MYTHOLOGIE GRECQUE ET LITTÉRATURE JUVÉNILE: LE CAS DE PERCY JACKSON ET LES DIEUX GRECS
GREEK MYTHOLOGY AND JUVENILE LITERATURE: THE CASE OF PERCY JACKSON AND THE GREEK GODS
Author(s): Cătălin BărbunțăSubject(s): Literary Texts, Fiction, Novel
Published by: Editura Alma Mater
Keywords: Greek mythology; children’s literature; humour; reinterpretation of mythology;
Summary/Abstract: Our work sets out to exploit the way in which Greek mythology is reinterpreted and presented in a less discussed segment of literature – children’s literature. Based on Rick Riordan’s book Percy Jackson and the Greek Gods (a real publishing success in 2014), our purpose is to analyse the means used by the author to retell the stories of the Gods of mythology, while trying to meet the expectancy of and satisfy the taste of young readers of the 21st century. Language and humour are the main aspects taken into consideration in this work, as Riordan adopts an informal style, seen as almost unliterary, and creates unexpected associations between Greek mythology and the contemporary period for comic effect. In addition, the ancient tragedy is sacrificed in favour of modern comedy, while the characters, mythical figures, are portrayed in a post-modern way, being strongly endowed with human traits. In short, our interest is divided between the post-modern vision of Greek mythology that Riordan shares with his readers and the literary instruments he employs to give it a setting that is both attractive and literary in value.
- Issue Year: 2023
- Issue No: 34
- Page Range: 54-63
- Page Count: 10
- Language: French
- Content File-PDF