Semantic Approach To Classification Of Fiction

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Semantic Approach To Classification Of Fiction

By Tamar Mebuke
Apr. 28, 2005

The present article is a part of work on creation of the structural-semantic classification of prosaic genres based on a group of semantically connected mythological archetypes. It is intended to describe one of the groups of the semantically connected mythologemas of the literary works of different genres lying at the basis of different works of fiction.

We proceed from the assumption, that mythology is primary material for any art. Motives of antique (mythological cosmology), and later Biblical mythology are the arsenal of poetic picturesqueness, the source of subjects of the formalized language of art. Mythology is considered as a closed symbolic system, united by the nature of functioning and by the method of modeling of the outer world.. A myth is the structural organization of the very principles of literature. Mythical archetypes in literature do not disappear, they are only modified since in literary mythologizme to the foreground comes out the idea of the eternal repetition of primary mythological prototypes for the expression of universal archetypes and for constructing the narration itself.(1). A myth itself is used as a metaphor.

The analysis of myths fixed in the sign systems led to the idea of the myth, as an elementary topical construction, the archetype of spiritual culture. This topical- motivational unit of myth is conventionally designated as a mythologema. The use of mythologemas by the authors of literature in their works, i.e. the realized return of literature to its source - the myth, became known as `remythologization`(2).

In the present work we intend to examine a number of the interconnected mythological archetypes (mythologemas) used in the works of different genres of epic prose.

Myth is principally cosmic and the cosmic model composes the essence of the mythological model of the world. The pathos of mythology is subordinated to the harmonizing and ordering endeavor and is oriented to such an integral approach to the world, when even the least elements of chaos are not allowed.. The transformation of chaos into Cosmos composes the basic sense of mythology, when Cosmos, from the very beginning, includes value, ethical aspect. Realising that it will be impossible to carry out all-embracing study, we nevertheless selected one of the central cycles of myths, connected with the Zodiac. The selection of this closed system of myths is based on that fact, that the boundaries of our Universe are limited for us by the boundaries of the Zodiac. So the circle of Zodiac symbolically represents for us the space, to which the God confined Himself , in order to create the world.

It is intended to examine antique and Biblical myths, connected with the Zodiac and on the basis of stating mythologemas to find the reflection of the same archetypes in the literary works, since nothing but the interpretation of reality cannot constitute the content or the morphology of a myth. Myths preserve and transfer paradigms - images, and the entire totality of actions, for which the man takes responsibility upon himself is achieved in the imitation to them. By means of these serving as examples images are periodically recreated Cosmos and society, since the object or action become real only in that measure, in what they imitate or repeat an archetype.(3)

The myth is simultaneously diacronistical (as historical narration about the past) and synchronistical (as the method of explaining the present and even the future).

Secondly, it is intended to examine the system of myths, connected with the passage of the Sun through the Zodiac. In the mythology a Solar hero, as a rule, is identified with the Deity. However, allegorical value exists in the myth as possibility from which the infinity of sense emerges. In the literary works a passage through the Zodiac is generally performed by a main hero, and the very circle of Zodiac in this case is the complete cycle of human life, where different stages correspond to the different constellations(houses). ( As everything existing on the Earth has spiritual reflection in the Heavens).

This approach to the analysis of literary works will give us the possibility not only for the first time to create structurally - semantic classification of the genres of epic prose, but to present the world literature not as a number of separate works, but also to see the general principles, which are the basis of the works of different epochs and authors, inspite of their variety, and to present literature as a system, connected with united sense.

Since the analysis is intended to be carried out on the material of Westeuropean literature, it is intended to examine Ancient Greek and Biblical myths, as the basis of this culture.

All themes in the artistic works are limited by the specific number that go back to the themes, given in the mythologies. Mythologemas, in turn, are connected with the structure of Universe (Cosmos).The fact, that in the cultures of all peoples exist myths connected with the Zodiac and the planets already by itself indicates to their central place in different mythologies (4), as well as to the tendency of people to correlate themselves with the Universe and to the attempt to bring the life of the man into the accordion with the universal principles, which proceeds from the realization of the fact, that in the Universe, as in any inclosed system, everything must be co-related and exist in harmony. The sequential development of different mythologies serves the attempt to describe this harmony. In different mythologies are also given examples of the disturbance of Universal harmony with the examples of tragic consequences of such disturbances for the person himself, it disrupting.

That fact, that the study of planets and constellations and their action on the life of people began already in extreme antiquity indicates to their archetypical position in the human culture, that found its reflection in the descriptive form in different mythologies. One can find myths, corresponding to the natures of planets, in the mythologies of completely different and historically not connected together cultures. They compose the sphere of general human soul and relate to those fundamental notions of psychology, which K.G.Young named archetypes.(5)An archetype indicates former images, ancient infinity of imagies; the ancient means of Universe. `The deeper layers of soul lose their individual nonrepeatability, in proportion to the degree to which they increasingly further and further step back into the gloom. Descending increasingly below and approaching a level of the autonomously functioning systems, they acquire even more collective and more universal nature, until they fade in the material substances. Consequently, on the bottom itself "soul" is simply the Universe `. It is in the inner sense, standing behind these archetypes (imagies of archetype) that we should search for the source of the archetypes of human behavior and the source of subjects in fiction, describing this behavior.

In the time immemorial people noted that the Moon in its motion on the night sky passes only through specific constellations, moreover in each period of year this phase of the Moon is observed in one and the same section of the sky.It is known, that the Moon shines by reflected light of the Sun, therefore by the position on the sky of the full Moon it is easy to determine the way, which passes among the constellations our main Heavenly planet.

The trajectory of the Sun on the firmament was named ecliptic (from gr. Ekleipsis the `eclipse`) and was divided into 12 equal sections according to the number of months in the year. To each sector, occupying in the plane of ecliptic exactly 30, the symbol of the constellation nearest to it was appropriated. All such constellations, with exception of one (The Scales - Libra), depict the figures of people, animals or mythical creatures, therefore the line on the sky, within limits of which are located these constellations, is named Zodiac (zodiakos kyklos - `beast circle` in the transfer from the Greek). The position of the Sun at the moment of the vernal equinox indicates the starting point of Zodiac circle. It is thought, that the Zodiac constellations were previously to others distinguished among the scattering of the stars of night sky. (6)

According to the astrological law of analogies, the same principles, which formed the body of the solar system and govern the movement of the planets, acted in the device of terrestrial life and created the soul of the man. (7)The soul of the man is expressesed by the Sun. These invisible principles, which can be named Godly laws, or just cosmic rhythms, became the basis of mythological archetypes.These rhythms, expressing themselves as archetypes in astrology, are present in our life as the deep motives of events.In the personal and collective history there is an internal scenario, the predetermining semantic line of imperceptible behavior and great deads. Mythology helps to uncover their motives from the point of view of the Eternal. Passage of the Sun ( the soul) through the Zodiacal signs represents basic landmarks of human existence, it is a cyclic annual course in astrology and the complete cycle in the life of a human soul, which has passed through all stages, specified to it by Nature. As the versions of the passage of the man through different vital stages, there were stated positive, as well as negative properties of different Zodiacal signs, just as those qualities in the human nature, which a man in the flow of life should overcome for achievement of positive qualities, inherent in this sign. It is counted, that the nature of a man is determined by the properties of that Zodiacal sign, under which the man was born.

Zodiacal signs are also correlated with the specific stages of human life.In this case they divide the life of the man into twelve phases, continuing on the average from six to eight years. Some phases flow rapidly, whereas others, on the contrary, can be very prolonged.This are: (8) 1.Aries ( The Ram). Infancy. A man by himself and his deep aspirations. 2. Taurus ( The Bull) Material goods and acquisition, connected with the period of the growth of a child. 3. Gemini ( The Twins). Instruction, relations, small journeys. 4. Cancer ( The Crab ). A young person. Love. Dreams about his own home. 5. Leo ( The Lion ). Children, creatures for whom one feels the need to be proud of. It is also a period of creative work and other productive activity. 6. Virgo ( The Virgin). It is the house of work and problems with the health, but also the house of cleanliness. 7. Libra ( The Scales ). The time of solving problems. Period when one begins to give practical advice to others. 8. Scorpio ( The Scorpion ). A man begins to think about death and the beyond world. The period is characterized by expressions of jealousy in private life, dissatisfaction with social order and the search for the means of its conversion. 9. Sagitarius ( The Archer ). Spiritual life, interest in philosophy and religion. Appearance of the need to think about the sense of life, the appearance of a tendency toward the reflection above philosophical and religious problems.Appearance of the desire to get to know other countries, their customs, standards of living. A person occupies a specific social position. 10. Capricorn ( The Gout ). Reaching a maximally high social position, it is also a period of life in solitude. Aging. A man feels his right to judge everything and to blame everybody and by and by departs to the isolation. 11.Aquarius ( The Water Carrier ). The house of friends and spirituality. It is the time of pension or resignation. A person tries to find for himself a young replacement. He also spends larger time with his friends, considering with them spiritual problems. 12. Pisces ( The Fish). It is the house of offerings, refusals, tests, and also the house of hidden hostility, treacheries. It is the time of physical weakening, and the time of weakening of the links with the outer world.It is the time of making the will, in which one is freed from all ones acquisitions and goods. One often finds oneself to be abandoned on the hospital bed.

Naturally, this description is very schematic.Each life possesses its special features and more or less differs from this overall diagram. However, noncorrespondence of the life in its essence to this diagram leads a person to the internal disorder and dissatisfactions with himself, with the surrounding people and with the life as a whole. This diagram is the basis of novels- biographies. (for example, John Galsworthy `The Forsyte Saga` and Thomas Mann` Buddenbrooks `).

Zodiac, always preserving its order, in contrast to the always remaining in motion planets, is the symbol of the motion of the Earth around the Sun and the most important for the life of a man annual cycle.The picture of mythological imagies, describing the concepts of planets, is turned in the sequence, reverse to the annual motion of the Sun on the Zodiacal signs – from the Fish to the side of Aquarius. According to the ancient tradition of Egypt the formation of the world and the development of the man moved from the sign of the Fish through the Aquarius, symbolizing primary separation and beginning of development, gradually to Aries ( The Ram), the sign of the perfection of the man.

Myths and legend, connected with the Zodiacal signs give us the possibility to trace the development of the world, beginning from its creation before the appearance in it of the man, created analogously with that system of Universe, in which he was to live, and also the searches by the man of his place in the world to bring his life in the correspondence with the laws of the Universe, which is reflected in different mythologies, and later in literature.

Zodiac inspired almost all peoples for the creation of myths and legends, reflecting the inherent characteristics of each of the twelve signs. These are: 12 Olympic Gods and 12 Labours of Hercules in the Greek mythology, 12 sons of Jacob, who became the ancestors 12 tribes of Israel in the Old Testament, 12 Apostles in the New Testament.

The pantheon of Gods in the Greek and Roman mythologies was connected with the basic spheres of human activity, which these Gods patronized. 12 Labours of Hercules in the descriptive form represent the way of a man, which he has to pass, in order to become Godlike (after his death Hercules was added to the assembly of Olympic Gods).

Hercules was the son of Zeus and Alkmena, the wife of Theban military leader Amfatrion, whom Zeus tempted, after accepting the features of her husband.(9) When Hercules was borne, Gera, the wife of Zeus, who was always irritated by his adulteries, wanted to kill the child and sent two snakes, in order to smother him in the cradle; but the child proved to be so strong, that he himself strangled the snakes. After becoming a youth, Hercules obtained splendid training and completed many heroic deads before he married Migare, a daughter of the king of Tebeya, and had with her many children. But once in a fit of madness inflicted on him by Gera, he slew his wife and children. Suffering from the pangs of conscience, he left for Delfy to request the council of Delphian oracle –

Apollo, as to expiate his crime and as penance was ordered by Apollo to serve for 12 years the Argive king Eurystheus, who imposed upon him 12 tasks of great difficulty and danger which are known as the 12 Labours of Hercules. Hercules had to consecutively:

1. To slay the Nemean Lion. 2. To kill the Lernean Hydra. 3. To catch and retain the Arcadian stag. 4. To destroy the Erymanthian boar. 5. To cleanse the Augean Stables. 6. To destroy the cannibal birds of the Lake Stymphalis. 7. To take captive the Cretan bull. 8. To catch the horses of the Thracian Diomedes. 9. To get possession of the girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. 10. To capture the oxen of the monster Geryon. 11. To bring Cerberus from the infernal region and free Theseus from Inferno. 12. To obtain the apples of the Hesperides.

These twelve labours are correlated with the following Zodiacal signs: 1. - Leo. 2 -.Scorpio, 3. - Aries, 4. - Capricorn, 5. - Sagittarius, 6. - Taurus, 7. - Gemini, 8 - .Virgo, 9. - Aquarius, 10. - Cancer, 11.- Pisces, 12. - Libra.(10)

As it has already been stated above, `Zodiac` in the transfer from Greek indicates `beast circle`. A `beast` in the mythology symbolizes the lowest nature of a man, above which it is necessary to rise, after conquering it in yourself. This is reflected in the Labours of Hercules. The task of a man, like that of Hercules, is to fight with all negative aspects, inherent in each of the zodiacal signs and to develop in himself all positive aspects. 1.One must fight with wolves and wild boars of Mars (savagery, spite), breeding in oneself the desire, readiness for self-sacrifice, necessary for the germination of the seeds of the Good.( The Erymanthian Boar- Aries). 2. One must conquer materialism and sensuality of Taurus, and to obtain its patience, its aspiration and its force. (Control the Cretan bull). 3. One must fight with the harmful tendencies of Gemini, their intellect, ready to deceive, to criticize and to slander, but to be ready to always fulfill the orders of love and wisdom. ( The horses of Diomedes). 4. One must master, control ones emotionalism, the disorderly and twilight imagination of Cancer, but to become sensitive to the spiritual flows, to have a desire to elevate ones life and to clean ones power. (The monster of Geryon). 5.One must conquer peacockery and pride of Leo, but to develop its straightness, its dignity and merits. (Nemean Lion). 6. One must conquer spiritual limitedness and dryness of Virgo, but to learn her cleanliness, her taste for order and methodicalness. (Amazons. The girdle of Hippolyta). 7. One must conquer laziness and indecision of Libra, but to develop the need for harmony and beauty. (The gold apples of Hesperides). 8. One must muster the jealousy and the sexual fervency of Scorpio and be always ready to die for the lowest nature, as Jesus taught, when he said: - "If you do not die, you will not live."(The Lernean Hydra). 9.One must fight with the rebellious instinct and the instability of Sagittarius, but to be capable of being raised in consciousness to the God. (Stymphalian birds). 10. One should overcome pride, cruelty and the irreconcilability of Capricorn, in order to achieve with the aid of meditation and contemplation of the highest peaks of spiritual life. ( TheArcadian stag). 11. One must conquer individualism, the need for scandals and riots of Aquarius, in order to be dissolved in the cosmic life. (The Augean stables). 12. One must avoid vagueness and internal constraint of Pisces, but to learn their selflessness, renunciation and self-sacrifice.( The release of Theseus from Inferno.Cerberus).

The emposed upon Hercules 12 Labours appear to us in higher light, if we consider that before the eleventh and the most difficult of them he was initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries. (11). He had by the order of the Argive king Eurystheus to bring from to the netherworld and afterwards to lead back the infernal dog Cerberus. On the way to Inferno it is necessary for Hercules to become initiated. Mysteries conducted a man through death of what is transienting, i.e. to the netherworld; and they saved him from destruction through initiation. As a mist, he could conquer death. In this way Hercules overcomes the dangers of the underground world. This gives us the right to interpret his other Labours, as internal steps in the development of soul.

`For the man, who changed his perceptions and feelings with respect to the reality, it loses its absolute stability, its unconditional value. His perceptions and feelings begin to doubt their uncondition alsupremacy and give place to the sphere of spirits. However, a terrible possibility lies here. A man loses perceptions and feelings of direct reality, and no other reality is opened before him instead. He soars whereas in the void and is a corpse to himself. Old values perished, new for him did not arise. Then neither the world, nor the man exist for him. He reaches the limit, where the spirit shows him any life, as death. Then he is no more in the world, he is in the netherworld, and his journey to the Hell is accomplished. If he does not perish now, then a new world is opened before him. He either disappears in it, or appears completely changed before himself. In the latter case the whole world is restored to life for him from the spiritual flame`(12).

In connection with this it is possible to search for that deeper sense, which is placed in each of 12 Labours and which will give us the possibility to find its reflection in different literary works and to group them according to the principle of their correspondence to one archetype or another.

1.The victory over the Nemean Lion (Leo) and his drive to Mikenia indicates the mastery over purely physical force in the man, its taming.A skin of a beast in the Greek and Hindu mysteries is a symbol of the lowest `self ` in a person. 2. The victory over The Lernean Hydra corresponds to the sign of Scorpio, the symbol of sexual force, which is capable of getting new power ( a new head ) each time.It is not possible to deny sexual force, but it should be converted into the highest love. Hercules kills nine-headed Hydra. He strikes it with his blazing charred log and immerses in its bile his arrows, so that they obtain the ability to hit the target without missing. This means, that he conquers low knowledge, the knowledge of feelings by the flame of spirit, and from what it acquired via this lowest knowledge, he gains force, that makes it possible for him to see the low in the spiritual light. 3.The birds of the Lake Stymphalis.It is the victory over everything, that prevents a man from seeing the sky.The constellation Sagittarius, that corresponds to this Labour is depicted in the form of Centaur- half horse and half man, which indicates both the animal and Godly nature in the man. The lowest nature must be overcome, in order for the man to become the connecting link between the Earth and the Heaven, the symbol of which is The Archer. 4.The Arcadian stag.(Capricorn) This sign denotes the obtaining of everything, that can give to human soul wild Nature, understanding, however, that, it is impossible to rule above nature without disrupting its accordion. Only after wounding the stag it was possible for Hercules to catch it, for which the goddess of the hunting Artemis became angry with him. 5.The Erymanthian boar.(Aries). The sign indicates the victory above the animal force, overcoming in oneself savagery and spite, capable of leading a man to spontaneous destruction.And transformation of these qualities into the readiness for self-sacrifice. 6.The Augean Stables. (Aquarius).The sign indicates to spiritual waters that come to clean subconsciousness of a man. 7.The Cretan bull.(Taurus). The Labour that shows the victory over materialism and sensuality and the finding of patience, aspiration and force. 8.The horses of Diomedes. (Gemini). The sign represents intellect, inclined to destruction.By means of his reason a man destroys - he analyzes, criticizes, prepares, but finally the same force, destroying everything around him, destroys the man himself. 9.The girdle of Hippolyta.(Virgo). The girdle is a symbol of authority, presented to Hippolyta by the god of war Ares. After the victory over the Amazons, Hercules presents it to Theseus, for his great bravery. Theseus personifies the soul (The Moon), which Hercules allots by extra force, after conquering the limitedness of the sign of Virgo. 10.The oxen of the monster Geryon. (Cancer).Geryon - means a man, based on three principles - intellect, heart and will, existing at the lowest level of personality and at the higher level- individuality. In the traditional symbolism personality is presented by the Moon, and individuality – by the Sun. Three bodies of Geryon correspond, consequently, to physical, astral and mental spheres, constituting personality, which must be transformed into the individuality. 11.The capture of Cerberus(Pisces). The constellation of the Fish presents universal chaos, primary space, from where all essences left, this is the realm of indifference, unconsciousness, gloom,Hell, wherefrom Hercules released Theseus ( the soul), in order to bring it to the light, to consciousness. 12.The apples of Hesperides.(Libra).In order to obtain the apples of Hesperides it was necessary for Hercules temporarily to take the place of Atlas, to hold on his own shoulders the terrestial globe, i.e. to feel on himself the entire gravity of the world and the responsibility for it. The apples of Hesperides ( Hesperus - indicates morning dawn) are the reward to those, who after passing the `beast circle` could find equilibrium (The Scales) and the `dawn` of the new life.It is meaningful that Hercules presents the apples of Hesperides as the gift to the goddess of Wisdom – Pallas Athene.

Only after having isolated such meanings for each of the zodiacal signs( which correspond to different stages in the life of a man and his development) and finding their deeper sense, it is possible to speak about their archetypal value and to find their manifestation in different works of fiction.. This will give us possibility, for example, to attribute the poem by Shota Rustavelli ` The Knight in the Panter` s Skin` to the archetype of the Lion( the sign of mastery by a man in himselfself of physical force and overcoming his lowest `self`); a novel by A.F.Prevost ` The History of the Cavalier de Griye and Manon Lesco` to the sign of the Scorpion (as the example of the perniciousness of uncontrollable sexual force); the tale by T.Mann ` The Law`, R.Bach`s ` Jonathan Livingston Seagull` to the archetype of the Archer (the sign of tendency toward spiritual sources, knowledge and truth); the novel by Daniel Defoe `Robinson Crusoe ` to the archetype of the sign The Gout (as an example of what a man can acquire by life in Nature); novels by V.Hugo `The Man Who Laughs `, F.M.Dostoyevsky `The Demons`, W.Golding the `Lord of the Flies` - to the archetype of the Ram,(i.e. different treatment of manifestations of animal force in the man); novels by F.M.Dostoyevsky `The Crime and the Punishment` and James Joyce `A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man` - to the sign of the Water Carrier (connected with purification of subconsciousness of a man); the cycle of the novels of Honore de Balzac `La Comedie Humaine` - to the archetype of the sign of the Bull,(sign of overcoming materialism and sensuality); the novel by Mary Shelley `Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus` and the majority of works, relating to the genre of science fiction, and also novels I.V.Goethe `Faust` and T.Mann `Doktor Faustus` to the archetype of the sign the Twins (connected with the intellect, inclined to spontaneous destruction) etc.

Above mentioned examples of the works of fiction give us only a general idea of the classification of literary works on the basis of mythological archetypes. As a rule, one- plot works, for example a short story or a tale, serve as illustration of one of the versions of the development of one archetype or another in literature, whereas in the multi-plot works (a story and a novel) the development of action can be connected with the examination of different interconnected archetypes, constituting the canvas of life of their heroes. Nevertheless, the problems of external or internal life of a man are examined in all works of literature and reflect the tendency to bring life into correspondence with the universal laws or illustrate ruinous consequences of the disturbance of these primary laws of universal harmony.

Consequently, in the ideal the task of a man consists in traversing all signs and fighting in himself with the enemies- wild boars, wolves, lions, bulls, birds, goats, scorpions..., i.e. against his own lowest nature. When this work is finished and one acquires twelve virtues, as Hercules, one will become Godlike, i.e. one will realize what was originally placed in one.

In myths and religions of all peoples of the past it is possible to find the tracks of initiation, one and the same language, one and the same wisdom, only forms are changed. Everywhere a man learns that it is possible to become the highest essence, a hero, Deity. The mission of a man consists in realizing the Sky on the Earth, to become similar to his Creator by the image of Whom he was created.

How complicated this way may be tells us the myth about Phaeton:

Each day passes Helios the sky on his chariot, drawn by four fiery horses. At night He returns in the gold cup to the sea home, where his sisters - Selene and Eos await for Him. From the height of their celestial road everything is visible to Helios, He can see what occurs on the Earth and on Olympus. The daughter of the goddess of beauty Aphrodite gave birth for Helios of several daughters and seven sons. For their wisdom and beauty they were named Heliads. Only the son of Helios Phaeton was not confident,if he could add himself to their company. Indeed he was born not by godly Roda, but by the simple nymph Climena.. In order to be convinced of his own godly origin, Phaeton reached the palace of Helios. Attempting to dispel the doubts of his son, Helios promised to carry out any request of his. As the answer Phaeton asked to permit him to drive the chariot of the god of the Sun, so that no one on the Earth would have any doubts about the high origin of the youth. Helios could not refuse his son, but this trip cost Phaeton his life. The heavy chariot lost control and was rolled to the Earth.(according to the myth this occurred when Phaeton flew past the sign Scorpio). In order to avoid the catastrophe, Zeus broke the chariot by his lightning and the youth fell into the river Eridan like a burning torch.(13)

In `Phaedrus` by Plato a soul is depicted in the form of a harness with a coachman and two winged horses. One of the horses is patient and wise, the other is restive and wild. If the chariot meets with an obstacle on the way, the restive horse uses it, in order to hinder the will of the good horse and to manifest obstinacy to the coachman. When the chariot reaches that place, from where it must follow the Gods on the firmament, that bad horse brings it into disorder. It depends on the force of the good horse to overcome it, whether the chariot will be able to overpower the obstacle and to enter the reign of extra-sensual.

Thus, a soul does not always succeed in rising into the Godly rein without difficulty. Some souls rise more to this contemplation of eternal, others - less. A soul, that once has looked beyond the veneer, is at rest till the following riding round, the one, which saw nothing because of the wild horse, must make a new attempt with another riding round. One riding round designates the life of a soul in one personality, the wild horse – the lowest, the wise horse - the highest nature; the coachman symbolizes the soul, striving to become Godlike.

We find a similar motif in the New Testament. This is Judas Iskariot, who agreed to follow Christ (the Solar God) on His way, and then betrayed him because of envy and greediness (any house of Zodiac can become the unsurmountable obstacle on the way to perfection).

The myth of Phaeton testifies the extreme complexity for an ordinary person to pass the circle of Zodiac at the level of Deity, in spite of the man`s partial- godly origin. To pass the life by the way of evil, as a rule, is unacceptable for the man, if he has not taken "Die Elixiere des Teufels."Consequently, the skill of life is reduced to the balancing of oppositions, the basis on which the entire Universe is built. The skill to correctly find equilibrium (the Scales) is one of the signs of wisdom (14). This is that reason, on which each stage of human life, its sense and skill to live `correctly` are the eternal and inexhaustible questions for the reflection of all people. They are the eternal subjects of literary works, reflecting the view of the author on the eternal, but nevertheless unresolved problems, as the freedom of will is given to any person, and each significant stage of life places the man before the selection(selection between the good and the evil), for which, he feels, he bears responsibility before the Universe.

The history of European religion and mythology reflects this way: from Olimpic Gods, who combine in themselves all features ( positive, as well as negative), inherent in different Zodiacal signs, and consequently, to the different types of people, through the Labours of Hercules, in which is given the method of overcoming the negative aspects and the way of their transformation into the positive aspects at each stage of a man`s life. Further, the Judaism tradition laid the foundation of the contemporary concept about the perfection of the man and way of reaching it (12 Patriarchs), which became the basis of the ideal of the development of the man, reflected in Christianity in the image of 12 Apostles.

B I B L I O G R A P H Y:

1.E.M.Meletinskiy, The Poetics of Myth. Moscov., 1976. N.Frye, Anatomy of Criticism. New York, Atteneum, 1967. R.VChase, Quest for Myth. Baton Rouge. Louisiana State Univ. Press, 1963. 2.T.D. Kobakhidze, Myth and European Poetic Thinking of 20-40. XX cent. . ( understanding of methodological position). 3. Eliade, Mircha, Cosmos and History.,Moscov , 1987. 4.Semira and Vetash, Astrology and Mythology. S.- Petersburg, 1998. Campbell, Joseph, The Mythic Image. Moscow, 2004. 5.Young K.G.,The Man and His Symbols. St.- Petersburg, 1996. 6 S.U..Afon'kin, Planets and Constellation in Legends and Myths. Saint Petersburg, 2003. 7. Semira and Vetash. Op. cit.. 8. O.M.Ayvankhov, Zodiac, Key to Understanding of the Man and Universe.Publishing House Moscov, 1997. 9. N.A.Kuhn, Legends and the Myths of Ancient Greece. Moscow, 1957. 10. O.M.Ayvankhov.Op. Cit. 11.Steiner, Rudolf, The Mysteries of Antiquity and Christianity. St.-Petersburg, 1990 ( p.59 ) 12 Steiner, Rudolf. Op. cit.( pp.52-67 ) 13. S.U.Afonkin. Op.cit. 14. Encyclopaedia of Occultism. Vol..-1, Publishing House Avers, Moscow, 1992.

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About the author: Tamar Mebuke is Assistant Professor at the Department of the English Language at Tbilisi State Technical University of Georgia.

Email: mebuket@yahoo.com

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