Toru Dutt was an Indian poet who lived from 1856 to 1877. She wrote in English, French, and Sanskrit. Many of her works incorporated myths from Hindu scriptures but reinterpreted the mythical characters to address contemporary social issues facing women in India, such as child marriage and bride burning. For example, in her poem "Savitri" she portrayed the character Savitri as a victim of these practices. Overall, through her use of mythology, Dutt brought attention to the social realities facing women in 19th century India and attempted to change perspectives on gender.

1. PAPER - 4
Indian writing in English

2. Indian Writing in English
◦ Name : Dabhi Vipul C
◦ Roll no : 47
◦ Enrollment no : 2069108420180009
◦ M. A. Sem : 1
◦ Email ID : dabhivc04@gmail.com
◦ Topic : Toru Dutt and Myth
◦ Batch : 2017-19
◦ Submitted to : Department of English, MKBU

3. Toru Dutt and Myth
◦ Toru Dutt :
◦ Was an Indian poet.
◦ Born on 4th March in 1856.
◦ Died on 30th August in 1877.
◦ Wrote in English, French and Sanskrit.
◦ Her two novels, Bianca or The Young
Spanish Maiden written in English and Le
Journal de Mademoiselle D’ Arvers
written in French, were based out side
India with non –Indian protagonist.

4. Continue…
Our Casuarina Tree Sita Lakshman Savitri
Baugmaree
The Lotus
Near Hastings

5. What is myth?
◦ A traditional story especially one concerning
the early history of a people or explaining a
natural of social phenomenon and typically
involving supernatural beings or events.
◦ A widely held but false belief or idea.
◦ Origin of Myth :
◦ Greek word –Muthos
◦ From 19th century – Myth
◦ Myth are distorted account of historical events.
◦ Story tellers repeatedly elaborate upon historical
accounts gain the status of Gods.
◦ Ex- Myth of wind –God Aeolus
◦ This theory named euhemerism.

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◦ Myths began as allegories for natural
phenomenona;
◦ Ex- Apollo represents the sun
◦ Allegories for philosophical or spiritual
concepts ;
◦ Ex – Athena represents wise judgement
◦ Myth result from the personification of objects
and forces.
◦ Ex – worshiped natural phenomenon, fire,
Air
◦ Ancient views or sees things as a God, not as
mere objects.
◦ Myth is tied to rituals ;

7. Function of Myth
◦ To establish models for behavior, It provides a religious
experience.
◦ Campbell writes :
◦ He gives four essential functions of it.
◦ First – Of eliciting and supporting a sense of awe before
the mystery of being.
◦ Second – render a cosmology, an image of the universe
that will support and be supported by this sense of awe
before the mystery of the presence and the presence of
mystery.
◦ Third –to support the current social order, to integrate the
individual organically with his group.
◦ Fourth – to initiate the individual into the order of realities
of his own psyche, guiding him towards his own spiritual
enrichment and realization.

8. Types of Myth
Creation Myths Myths of God Trickster Myths Death Resurrection

9. Toru Dutt uses Myth in her works
◦ Savitri
◦ Lakshman
◦ Dhruva
◦ Prahlad
◦ Sita
◦ Bharat
◦ Baugmaree
◦ The ultimate success of poet lies in her individual style of taking the well-known mythological
characters from the Hindu Epics and Puranas to tackle certain burning contemporary social
issues of the time.
◦

10. Continue…
◦ Savitri : Woman was a highly victimized person inflicted with child –marriage and bride burning.
◦ “ His eyes had much of love and grace, But glowed so bright, they filled with fear. “
◦ Lakshman : Sita comes in “Lakshman “ But as a human being or as an authoritative and
dominant person. Sita is dominent figure.
◦ “ Hoarse the vulture screamed, As out he strode with dauntless air “
◦ Sita : Three happy children in a darkened room, who listens story from her mother.
◦ ‘Tis hushed at last And melts the picture from their sight away. ‘

11. Movies based on Mythology

12. Conclusion…
◦ Toru Dutt lived a life in a time when women were considered as a lower , compare to
man. She very well tried to take their level best. Mainly her works represents social
realities and also she tried to change the perspective towards the woman.
◦ Love, patience, pity, Courage seen in her works. We can say that by using of myth she
tried very well and also makes some changes in her works.