Thinking Activity : Northrop Frye

Hello Readers! 

This blog is about my academic task on Northrop Frye. In our syllabus we have learned about the Northrop Frye's essay " Archetypes of Literature ". This thinking Activity given by Dr. Dilip Barad head of English department. Click here about this  Activity. 

Northrop Frye  : 

Northrop Frye was well known critic. His full name Herman Northrop Frye. He  was Canadian educator and literary critic who wrote much on Canadian literature and culture and became best known as one of the most important literary theorists of the 20th century. 

The present essay " Archetypes of literature "is taken from the book. In the essay Frye critically analysis literature against the backdrop of rituals and myth. He interprets literature in the light of various rituals and myths. Frye has divided  the easy into three parts. 

• The First deals with the concept of archetypal criticism. 
• The second of part throws light on the inductive method of analysis of a text. 
• The third part focuses on the deductive method of analysis. All the method fall under  structural criticism. 

Q - 1 : What is Archetypal Criticism?  What does the archetypal critic do? 

Archetypal literary criticism is a type of critical theory. The term archetype means an original idea or pattern of something of which others are copies. In the literary criticism the term archetype denotes recurrent narratives designs, patterns of action, character -types, themes, and images which are identifiable in a wide variety of works of literature as well as in myth dreams and even social rituals. Which are used in literary compositions and it's help us to shaping individual's perspective towards literary texts. 

Archetypal critic argue that archetypes determine the form and function of literary works,  that a text's meaning is shaped by cultural and psychological myths.. Archetypal critic find new criticism too animistic in ignoring inter textual elements and in approaching the text as if it existed in a vacuum. 

Q - 2 what is Frye trying prove by giving an analogy of 'physics to nature ' and 'Criticism to literature? 

Northrop Frye has given a unique idea of Archetypal Criticism by comparing the human emotions or human characteristics with the cycle of seasons. physics is the study of nature, criticism,  is the study of literature. Frye says that physics is an organized body of knowledge about nature. But generally students say that they are learning physics not nature. Physics is deep study of nature. Science explores nature and different branches of science explore different aspects of nature. Physics is a  branch of science,  which explores matter and natural forces of the universe. Literary criticism, today, has become systematic in could be considered as a science. Based on this concept, a work of literature may be critically evaluated, says Northrop Frye.

Q - 3 : Share your views of criticism as an organized body of knowledge. Mention relation of literature with history and philosophy. 

Literature is a part of humanities and humanities include philosophy and history also. These two branches of knowledge provide a kind of pattern for understanding literature. Philosophy and history are two major tools for interpretation of literature and archetypal criticism is based on philosophy and history of a people. Archetypal criticism is meaningful criticism.

Q - 4 : Briefly explain inductive method with illustration of Shakespeare's  Hamlet Grave Digger's scenes. 

Frye contends that structural criticism will help a reader in understanding a text, and in his analysis,  he proceeds inductively. That is,  from particular truths in a work,  he draws forth general truths.

Shakespeare's "Hamlet" gravedigger scene is best example of study of inductive method. In this scene we can see that gravedigger was not effected by the death of others because it is  their rutin work. They have romanticized relationship with their jobs. They introduced different skull with person and their works. It is manifestation of the absolute integrity of gravedigger. We came to general observation that the corruption in society.

Owing to jealousy, Othello in the Shakespeare play, inflicts upon himself affliction and this is the particular truth of the drama from which the reader learns the general truth of life that jealousy is always destructive. This is called the inductive method of analysis under structural criticism.

Q - 5 : Briefly explain deductive method with reference to analogy to music, painting, rhythm and pattern. 

An archetypal critic, under the deductive method of analysis, proceeds to establish the meaning of a work from the general truth to the particular truth. Literature is like a music and painting. Rhythm is an essential characteristic of music and in painting, pattern is the chief virtue. Rhythm in music is temporal and pattern in painting is spatial. In literature both rhythm and pattern are recurrence rhythm means the narrative and the narrative presents all the events and episodes as a sequence and hastens action. Pattern in literature signifies it's verbal structure and conveys a meaning. In producing the intended artistic effect,  a work of literature should have both rhythm and pattern. Narrative and meaning.

• Literary Criticism and Religion

There is a close relationship between literary criticism and religion. In his analysis, a literary critic considers God  as an archetype man who is portrayed as a hero in a work. God is a character in the story of Paradise Lost or The Bible,  and the critic deals with him and considers him only as a human character. Criticism does not deal with any actuality,  but with what is conceivable and possible.

Similarly religion is not associated with scientific actuality,  but with how things look like. Literary criticism work on cinceivability. Likewise,  religion function on conceivability. There can be no  place for scientific actuality in both,  but what,  is conceived is accepted by all.  Both in religion and literary criticism , an epiphany is at work. It is a revelation of god or truth and it is a profound insight. It originated from the subconscious, from the dreams. In human life there is a cycle of waking and dreaming and in nature also,  it could be seen and it is the cycle of light and darkness. Waking and dreaming,  and light and darkness are two antithetic factors, which bring about epiphany in a person.  It is during the day that man develops fear and frustration,  and he  resolves to achieve.  It is the  antithesis,  which resolves the problems and misunderstanding of man  and makes him perceive truth both in religion and literary criticism.


Thank you......