Monday, 4 January 2016

Northrop Frye: The Archetypes of Literature



The term Archetypes signifies narrative designs, symbols, character, dreams, collective images, myths etc. are in literature. Simply we can say that archetypal it means represented things. For example Paradise Lost in which Apple is a symbol of knowledge. The Archetypal critics find out the symbols and archetypal images which recurrently happen in the literature.

As far as Physics and Nature is concerned hence Frye wants to make endeavor of difference between physics and nature in addition to he adds that an individual can’t have the whole concepts through learning physics while on the other hand he also says that through criticism one cannot accept that he/she does possess all things about criticism.

Here Frye says that criticism can be an organized body of knowledge and he also connects with history and philosophy to convey his ideas so he states that history deals with the action and events while on the other side philosophy deals with the meanings. Therefore literature includes history and philosophy.

The Inductive method of analysis deals with particular to general. So here it    can be applied in Hamlet because if we see it from Micro level then the grave digging scene is observed but if we observe from general view then we can see Hamlet’s love for Ophelia.

The deductive method of analysis deals with the established meaning of work from the general truth to particular truth. So to explain deductive method of analysis here Frye illustrates Music and Painting and furthermore he also conveys that Music and Painting are general branch of literature while Rhythm is essential in both so,
Music: Inductive method
Rhythm: Deductive method

Poem: “Winter the season of Joy”

The spring is here and the sun is bright,
Everyone is playful they are not having anyone’s fright.
I could hear the pretty flowers sing. ………………

Archetypal image is winter and spring which recurrently happens in this poem.

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