Futuristic Visions and Classical Myths: Nonlinear Time as a Device for Reinterpreting Antique Plots in Dan Simmons’ Novel “Ilium”

Ancient mythology remains an important source of inspiration for contemporary literature, where its plots and images are used to reinterpret universal questions of human existence. In the context of postmodern and metamodern paradigms prioritizing non-linearity, intertextuality, and multi-layered na...

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Main Author: Mariia Iliuchenko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University 2024-12-01
Series:Вісник Харківського національного університету імені В. Н. Каразіна. Серія Філологія. Vìsnik Harkìvsʹkogo nacìonalʹnogo unìversitetu ìmenì V.N. Karazìna. Serìâ Fìlologìâ.
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Online Access:https://periodicals.karazin.ua/philology/article/view/24737
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author Mariia Iliuchenko
author_facet Mariia Iliuchenko
author_sort Mariia Iliuchenko
collection DOAJ
description Ancient mythology remains an important source of inspiration for contemporary literature, where its plots and images are used to reinterpret universal questions of human existence. In the context of postmodern and metamodern paradigms prioritizing non-linearity, intertextuality, and multi-layered narratives, mythology becomes a tool for examining such fundamental themes as time, space, and fate. The works of Dan Simmons, in particular his Trojan Dylogy, are relevant for study due to the combination of ancient stories with science fiction and the question of the relationship between the past, future and present. The purpose of the article is to study the interpretation of the passage of time in ancient mythology through the prism of postmodern and metamodern approaches that transform mythological concepts of time and space in Dan Simmons' novel Ilium. The research uses a comparative analysis of ancient sources and Simmons' works. An interdisciplinary approach is applied, which includes elements of a philosophical study of the mythos in the Ilium, taking into account cultural, historical and social aspects. In his novels, Dan Simmons creates a unique chronotope where the past, present, and future are intertwined. The Trojan War in his novels takes place in the future under the supervision of the gods of Olympus, while modern people and characters from antiquity interact with each other. A key feature of these novels is the use of the laws of time: non-linear temporal dimensions and the possibility of changing the foreseen future become central themes. The reinterpretation of classical mythology in modern literature, as exemplified by the works of Dan Simmons, demonstrates the meaning-forming role of ancient stories in the study of complex philosophical topics. Simmons successfully integrates mythological elements into science fiction, allowing us to explore the issues of time, space, and human freedom within postmodern and metamodern discourses.
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publisher V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University
record_format Article
series Вісник Харківського національного університету імені В. Н. Каразіна. Серія Філологія. Vìsnik Harkìvsʹkogo nacìonalʹnogo unìversitetu ìmenì V.N. Karazìna. Serìâ Fìlologìâ.
spelling doaj-art-103321ea6fa745f383ecfae4808e92322025-01-10T11:17:36ZengV. N. Karazin Kharkiv National UniversityВісник Харківського національного університету імені В. Н. Каразіна. Серія Філологія. Vìsnik Harkìvsʹkogo nacìonalʹnogo unìversitetu ìmenì V.N. Karazìna. Serìâ Fìlologìâ.2227-18642024-12-0195162110.26565/2227-1864-2024-95-0224737Futuristic Visions and Classical Myths: Nonlinear Time as a Device for Reinterpreting Antique Plots in Dan Simmons’ Novel “Ilium”Mariia Iliuchenko0Kyiv National Limguistic University Ancient mythology remains an important source of inspiration for contemporary literature, where its plots and images are used to reinterpret universal questions of human existence. In the context of postmodern and metamodern paradigms prioritizing non-linearity, intertextuality, and multi-layered narratives, mythology becomes a tool for examining such fundamental themes as time, space, and fate. The works of Dan Simmons, in particular his Trojan Dylogy, are relevant for study due to the combination of ancient stories with science fiction and the question of the relationship between the past, future and present. The purpose of the article is to study the interpretation of the passage of time in ancient mythology through the prism of postmodern and metamodern approaches that transform mythological concepts of time and space in Dan Simmons' novel Ilium. The research uses a comparative analysis of ancient sources and Simmons' works. An interdisciplinary approach is applied, which includes elements of a philosophical study of the mythos in the Ilium, taking into account cultural, historical and social aspects. In his novels, Dan Simmons creates a unique chronotope where the past, present, and future are intertwined. The Trojan War in his novels takes place in the future under the supervision of the gods of Olympus, while modern people and characters from antiquity interact with each other. A key feature of these novels is the use of the laws of time: non-linear temporal dimensions and the possibility of changing the foreseen future become central themes. The reinterpretation of classical mythology in modern literature, as exemplified by the works of Dan Simmons, demonstrates the meaning-forming role of ancient stories in the study of complex philosophical topics. Simmons successfully integrates mythological elements into science fiction, allowing us to explore the issues of time, space, and human freedom within postmodern and metamodern discourses.https://periodicals.karazin.ua/philology/article/view/24737american literatureantique mythologyintertextualityscience fictiontemporality
spellingShingle Mariia Iliuchenko
Futuristic Visions and Classical Myths: Nonlinear Time as a Device for Reinterpreting Antique Plots in Dan Simmons’ Novel “Ilium”
Вісник Харківського національного університету імені В. Н. Каразіна. Серія Філологія. Vìsnik Harkìvsʹkogo nacìonalʹnogo unìversitetu ìmenì V.N. Karazìna. Serìâ Fìlologìâ.
american literature
antique mythology
intertextuality
science fiction
temporality
title Futuristic Visions and Classical Myths: Nonlinear Time as a Device for Reinterpreting Antique Plots in Dan Simmons’ Novel “Ilium”
title_full Futuristic Visions and Classical Myths: Nonlinear Time as a Device for Reinterpreting Antique Plots in Dan Simmons’ Novel “Ilium”
title_fullStr Futuristic Visions and Classical Myths: Nonlinear Time as a Device for Reinterpreting Antique Plots in Dan Simmons’ Novel “Ilium”
title_full_unstemmed Futuristic Visions and Classical Myths: Nonlinear Time as a Device for Reinterpreting Antique Plots in Dan Simmons’ Novel “Ilium”
title_short Futuristic Visions and Classical Myths: Nonlinear Time as a Device for Reinterpreting Antique Plots in Dan Simmons’ Novel “Ilium”
title_sort futuristic visions and classical myths nonlinear time as a device for reinterpreting antique plots in dan simmons novel ilium
topic american literature
antique mythology
intertextuality
science fiction
temporality
url https://periodicals.karazin.ua/philology/article/view/24737
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