| Abstract [eng] |
The dissertation explores the metamorphosis of myth into poetry and song as reflected in the poetic grammar of the selected Old Icelandic, Old English and Lithuanian poetic narratives. Based on archetypal literary criticism and comparative Indo-European poetics, the dissertation aims at revealing the connection between myth, ritual, traditional poetry and song. In terms of hermeneutic interpretation, the levels of symbolism in a poetic text are unveiled and the link between archetypes, motifs, and mythic formulas is exhibited. The dissertation offers an input into the studies of traditional oral narrative in Lithuania, for it provides an investigative tool for the analysis of the components of traditional oral narrative. As a result of this comparative study, shared poetic characteristics and common elements of mythic worldview of each unique tradition may be identified. The dissertation should be relevant for the studies of traditional oral narrative, comparative poetics and comparative mythology; it should also contribute to the comparative studies of the Germanic and the Lithuanian poetics. |
