Poetry Finding Itself: The Dialectic of Logos and Mythos

This dissertation critically examines the long-standing debate between prose and poetry, tracing its origins to the ancient conflict between mythos and logos. I argue that the dichotomy between prose and poetry is theoretically incoherent, a confusion that has historically obstructed a clear definition of poetry. Through a genealogical survey of lyric poetry’s evolution from ancient prayer and hymn, I demonstrate that lyric emerged as the principal poetic form in modern times due to its profound connection with mythical thought. Additionally, this work explores how the prose versus poetry debate’s incoherence has shaped modern literary theory, with a particular focus on an overlooked manifesto by Virginia Woolf, where she envisions a novel that synthesizes poetry and prose. Ultimately, I propose a definition of poetry rooted in the concept of “mythical speech,” challenging contemporary assumptions and offering a new framework for critically engaging with poetry in its diverse, ever-evolving forms.