Northrop Frye
Northrop Frye and Idea of Archetype
Introduction :-
This task is based on the thinking activity task. Thinking about the term of 'archetype' and Northrop Frye views on such matters. Archetype criticism explores universal symbols and themes in literature that resonate across different cultures and time periods. Northrop Frye was very famous for his style of writing and also criticised on such views. Archetype term is the explore the great meaning of the stories and it's identity in certain manner. Northrop Frye used this term in creative manner. Northrop Frye was the prominent figure of this term 'archetype' in criticism.
Northrop Frye was a Canadian literary critic who contributed significantly to archetypal criticism. He emphasized the study of literature as a whole, identifying recurring archetypes like the hero's journey, and analyzing their significance in understanding the human psyche. Frye's work focused on the underlying structures and patterns that unite diverse literary works, providing insights into the fundamental aspects of storytelling. Northrop Frye used the idea of Archetypal Literary Criticism.
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| Northrop Frye (1912-1991) |
On the other side the most attractive and interesting about Frye, Northrop Frye was a smart Canadian guy who loved studying stories. He was really into understanding how different books and myths are connected. Frye came up with the idea of archetypes, which are like story patterns that show up again and again. He believed that by figuring out these patterns, we could learn more about what stories mean and why they're important. Basically, he helped us see the big picture of literature and how it all fits together. He was influenced by William Blake, F.R. Levis, I.A. Richard, Oswald Spengler and many more critiques.
Major Works :-
1. Anatomy of Criticism (1957)
2. The Well-Tempered Critic (1963)
3. The Secular Scripture (1976)
Now let's discuss in detail some questions...
Q-1. What is Archetypal Criticism? What does the archetypal critic do?
A-1.
What is Archetype Criticism? :-
Archetypal criticism is like exploring the hidden secrets in stories by looking at recurring patterns, characters, and symbols that show up a lot. Imagine stories are like puzzles, and archetypes are the puzzle pieces that keep appearing in different shapes and forms. This approach helps reveal deeper meanings and connections in stories. It explore the hidden meaning of images, stories, scene and many more things.
Archetypal Critic do :-
An archetypal critic is like a detective for these patterns. They dig deep into stories to find common themes, symbols, or characters that happen over and over again across different cultures and times. By doing this, they help us understand the deeper meanings and universal connections in stories, kind of like unlocking the secrets of why certain stories feel so familiar and important to us. They believe that by understanding these hidden codes, we can unravel the profound messages and connections that stories carry. It's like peeling back the layers of a mystery to discover the timeless and universal elements that make stories powerful and meaningful.
Q-2. What is Frye trying to prove by giving an analogy of 'Physics to Nature' and 'Criticism to Literature'?
A-2.
Northrop Frye, with his analogy of "Physics to Nature" and "Criticism to Literature," is trying to explain how criticism helps us understand literature, much like how physics helps us understand nature. Just as physics helps scientists make sense of the laws governing the natural world, criticism, according to Frye, helps us uncover the rules and patterns in literature. He's saying that critics are like literary scientists, studying the underlying structures and universal patterns that make stories work.
When Frye compares "Physics to Nature" and "Criticism to Literature," he is highlighting the role of criticism in understanding the fundamental principles of literature, much like physics helps us understand the fundamental principles of nature. Frye believed that just as physics reveals the order and rules of nature, criticism reveals the order and rules of literature. By identifying and analyzing these literary patterns, critics can help us understand the deeper meanings and connections that stories share. So, in essence, Frye is emphasizing the scientific approach of criticism in unraveling the mysteries of literature, much like physics does for the mysteries of nature.
Q-3. Share your views of Criticism as an organized body of knowledge. Mention the relation of literature with history and philosophy.
A-3.
Criticism as an organized body of knowledge is like having a toolkit to understand and appreciate literature better. It's not just random opinions but a structured way of looking at stories. Imagine you have a guidebook that helps you see the hidden layers and meanings in the books you read. When you criticise something at that time you need to read every possible materials about it and then you can able to make or give your own point of view upon it. Criticism give valuable and interesting knowledge about work and it's deep meaning.
In this current time we can see that, literature, history, and philosophy are like buddies hanging out together. They're connected. When you read a story, it often reflects the time it was written (that's history) and explores big ideas about life, society, and existence (that's philosophy). Critics use their toolkit to dig into these connections. They help us see how stories are shaped by the times they're written in and how they ponder deep questions about the human experience. It's like unlocking a time capsule that holds not just a story but a piece of history and a nugget of philosophy.
Critics also act like time travelers. They can take us back to the past by analyzing old stories. It's like having a literary time machine that lets us experience different eras and cultures through the words on a page. By understanding the stories of the past, we can learn a lot about the people who lived back then. Criticism helps build bridges between different ideas. It's like a conversation across time and space. By studying literature, critics can help us understand diverse perspectives, challenge our own thinking, and connect with the thoughts and feelings of people who lived long ago or in faraway lands.
Q-4. Briefly explain the inductive method with an illustration of Shakespeare's Hamlet's Grave Digger's scene.
A-4.
Now, let's take the Grave Digger's scene in Shakespeare's Hamlet. In that scene Hamlet talks with the gravedigger about death and mortality. We observe the dark humor and Hamlet's reflection on life. Hamlet also talk about atmosphere of death. Hamlet is in a graveyard, and there's a gravedigger digging a hole for a burial. Hamlet starts chatting with him, and they end up talking about serious stuff like life and death.
The cool thing here is that Hamlet finds a skull in the dirt turns out it's the skull of someone he knew! This triggers Hamlet to start reflecting on how everyone, no matter how important or powerful they were in life, ends up as just a skull in the end. It's a bit morbid, but it's Shakespeare's way of getting deep about the circle of life and the inevitable fate of all humans.
The scene is famous for Hamlet's famous line, "Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy." In simple terms, the Grave Digger's scene is like a spooky, thoughtful chat in a graveyard where Hamlet realizes that, in the grand scheme of things, we all end up as bones, no matter how fancy or important we were in life. It's a moment of deep reflection on the fragility of life and the inevitability of death.
Q-5. Briefly explain the deductive method with reference to an analogy to Music, Painting, rhythm, and pattern. Give examples of the outcomes of the deductive method.
A-5.
The deductive method is like starting with a big idea and then looking for specific examples that support it. It's about beginning with a general theory and testing it with specific details. One interesting talk, Imagine you love a specific type of music, say jazz. Your big idea is that jazz music often has a unique rhythm and pattern that makes it distinct. Now, using the deductive method, you'd look for specific jazz songs to see if they have the rhythm and pattern you expect. Same like, in painting, if you believe that Impressionist paintings often use bright colors and loose brushstrokes to capture a moment, you would pick specific paintings by Impressionist artists to see if they match your theory. The deductive method is like having a big theory or expectation and then checking it against specific examples to see if it holds true. It's a way of testing general ideas by looking at specific details.
Q-6. Refer to the Indian seasonal grid (in the blog). If you can, please read a small Gujarati, Hindi, or English poem from the archetypal approach and apply the Indian seasonal grid to the interpretation.
A-6.
"Psychoanalytical piece of song" by Lynette Goh
I dreamt of Freud yesterday
With his imposing air of superiority
Suffocating my need
To have a little autonomy
Libido and Thanatos
Runs past my mind in fast succession
Oedipus and Electra
Pauses the screen in motion
I dreamt of Jung today
Diving into the collective unconscious
Floating on the symbols
That is universally serendipitous
Archetypes and motifs
Flatter the culture of humanity
Anima and the persona
Sheds self unto the lights in harmony
I’ll dream of the future tomorrow
When everything’s all said and gone
The old will always be with the new
As written of past in stone
Though conflicts harbour trouble
And dreams reproduce it’s latency
Anxiousness is part of life’s bundle
So conquer it we must, positively
Freud's Imposing Air and Autonomy :-
The dream describes Freud with an "imposing air of superiority" and mentions the suffocation of the need for autonomy. This could symbolize the tension between the individual's desire for independence and Freud's theories, which sometimes emphasized the influence of unconscious drives.
Libido, Thanatos, Oedipus, and Electra :-
The poem introduces Freudian concepts like Libido (life force) and Thanatos (death drive), as well as the Oedipus and Electra complexes. These are archetypal themes that represent fundamental aspects of human psychology and relationships.
Dreaming of Jung and the Collective Unconscious :-
Jung is portrayed diving into the collective unconscious, exploring symbols that are universally significant. This aligns with Jung's idea of archetypes and the collective unconscious, suggesting a more harmonious and symbolic exploration of the mind.
Archetypes, Motifs, Anima, and Persona :-
The mention of archetypes, motifs, Anima, and Persona reflects Jungian concepts. Archetypes are universal symbols, and Anima and Persona represent aspects of the unconscious self. This suggests a more positive and harmonious connection with the psyche compared to the conflict presented with Freud.
Dreaming of the Future :-
The poem concludes by anticipating dreaming of the future and reflects on the coexistence of the old and the new. This could symbolize the continuous influence of past psychological theories on future understandings.
Conquering Anxiousness :-
The final lines convey a message of resilience, emphasizing the need to conquer anxiety positively. This aligns with themes of personal growth and overcoming challenges, reflecting an optimistic perspective.
In applying the Indian seasonal grid, one might interpret the dreams as seasons of the mind, each psychological theory representing a distinct phase. The conflicts and resolutions could parallel the cyclical nature of seasons, symbolizing the perpetual evolution of understanding and self-discovery.
Conclusion :-
criticism is like a magical key that unlocks the rich tapestry of stories, revealing not just words on a page but a vibrant world of ideas, history, and philosophy. Explore the symbolic stories and hidden meaning of images. Archetypal criticism explores universal symbols and themes in stories that connect with shared human experiences. It's like finding hidden patterns in literature that reveal deeper meanings. He came up with archetypal criticism, showing how different stories are connected by recurring patterns and themes. He helped us see the big picture of literature.
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