Southern American Authors

History

Abstract

A major influence upon many parts of society is that of Greek and Roman mythology. While there are several interpretations of what myths are, this study will define them as stories from Greek or Roman origins that seek to explain some natural or social phenomena or to provide moral lessons. Myths were especially influential during the Southern Renaissance, a period of literary reinvention in America during the 1920s and 1930s. Authors used myths to give deeper meanings to their works as they struggled with issues of race, religion, and social changes. Myths appeared in plot lines, as major symbols, and even in the names of characters. This paper focuses upon mythological influences in short stories from Flannery O’Connor and Caroline Gordon, poems from Robert Penn Warren and John Crowe Ransom, a play from Tennessee Williams, and a novel from William Faulkner. It will explore the specific influence each myth has on its work and the way in which each work is shaped by that influence.

Advisor(s) or Committee Chair

Professor Walker Rutledge

Disciplines

English Language and Literature | History | Literature in English, North America, Ethnic and Cultural Minority

Recommended Citation

Hayden, Natalie L., "Mythological Influences on Southern American Authors" (2015). Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects. Paper 582.