Northrop Frye: The Archetypes of Literature

Northrop Frye: The Archetypes of Literature

• What is Archetypal Criticism? What does the archetypal critic do?

The term Archetype indicates narrative designs, symbols, character, dreams, collective images and myths in literature.  Archetypal critic takes symbols from past event and attaches It to present and from myths to recent theories.

• What is Frye trying prove by giving an analogy of ' Physics to Nature' and 'Criticism to Literature'? 

Physics is an organized body of knowledge about nature but student of physics says that they are learning physics not nature. Criticism to literature Frye tries to prove that ideas of art like nature, that is a methodical study and has to be distinguished from the study itself, literature it to behave like a science, there is surely no reason why criticism, as a systematic and organized study. 

• Share your views of Criticism as an organised body of knowledge. Mention relation of literature with history and philosophy. 

Frye’s ‘Archetypes of literature’ in mention that to history and philosophy that organized body of knowledge which literature relates with history and philosophy. So the history and philosophy help us to connected present ideas and history and philosophy remain with literature.

• Briefly explain inductive method with illustration of Shakespeare's Hamlet's Grave Digger's scene. 

Inductive method means going move further “Particular to general” In Hamlet's grave diging's scene we can deals with inductive method like, Hamlet looks at the Yorick’s skull, then fights with Laertes due to Ophelia’s death and Hamlet’s confesses his love for Ophelia.

• Briefly explain deductive method with reference to an analogy to Music, Painting, rhythm and pattern. Give examples of the outcome of deductive method.

The deductive method deals with general truth to particular truth. Music has rhyming & painting has particular design.Literature has seems to be middle between music and panting. In music we can see the rhythm and in painting we see the pattern.

 Aaya basant hansata gaata,

 rang-birangi phool khilaata. 

 jhoom rahi hai har daali daali,

 kook rahi koyal matwaali. 

 Gun gun gun gun bhanwara gaata,

 titali raani se batiyaata.

 Khush ho bachche patang udaate,

 wo-kaata ka shor machaate.

 sardi kehati ab hai 

• Refer to the Indian seasonal grid (below). If you can, please read small Gujarati or Hindi or English poem from the archetypal approach and apply Indian seasonal grid in the interpretation.  

This poem is about spring season. Here we  see when spring season comes flower becomes full of life and people enjoys this season and sing a song. With this moment branches of trees also dance. Small children also enjoy flying kites.