The Chimeras (Masterplots, Revised Second Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Gérard Labrunie
- First Published: 1854
- Type of Work: Poetry
- Genres: Poetry, Mythological literature, Lyric sequence, Sonnet
- Subjects: Mythical animals, Mythology or myths, France or French people, Religion, Poetry or poets, Gods or goddesses, Life and death, Paganism
Critical Evaluation:
In the series of the twelve sonnets he grouped together under the title The Chimeras, Gérard de Nerval exploits ambiguities that resemble the creatures of his title. The chimera, as a monster depicted in Greek mythology, is a hybrid creature combining elements of a lion, goat, and serpent. In its later derivation, the word refers to something fanciful or imaginary that does not really exist. Nerval plays on both senses of the word: His poems recall mythic past times, but they also produce a somewhat fictitious portrait of Nerval himself.
...[The entire page is 2098 words long]
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