Professor Kristen Poole discusses Myth, Fantasy, and Philip Pullman’s imagination

Exeter College is delighted to share a recent interview with former Visiting Fellow, Professor Kristen Poole, titled “From Myth to Fantasy: Where Folklore Ends & Imagination Begins.” This insightful conversation expands on the themes explored in her new book, Philip Pullman and the Historical Imagination, which delves into the seventeenth-century influences on the works of Exeter alumnus and Honorary Fellow, Philip Pullman. 

In the interview, filmed in the Rector’s Garden, Professor Poole offers a compelling definition of myth as a “fiction that tells a truth” [00:57], emphasizing its communal nature in expressing shared values. She explores the evolution of storytelling, from the “enchanted world” [05:57] of the seventeenth century to the modern fantasy genre. Professor Poole highlights how authors like Pullman don’t just create new worlds but reimagine existing myths, creating a dialogue between the past and present. She notes that Pullman’s work, for instance, is a re-imagining of John Milton’s Paradise Lost [09:49], which in turn reimagines the Bible and classical literature. 

Professor Poole’s discussion of how fantasy literature can serve as a new form of myth in a secularized world is particularly thought-provoking. She argues that stories like Pullman’s His Dark Materials have the potential to become “the new myths” [22:37] that help us reflect on our own lives and our place in the world. 

You can watch the full interview on youtube and Philip Pullman and the Historical Imagination can be bought from Waterstones and other booksellers.