CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter consists of three parts, namely, review of related theories, review on figures in Greek mythology and theoretical framework. Review of related theories
covers the theories applied in conducting the study. Review on Greek mythology gives brief explanation on the history of Greek mythology to support the analysis.
Theoretical framework explains the review and the use of the theory to solve the problems.
A. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory of Approaches
A critical approach to literature necessitates an understanding of its nature, function and positive values. In order to have critical approach, the readers must
know what literature is, how to read it and how to appreciate it. The purpose of critical approaches is to put the reader in a good position to provide the means
whereby the reader can understand how literature is shaped and what it means. Rohrberger and Woods in Reading and Writing about Literature mentioned five
critical approaches. They are formalist approach, biographical approach, sociocultural-historical approach, mythopoeic approach, and psychological approach
3-15.
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9 The formalist approach is an approach which focuses on the total integrity of
the literary works. In addition, “formalist approach sees the meaning of literary work from the harmonious involvement of all parts to the whole, figures out the meaning
from the structure and how matters of technique determine structure” Rohrberger and Woods 6-7. Furthermore, the extreme formalist examines literary works without
noticing the author’s life, genre, historical and social background.
The biographical approach is an approach which relates the author’s experience in real world with his or her literary works. In other words, the reader
attempts to learn as much as they can about the life of the author to apply it in their attempt to understand his or her writings.
The sociocultural-historical approach is used to criticize literary works based on the reference of the civilization. In addition, it is important to know the social
background where the work was created as a reflection of the society. Rohrberger and Woods mention that “the traditional historical approach to literature is the mix of
some aspects of the sociocultural frame of relevance with interest of biographical and li
terary history” 9. The mythopoeic approach is used to discover certain recurrent patterns of
human thought which they believe to find expression in significant work of art. These patterns were found in the first expression in ancient myths, folk cites and human
base thought that have meaning for all human. Phillip Wheelright in his article Poetry, Myth and Reality as cited in Reading and Writing about Literature by
Rohrberger and Woods defines myth as “the expression of a community mind which
10 has enjoyed long natural growth, so that the sense of togetherness becomes patterned
and semantically significant” 11. Modern mythopoeic approach is influenced by Sir James Goerge Frazier’s works entitled The Golden Bough which explain the process
of myth making and the effect of myth towards human behaviour. In addition, Rohrberger and Woods also explain more about the patterns of mythopoeic approach,
the mythopoeic critics claim that cyclic patterns of withdrawal and return and of death and rebirth, patterns involving guilt and expiation and sacrificial
suffering, propitiation rites, fertility rites, initiation rites-among others- are common to all people, and that themes concerning them find their way into all
significant literature, whether the author makes conscious or unconscious use of them Rohrberger and Woods 11-12
The psychological approach is influenced by Freud. He believes that there is
an unconscious area in human mind which is rich with imagination, capacity of creation and the complexity of thought and behaviour. This approach deals with
motivation, personality and conflict of the character. Those five approaches mentioned above have their value and point of view.
However, it seems that no single approach will serve for every piece of literature. Nevertheless, each one has proper insight and task of the critic to lead the
appreciation of a particular work of literature. However, I decided to use mythopoeic approach in this study. Since
mythopoeic approach is used to discover certain recurrent patterns of human thought which they believe to find expression in significant work of art. Mythopoeic approach
is appropriate with this study because this study also tends to find out the significance of Greek mythology figures which are presented by the author of the novel.
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2. Theory of Mythology
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