GGeeoorrggiiaa SSttaattee UUnniivveerrssiittyy SScchhoollaarrWWoorrkkss @@ GGeeoorrggiiaa SSttaattee UUnniivveerrssiittyy English Theses Department of English 7-15-2009 NNaammiinngg EExxppeerriieennccee aanndd RReevveeaalliinngg SSeennttiimmeenntt:: TThhee AArrcchheettyyppaall JJoouurrnneeyy iinn EEddnnaa SStt VViinncceenntt MMiillllaayy''ss ""RReennaasscceennccee"" Jennifer Rose Forsthoefel Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/english_theses Part of the English Language and Literature Commons RReeccoommmmeennddeedd CCiittaattiioonn Forsthoefel, Jennifer Rose, "Naming Experience and Revealing Sentiment: The Archetypal Journey in Edna St Vincent Millay's "Renascence"." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2009. doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/1059519 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of English at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in English Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. NAMING EXPERIENCE AND REVEALING SENTIMENT: THE ARCHETYPAL JOURNEY IN EDNA ST VINCENT MILLAY‘S ―RENASCENCE‖ by JENNIFER R. FORSTHOEFEL Under the Direction of Dr. Marti Singer ABSTRACT This thesis uses archetypal theory as explained by Carol Pearson in The Hero Within: Six Archetypes We Live By to illustrate the heroic journey undertaken by the protagonist in Edna St. Vincent Millay‘s poem ―Renascence.‖ Feminist archetypal theory is a useful lens for gaining the reader access to the underlying paradigms of struggle experienced by the female literary character because it exposes the parallels that exist in separate female experiences. By applying Pearson‘s theory to Millay‘s work, readers are able to elucidate more clearly the methods used by the poet to create commonality and continuity with her female audience. Throughout the poem, the protagonist hero recursively circles through the Innocent, Orphan, Martyr, Wanderer, Warrior, and Magician phases. This essay utilizes a close reading strategy to illustrate its argument and provide evidence to its conclusions. INDEX WORDS: Edna St. Vincent Millay, Archetypal theory, Archetypes, Carol Pearson NAMING EXPERIENCE AND REVEALING SENTIMENT: THE ARCHETYPAL JOURNEY IN EDNA ST VINCENT MILLAY‘S ―RENASCENCE‖ by JENNIFER R FORSTHOEFEL A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University 2009 Copyright by Jennifer R. Forsthoefel 2009 NAMING EXPERIENCE AND REVEALING SENTIMENT: THE ARCHETYPAL JOURNEY IN EDNA ST VINCENT MILLAY‘S ―RENASCENCE‖ by JENNIFER R. FORSTHOEFEL Committee Chair: Marti Singer Committee: Paul Schmidt Mary Hocks Electronic Version Approved: Office of Graduate Studies College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University August 2009 iv "Heroism is redefined as not only moving mountains but knowing mountains; being fully oneself and seeing, without denial, what is, and being open to learning the lessons life offers us" –Carol Pearson The Hero Within v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge Dr. Marti Singer, Dr. Paul Schmidt, and Dr. Mary Hocks, whose encouragement never wavered. In addition, I would like to recognize Dr. Jan Gabler-Hover, who was an integral part of the early work on this project. I would also like to acknowledge my family, particularly my mother and father, who continue to give me strength in too many ways for me to explain in this small space. Finally, I would like to thank my fantastic support group, particularly Layla Moughari, Juliette Kitchens, Melanie McDougald, Cara Minardi, and Peter Fontaine, who always knew I would finish this, even when I was not sure that I ever could. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 1 The Poet and The Poem 1 Archetypal Theory 3 Feminist Archetypal Theory 8 Methodology 11 2. ―OVER THESE THINGS I COULD NOT SEE: 13 THESE WERE THE THINGS THAT BOUNDED ME‖ THE FIRST DEATH The Innocent 14 The Orphan 17 3. ―AH, AWFULWEIGHT! INFINITY 24 PRESSED DOWN UPON THE FINITE ME!‖ THE SECOND DEATH The Wanderer 24 The Martyr 28 4. ―GOD, I CAN PUSH THE GRASS APART 36 AND LAY MY FINGER ON THY HEART!‖ THE RESURRECTION The Warrior 38 The Magician 40 5. CONCLUSION 46 Implications for Archetypal Theory in New Historicism and Cultural 46 Criticism vii Implications for Archetypal Theory in Pedagogical Theory and Practice 47 Implications for Archetypal Theory in Literary Studies and Millay Studies 49 WORKS CITED 52 APPENDIX A: RENASCENCE 55