Shocking the ancestors: unconventional re-creation of the myths in the poetry of Eavan Boland

الملخص EN

Being a very captivating aspect in poetry, myths are always fascinating the poets and for the Irish poet Eavan Boland they proved to be of special interest.

Eavan Boland is one of the foremost female voices in Irish poetry and her use of myths in particular is nothing short of amazing, a subtle use in many senses.

Being a woman poet, Boland is well aware of the insidious and negative effect of the myths on women in general and on women poets in particular.

Many myths make their way into her poetry, mostly the myths which contribute to the traditional construction of female subjectivity.

In the male literary tradition women have always been treated as passive, decorative objects and the myths bequeath woman false images.

Boland recreates the Irish and classic myths and challenges the established traditional representation of women, to create at the same time Modern traditions of representation.

However, in her poetry, though her critique of myth she was able to turn the myths into revolutionary and cautionary tales and to introduce images of strong women into Irish culture subverting the conventional images of women.

She seeks to escape from the damaging weight myths to reclaim the role of Irish women and to set free not only the women but also the whole nation from the curse of myths, and paves the way for a new wave of contemporary Irish poets.

Key words: Eavan Boland, poetry, revision, myths.