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Conduct a side-by-side analysis of a traditional source text and a modern work that draws from it.
Imagine you just performed a world-shattering, tragic feat—but the person standing right next to you didn't even look up from their phone. Why does the world keep spinning when our personal worlds fall apart?
In the traditional Greek myth, Icarus and his father Daedalus attempt to escape Crete using wings made of feathers and wax. The story is a classic warning against hubris (excessive pride). Daedalus warns his son to fly the 'middle course.' If he flies too low, the sea dampens the feathers; too high, and the sun melts the wax. Icarus, thrilled by the power of flight, ignores the warning, flies too close to the sun, and falls to his death. In this traditional context, the focus is entirely on the heroic figure and the moral lesson of staying within one's limits. The imagery is often bright, dramatic, and centered on the heat of the sun and the tragedy of the fall.
Quick Check
What is the primary moral lesson (or 'theme') of the original Icarus myth?
Answer
The danger of hubris (excessive pride) and the importance of moderation or listening to wise advice.
Fast forward to the 20th century. Poet William Carlos Williams wrote 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' based on a painting by Bruegel. Unlike the myth, Williams doesn't focus on the 'hero.' Instead, he describes a farmer plowing his field and the 'pageantry' of spring. Icarus is reduced to a tiny detail: 'a splash quite unnoticed.' This is a thematic shift. The modern work suggests that individual suffering—even a legendary death—often happens while the rest of the world goes about its mundane business. The imagery moves from the 'blazing sun' to the 'sweating farmer,' emphasizing that life is indifferent to personal tragedy.
Let's look at how the 'fall' is described in two different ways: 1. Traditional Myth: Focuses on the screaming, the melting wax, and the father's loud lamentation. 2. Modern Poem: Williams writes, 'insignificantly / off the coast / there was / a splash quite unnoticed.'
By using the word insignificantly, Williams actively challenges the idea that Icarus's death is the most important thing happening in that moment.
Quick Check
How does Williams' use of the word 'unnoticed' change the meaning of the Icarus story?
Answer
It shifts the focus from the tragedy of the individual to the indifference of society and nature.
Why the change? Traditional myths often served as cultural anchors, teaching clear moral lessons to a community. In the ancient world, the relationship between man and the gods was central. However, modern literature often reflects a more fragmented society. Modern poets like Williams or W.H. Auden were interested in the 'human position' of suffering. They observed that while someone is dying, someone else is eating or opening a window. This reflects a shift from idealism (the world revolves around heroes) to realism (the world is vast and often ignores us). The 'value' being reinforced isn't 'don't be proud,' but rather 'be aware of the world's vast indifference.'
Consider the 'Social Importance' ratio ():
In the Traditional Myth, is very high (the hero is everything). In the Modern Poem, is very low (the hero is just a 'splash' compared to the farmer's work). This mathematical way of thinking helps us see how modernism 'de-centers' the hero.
Analyze these two descriptions of the sun: 1. Traditional: 'The scorching heat of the sun softened the fragrant wax.' 2. Modern (Williams): 'the sun / that melted / the wings' wax / was / awake / tingling / near / edge of the sea.'
Notice how Williams makes the sun 'awake' and 'tingling'—it is a living part of the landscape, not just a weapon that kills the hero. To master this, you must explain how the modern poem treats the sun as a neutral observer rather than a punisher.
In the context of the Icarus myth, what does 'hubris' mean?
How does William Carlos Williams' poem 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' treat the death of the main character?
Modern poets always use the exact same imagery as the original myths to ensure the reader understands the story.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to recall the difference between how the 'sun' is portrayed in the traditional myth versus the modern poem.
Practice Activity
Find a famous news story from last week. Write a 5-line poem focusing not on the news event itself, but on what someone nearby was doing (like eating a sandwich or walking a dog) while it happened.