Blog on Northrop Frye: The Archetypes of Literature

Archetypal means images and symbols are representing in literature its called archetypal.
Archetype  refers to   constantly recurring symbol or myth  in literature.

1.  “Archetypal criticism looks in literature for patterns and traces them through work of classical antiquity into modern texts and interprets those reverberations as symbols or manifestations of universal human conflicts and desires.”

2. Here Frye- analogy of physics with nature and criticism with literature.
 Nature = physics 
Literature = criticism
Language = grammar
Northrop Frye gives this analogy to prove that as science – physics has grown today  as a separate branch of science. They are moving ahead from knowledge what was available to them. But in literature  and criticism it is not so. We are brightening the corner where we are. Instead of doing that we have to move further in knowledge about criticism by standing on the shoulder of some other critic.    

3. Archetypal criticism is based on philosophy and History of people. As it has been said that literature includes history as well as philosophy to convey its meaning so it displays events and ideas.
History and philosophy are two important pillars of literature. History gives events and philosophy gives ideas. And writer combines both and creates work of literature. Thus both are important to literature. We are not studing history or philosophy but talking only their help to understand literature. 


    4. Inductive method of analysis text. Inductive method proceeds inductively from particular truths. 
It’s based on “certain kind of Scholarly organization”.
That is form particulars truth is an work , he draws form General truth.
The scene of Shakespeare's Hamlet's Grave Digging  scene we may say that  Then we can say that prince Hamlet is a tragic hero because during this scene for the first time he confesses his love towards Ophelia and was ready to die for his love. hamlet emerges as a Archetypal Hero because this is a recurring pattern happening in our literature. He represents such a Archetypal hero who is ready to die for the sake of love. and for that we have to move step back. For this he gives example of painting. When we closely see picture only thread-fabric-brushwork is visible. But when we move step back, picture becomes clear. Same in literature when we study this seen- existentialism etc. will be seen. And at last this archetypal hero emerges. 

  5. Deductive method of analysis text. 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 music & painting .
Rhythm  is an essential characteristic of music & in painting pattern in the chief virtue.
In literature both are recurrence of images forms & words.
Comparison of Literature and Rhythm.
  Rhythm  :- Narrative
Pattern :- verbal, structure for meaning.

6. four seasons
In comes the leaves of  fall
So beautiful it will enthrall
Wonderful red yellow and brown
Mother nature should wear a crown
Then comes the snow 
And the streets are aglow
With the children playing like animated dolls 
Then suddenly spring calls
April showers may come down
 Just when you are walking down town
Along the beach the tide is high
As all the children walk by 
Soon it begans to get hot
Now summer we have got 
Some time you feel the sun’s rays
Heating up through the humid haze
The circle goes round and round
Four season we are bound.

 This is a  poem in which seasonal symbols are used by poet. Different seasons have different meaning according to Archetypal criticism. All this symbols recurrently occur in this sort of poem.