Northrop Frye's essay on the archetype of literature argues that stories across cultures and times share deep patterns. He identifies four main types (comedy, tragedy, romance, satire) that act like building blocks for countless books. By understanding these patterns, we can better appreciate the connections between different stories, even if they seem quite different on the surface. This blog is a thinking activity, assigned by Barad Sir, based on this essay. For more information you can check out this blog - The Archetypes of Literature.
1. What is Archetypal Criticism? What does the archetypal critic do?
Imagine you're building a house. You can use different materials, shapes, and colors, but the basic structure stays the same: walls, roof, windows, doors. Archetypal criticism is like looking at houses from all over the world and noticing these common building blocks. In literature, archetypes are these recurring patterns, symbols, and characters that show up in stories across cultures and time periods. They're like the walls and roof of a story, holding everything together and giving it a familiar feel. Archetypal criticism isn't about saying all stories are the same. It's about recognising the underlying patterns that connect them and help us understand why they resonate with us so deeply.
An archetypal critic is like a detective searching for hidden patterns in literature. They identify the archetype, interpret its meaning, connect the dots and offer a new perspective on the work.
2. What is Frye trying prove by giving an analogy of 'Physics to Nature' and 'Criticism to Literature'?
Through this analogy, Frye says that literature, like nature, is an object of study. Just as physicists study nature to understand its laws and principles, critics study literature to understand its underlying patterns and structures. Both literature and nature exist independently of our study, but through analysis and observation, we can gain deeper insights into their workings.
Just as physics offers a set of laws and principles to explain natural phenomena, Frye argues that literary criticism can offer a systematic framework for understanding the underlying structures and patterns of literature. This framework, based on archetypes and genres, allows us to connect and compare different works across cultures and times. Hence, criticism provides a systematic framework for understanding literature.
3. Share your views of Criticism as an organised body of knowledge. Mention the relation of literature with history and philosophy.
Criticism, as an organised body of knowledge, serves as a framework for understanding and interpreting various forms of art, literature, and culture. It gives us tools and ways to study creative things. With this method, we can find hidden meanings, cultural contexts, and aesthetic principles in art. Criticism helps us understand and enjoy art better, creating conversations that teach us more about human experiences from different times and places.
The connection of Literature with History and Philosophy, is mentioned by Frye in his essay. He finds that literature is the central division of the “humanities,” flanked on one side by history and on the other by philosophy. Literature uses events from history and ideas from philosophy. One can understand this concept better by observing the chart below:
4. Briefly explain inductive method with illustration of Shakespeare's Hamlet's Grave Digger's scene.
The inductive method is a form of reasoning where you draw general conclusions based on specific observations. Imagine climbing a ladder: you start with individual steps like specific observations and, as you climb higher, you gain a clearer view of the whole picture, which is general conclusion. One can understand it better with this equation:
(Observations + Identifying Patterns = Forming a Conclusion) = Inductive Method
Applying Frye's inductive method to Hamlet's Grave Digger scene would involve closely examining the specific details of this scene and then deriving broader insights. In the Grave Digger's scene, one might analyse the symbolism of death, the juxtaposition of life and mortality, and Hamlet's contemplation of the human condition.
The scene opens with the gravediggers at work, and Hamlet's curiosity about the length of time it takes for a body to decompose. Through Hamlet's interaction with the gravediggers, we observe the blending of humour and profound reflection, creating a complex emotional tone. The gravediggers' banter about death and their casual approach contrast with the weighty theme of mortality. By examining this scene in the context of the play as a whole, we identify a pattern of Shakespeare using seemingly trivial or comic moments to delve into deeper existential and philosophical questions. The Grave Digger scene follows this pattern, providing a lens through which Hamlet contemplates the nature of life, death, and equality.
Inductively, we derive the general principle that Shakespeare employs multifaceted scenes to explore profound themes. The coexistence of humour and tragedy allows for a nuanced exploration of the human experience. Applying this method to the entire play, we can infer that Shakespeare uses various scenes and characters to weave a rich tapestry of existential questions, revealing the complexities of human existence and the inevitability of mortality. In summary, by inductively analysing the Grave Digger scene, we gain a deeper understanding of Shakespeare's thematic approach, revealing layers of meaning and insight into the broader philosophical concerns of "Hamlet."
5. 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 is the opposite of inductive reasoning. Instead of climbing a ladder from specifics to general conclusions, it's like jumping down from established general principles to specific, guaranteed outcomes. Imagine dropping an apple - you already know that gravity pulls objects down, so you can deduce the specific outcome that the apple will fall. The example given below will help in understanding of deductive method:
Premise 1 = All humans are mortals
Premise 2 = Aristotle was a human
Conclusion = Aristotle was a mortal
Now let us understand this with analogy of music and painting. Imagine music composition as a deductive process. You start with established musical principles like scales, chords, and rhythms. Then, you apply logic and your creative vision to combine these elements in specific ways. The outcome is a new and unique piece of music that follows the underlying principles yet expresses your creativity.
Similarly, in painting, you begin with fundamental principles like colour theory, perspective, and composition. By employing logical choices and artistic skill, you arrange shapes, lines, and colours to create a specific image with the desired emotional impact.
6. 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.
For my analysis, I have selected a Hindi poem by Suryakant Tripathi (Nirala). The poem is called, “सखि वसन्त आया” and it is as follows:-
सखि वसन्त आया ।
भरा हर्ष वन के मन,
नवोत्कर्ष छाया ।
किसलय-वसना नव-वय-लतिका
मिली मधुर प्रिय-उर तरु-पतिका,
मधुप-वृन्द बन्दी--
पिक-स्वर नभ सरसाया ।
लता-मुकुल-हार-गंध-भार भर,
बही पवन बंद मंद मंदतर,
जागी नयनों में वन-
यौवन की माया ।
आवृत सरसी-उर-सरसिज उठे,
केशर के केश कली के छुटे,
स्वर्ण-शस्य-अंचल
पृथ्वी का लहराया ।
The poem embodies the archetypal theme of renewal and rebirth, symbolised by the arrival of spring. The imagery of blossoming flowers, the fragrance of blossoms, and the overall rejuvenation of nature evoke a sense of new beginnings and vitality. And the poem aligns with the Indian seasonal grid, portraying the blossoming of nature during spring. It captures the essence of the season through vivid descriptions of blooming flowers, the gentle breeze, and the rejuvenating impact on the environment.
The use of metaphors, such as "किसलय-वसना" (fragrance of blossoms) and "मधुर प्रिय-उर तरु-पतिका" (beloved heart like a tree), adds layers of meaning. These metaphors can be interpreted archetypally, representing the eternal themes of love and beauty that bloom afresh with each spring. The poem harmonizes with cosmic elements, connecting the blooming flowers to the celestial beauty of the sky ("पिक-स्वर नभ सरसाया"). This interplay of earthly and celestial elements reinforces the cyclical nature of life and the interconnectedness of all things.
In summary, "सखि वसन्त आया" captures the archetypal essence of spring, portraying themes of renewal, nature's beauty, and the cosmic harmony within the context of the Indian seasonal grid.
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