[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-detail-157632-en":3,"doc-seo-157632-105":30,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":91},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",{"doc_id":7,"user_id":8,"nickname":9,"user_avatar":10,"doc_module":4,"category_id":11,"category_name":12,"doc_title":13,"doc_description":14,"doc_content":15,"file_id":16,"file_url":17,"file_type":18,"file_size":19,"view_count":20,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":20,"is_downloadable":20,"audit_status":20,"page_count":21,"language":22,"language_code":23,"site_id":24,"html_lang":23,"table_of_contents":25,"faqs":26,"seo_title":27,"seo_description":14,"update_tm":28,"read_time":29},157632,1374402524268,"Berry Peter","https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_3d24733baf745e90a7e4bdd5f77d97b2",2,"Literature","American gods - Sustaining the Imaginative Life - Mythology and Fantasy in Neil Gaiman","The examination of “American gods” argues that mythology provides the foundation for creative and poetic expression in literature that reflects the universality of contemporary human concerns after the spiritual bond with the gods has been largely severed and belief systems have lost meaning. The discussion traces shamanic properties and practices that support Shadow Moon’s self-discovery, showing how mythification seeks to reconnect readers with something old and mysterious within the soul.","Sustaining the imaginative life: mythology and fantasy in Neil Gaiman’s American  \ngods 1  \nMathilda Slabbert Department of English University of Stellenbosch STELLENBOSCH  \nE-mail: [tilla@intekom.co.za](tilla@intekom.co.za)  \nLeonie Viljoen  \nDepartment of English Studies University of South Africa PRETORIA  \nE-mail: [viljol@unisa.ac.za](viljol@unisa.ac.za)  \nAbstract  \nSustaining the imaginative life: mythology and fantasy in Neil Gaiman’s American gods  \nThis examination of “American gods” argues that mythology is the bedrock for creative and poetic expression in literature that explores and comments on the universality of contemporary human concerns in a world where the spiritual link with the gods has largely been severed and belief systems have mostly lost their meaning.  \nThe discussion investigates and identifies the significance of shamanic properties and practices as elements which aid the protagonist Shadow Moon in his journey of self-discovery, and illustrates that the novel’s mythification represents an attempt to“reach below the surface of modern superficialities and reconnect with something old and mysterious within the depths of our soul” (Freke, 1999:6). Gaiman’s unique style in conveying tales that have fashioned the past, the manner in which he evokes the meeting-place of science, fantasy, myth, and magic, and the synthesis he fashions between the ancient and the modern illustrate that the imaginative life is sustained by the incorporation of mythical motifs as creative device. The  \n1 This article is an adaptation and reworking of a chapter from Mathilda Slabbert’sunpublished doctoral thesis Inventions and transformations: an exploration of mythification and remythification in four contemporary novels (Unisa, 2006) . The phrase “sustaining the imaginative life”comes from Peter O’Connor’s Beyond the mist: what Irish mythology can teach us about ourselves (2001) .  \nLiterator 27(3) Des./Dec. 2006:135-155 ISSN 0258-2279 135  \nblending of mythical elements in “American gods” and its restorative project of putting the reader in touch with the profound inner spiritual world validate investigation.  \nOpsomming  \nOnderhouding van die verbeeldingryke lewe: mitologie en fantasie in Neil Gaiman se American gods  \nIn hierdie artikel oor “American gods” word betoog dat mitologie die basis vorm van kreatiewe en poëtiese uitdrukkings wat verkennend omgaan met en kommentaar lewer op die universaliteit van eietydse menslike bekommernisse in ’nwêreld waarin die spirituele band met die goddelike grotendeels verbreek is en geloofstelsels grotendeels hulle betekenis verloor het.  \nDie sjamanistiese eienskappe van die protagonis Shadow Moon word ondersoek. Die ondersoek toon aan dat miteskepping in die roman ’n poging verteenwoordig “[to] reach below the surface of modern superficialities and reconnect with something old and mysterious within the depths of our soul”  \n(Freke, 1999:6). Die unieke wyse waarop Gaiman verhaleoordra waarin aan die verlede vorm gegee is, die wyse waarop hy wetenskap, fantasie, mite en magie oproep, en sy sintesevan die oeroue en die moderne illustreer dat die verbeeldingslewe deur die kreatiewe insluiting van mitiese motiewe onderhou word. Sowel die vervlegting van mitiese elemente in“American gods”, as die wyse waarop die werk herstelbewerkstellig deur die eietydse samelewing in voeling te plaas met ’n diepsinnige innerlike gees teswêreld, word ondersoek.  \nThese are gods who have been forgotten, and now might as well be dead. They can be found only in dry histories. They are all gone, all gone, but their names and their images remain with us …  \nThese are the gods who have passed out of memory. Even their names are lost. The people who worshipped them areas forgotten as their gods. Their totems are long since broken and cast down. Their last priests died without passing on their secrets (Gaiman, 2001:62-63) .  \n1. Introduction  \nIn The poetics of myth Eleazar Meletinsky (2000:272) states that“myth [","cbCaicGawJh4ugau","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaicGawJh4ugau","pdf",155439,1,22,"English","en",105,"# Abstract\n# Introduction\n## Myth as a foundation for creative expression\n## American gods as a mythical fantasy novel","[{\"question\":\"What role does mythology play in “American gods” according to the paper?\",\"answer\":\"Mythology is presented as the bedrock for creative and poetic expression, enabling literature to engage with universal contemporary concerns in a spiritually fragmented world.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the article connect shamanic practices to Shadow Moon’s journey?\",\"answer\":\"It investigates shamanic properties and practices as elements that aid Shadow Moon’s self-discovery, linking mythification to inner spiritual depth.\"},{\"question\":\"What stylistic synthesis does the paper emphasize in Gaiman’s storytelling?\",\"answer\":\"The paper highlights Gaiman’s blending of mythical motifs as a creative device, especially the way he integrates science, fantasy, myth, and magic to connect ancient and modern worlds.\"}]","American gods - 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