Molly Puckett - "Mythopedia"



Mythopoeia refers to creating a myth. “Mythopedia” also refers to a poem written by J.R.R. Tolkien, which explores creative myth-making as a response to C. S. Lewis’s skepticism on myths. C.S. Lewis believed that myths were “lies breathed through silver.” Tolkien reacts to Lewis’s statement by writing 148 lines of poetry, originally titled “Philomythus to Misomythus” or “Myth-lover to Myth-hater.”

The first stanza makes many references to the loss of mythological creativity of natural phenomenon. “a star's a star, some matter in a ball / compelled to courses mathematical / amid the regimented, cold, Inane, / where destined atoms are each moment slain.” (lines 5-8). The speaker of the poem, possibly speaking as Tolkien himself, believed that the scientific approach of observing, investigating, and labeling could be an explanation as to why mythology is thought to be useless or worthless. Misomythus only sees the world through what is provable and explainable, without the mythological implications of our natural universe.

The second stanza describes the creation of said natural universe, however stanza three introduces the human influence on that universe. “Yet trees are not 'trees', until so named and seen - / and never were so named, till those had been / who speech's involuted breath unfurled,” (lines 29-31). This quote emphasizes the importance of language. As we talked about in class, humankind is different from animals because we have the ability to communicate using symbols. Animal species can communicate using signs, however they do not use symbols.

Stanza four explores how Philomythus can see the natural world through both science and mythology. The two are not mutually exclusive and they can survive (even thrive) in a relationship with one another. Stanza five discusses the relationship between God and mankind, further referencing that science, mythology, and religion can be discussed equally on the same topic.

Stanzas six through nine explore the idea that myths are used to protect humanity against the evils of the world. Evil is a constant, an undeniable and inescapable truth of humanity: “[...] of Evil this alone is dreadly certain: Evil is.” (lines 79-80). Stanzas seven and eight reference The Beatitudes, which is a series of teachings in the Bible about how to live a good and happy Christian life. Each Beatitude begins with “blessed are the…” which is then mirrored in Tolkien's poem.

At the end of the poem, Tolkien rejects the modern view of mythology saying: “I will not walk with your progressive apes, / erect and sapient.” (lines 118-119). This connects back to the very first stanza of the poem. The modern or progressive view of science has been a reason as to why some academics believe myths are explanations of natural phenomena when our ancestors did not have modern technology. In this poem, I do not believe that Tolkien is reprimanding our progression in technology. By no means is technology an inherently negative thing for our society. In “Mythopedia,” Tolkien is simply expressing his frustration in the persistent belief that myths are worthless to understanding science or religion, when in reality, myths are imperative to understanding humanity.

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