This document discusses archetypal criticism and provides examples from J.R.R. Tolkien's works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Archetypal criticism interprets texts by focusing on recurring myths, archetypes, symbols, and character types. The document identifies archetypes like the hero, warrior, innocent, and underdog that are present in characters from Tolkien's works like Frodo, Aragorn, and Gandalf. It also briefly describes some of the main characters from the stories like Frodo, Gandalf, Gollum, Galadriel, and Sauron.

1. HiralKashyap
kg779@gmail.com
Paper09:literarytheoryandcriticismand
Indianaesthetics
Subject:ArchetypalCriticism
DepartmentofEnglishMKBhavnagar
University

2. Archetypal Criticism

3. Archetypal literary criticism is a type
of analytical theory that interprets a
text by focusing on recurring myths
andarchetypes in the narrative,
symbols, images, and character types
in literary works.

4. The job of archetypal criticism is to
identify those mythic elements that give
a work of literature this deeper
resonance. By their universality, myths
seem essential to human culture.
However, many modern folks view
myths as mere fables, expressing ancient
forms of religion or primitive versions of
science.

5. Examples of archetypal Literature
Lord of the Rings The Hobbits
J.R.R Tolkien💫

6. The Hobbit. In The Hobbit,
the protagonistBilbo
Baggins, a hobbit in
comfortable middle age, is
hired as a "burglar", despite
his initial objections, by the
wizard Gandalf and 13
Dwarves led by their king
in exile, Thorin
Oakenshield.

7. • Introvert
• Smart
• Polite
• Courageous
• Daring
• Emotional
• Burglar

8. The Lord of the Rings is a series of
three epic fantasy adventure
films directed by Peter Jackson,
based on the novel written
by J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are
subtitled The Fellowship of the
Ring (2001), The Two
Towers (2002), and The Return of
the King (2003).

9. Frodo is one of the most unlikely heroes
imaginable, portraying a classic Underdog
archetype. Being a hobbit, he is no match in
strength for any of the foes he comes across.
He has no special power or magic, and no
training in battle. Like the other hobbits, he
also fulfills the Innocent archetype, being
naive about the world outside the peaceful,
insular Shire.As a Hero, Frodo is tasked with
saving Middle Earth by destroying Sauron's
Ring of Power. Frodo proves his worth as a
Hero while he undergoes trials and self-
sacrifice on his dangerous quest to Mordor
with Sam.

10. At the beginning of the LOTR
movies, Aragorn is a Warrior. He is
trained in battle and is resourceful,
competent, and confident. He is also
courageous and honorable,
commanding the respect and love of
the elves, and the trust and
friendship of Gandalf. For all that,
he does not become a Leader until
later.

11. Gandalf is a protagonist in J. R. R.
Tolkien's novels The Hobbit and
The Lord of the Rings. He is a
wizard, one of the Istari order,
and the leader and mentor of the
Fellowship of the Ring. Tolkien
took the name "Gandalf" from the
Old Norse "Catalogue of Dwarves"
in the Völuspá

12. Gollum is a fictional
monstrous character from
J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-
earth legendarium. He was
introduced in the 1937
fantasy novel The Hobbit,
and became important in its
sequel, The Lord of the
Rings. Gollum was a Stoor
Hobbit of the River-folk
who lived near the Gladden
Fields.

13. Galadriel was the
"Lady" of the woods
of Lothlórien, which
she ruled with
Celeborn her
husband.

14. Sauron is the title character
and the main antagonist,
through the forging of the
One Ring, of J. R. R.
Tolkien's The Lord of the
Rings, where he rules the
land of Mordor and has the
ambition of ruling the whole
of Middle-earth.

15. The job of archetypal criticism is to identify
those mythic elements that give a work of
literature this deeper resonance. By their
universality, myths seem essential to human
culture. However, many modern folks view
myths as mere fables, expressing ancient forms
of religion or primitive versions of science.
Conclusion

16. References
• Abrams, M. H. "Archetypal Criticism." A
Glossary of Literary Terms. Fort Worth: HBJ,
1993. 223 – 225
• Bates, Roland. Northrop Frye. Toronto:
McClelland and Stewart, 1971.
Fisher, A., 2021. Archetypes in Lord of
the Rings.

17. •Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lord of the Rings.
HarperCollins, 1991.

18. 01
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