This document discusses archetypal criticism and its key concepts. It begins with background on archetypal criticism and its origin in Carl Jung's theory of archetypes embedded in the collective unconscious. It then provides examples of common archetypes like the hero, outcast, and star-crossed lovers. Finally, it outlines various archetypal symbols like the sun, water, numbers, seasons, and their typical comic and tragic meanings in literature.

1. Name: Joshi Riddhi
Roll no: 30
Paper no.7 Literary theory and Criticism
M.A: Sem-2
Enrolment no: 2069108420180028
Year: 2017-19
E-mail: Www.riddhij8@gmail.com
Submitted to:
Smt. S.B Gardi Department of English
Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji
Bhavnagar University
Symbolism in Archetypal Criticism of
Northrop Frye

2. A Bit of Background
Reading the poetry of
William Black, I realised that
there was a basic mythology
and set of symbols that
supports all Western
literature
This theory is
presented in fry’s
Book Fearful
symmetry

3. It is a type of critical theory that interprets a text by focusing
on recurring myths and archetypes in the narrative
symbols, images and characters types in a literary work.
What is an archetype ?
 Arche “first” and “form”
 An original model or pattern from which copies are made.
 “ Archetypal criticism looks in literature for patterns and
traces them through works of classical antiquity into
modern texts, and interprets those reverberations as
symbols or manifestation of universal human conflcts and
desire. “ James G. Frazer gave theory of Archetypal in ‘The
Golden Bough’.
Developed in 1934.
Archetypal Criticism

4. According to Carl Jung, these
patterns are embedded deep in
the “collective unconscious” and
involve “racial memories” of
situations, events, relationships
from time immemorial.
Archetypes: Where does this idea come from ?
Archetypes were first suggested by Carl Jung, pronounced
“Young” (1875-1961)

5. Archetypal Symbols
Every symbol is an archetype
Water Sea Garden Sun Colours

6. Flower Flooding AnimalRain Fire

7.  The Hero: The Courageous figure, the one who’s always running in
and saving the day.
Example: Ram, Tom Jones, Hamlet
 The Outcast: A figure who is banished from a social group of some
crime against his fellow man or has left it on voluntary basis.
Usually destines to become a wanderer.
Example: Buddha, Mahavira , pandavas
 The Scapegoat: The scapegoat figure is pne who gets blamed foe
everything, regardless of whether he/she is actually at fault;
sacrificed but they often become more powerful force dead than
alive.
Example: Vaechandno Varghodo
 The Star-Crossed Lovers: This is the young couple joined by love
but unexpectedly parted by fate.
Common Characters Archetypes

8. Human
Comic Human
• Wish fulfilment
• Being community
centred
Tragic Human
• Isolation
• The Fallen
Hero

9. Animal
Comic
Genre
Tragic
genre
• Docile and
Pastoral
• Predictors
and Hunters

10. Vegetation
The Comedic is pastoral
but also representation The Tragic

11. • Cities, Temples are Represents comic
minerals.
• Tragic minerals realm is noted for being a
desert.
Minerals

12. • Symbol of life. It is strong life force
and often depicted as a living face.
• Cleansing and rebirth.
Water
Comic
Tragic
Sea
River
Sea: Spiritual mystery and infinity;
Timelessness and eternity
River: Death/ rebirth (baptism)
,flowing of time into in eternity,
transitional phases of the life cycle

13.  Represents energy, creativity, thinking,
enlightenment, wisdom, spiritual vision, the
passing of time and life.
Examples:
Rising Sun---- Birth and Creation
Sun set---- Death
Sun

14. Numbers
The Holy Trinity
Light – Spiritual -
Awareness
Stage of life: Childhood, teenage, middle age
and old age
Unity between 3 and 4, completion and
perfect order

15. Season
Frame work
Comedic
Tragic
Comedy
Spring
(Rebirth)
Romance
Summer
(Life)
Tragedy
Autumn
(Fall)
Satire/Irony
Winter
(Death)

16. Other Symbols
 The Task
 The Quest
 The Loss of Innocence
 Colours
 Serpent
 Wise old man
 Garden
 Tree
 Desert
 Creation
 The great fish