different times and with different functions, the gods reappeared in European literature, philosophy or arts, and contributed significantly to the formation of modern European consciousness. The first part of the article contains a brief observation of some of the most significant moments of mythological revivals in Europe. The second part of the essay aims to identify two moments of a re-emergence of classical mythology in Portugal, particularly contextualizing "the return of the gods" in Fernando Pessoa and Sophia Mello Breyner Andresen. Bearing in mind that they assume a concrete function in an environment of transcendental disquiet and socio-cultural agitation, the gods do not simply represent some transitory guests within the poetry or prose of Pessoa and Sophia Mello Breyner Andresen. In other words, the second part aims to understand concretely the function of the gods in the work of these two Portuguese poets.
| Translated title of the contribution | The gods are a function of style: classic mythology in European cultural history |
|---|---|
| Original language | Portuguese |
| Pages (from-to) | 343-379 |
| Number of pages | 37 |
| Journal | Teoliterária |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 23 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2021 |
Keywords
- Europe
- Cultural history
- Classical mythology
- Fernando Pessoa
- Sophia Mello Breyner Andresen