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Mythological
Criticism
By: Hardille Jazz Avenido, Angela Locsin, Victoria Rose
What is Mythological
Criticism?
2
Mythological criticism,
also known as
Archetypal Criticism, is
the combination of
anthropology,
psychology, history, and
comparative religion.
1
Mythological criticism
explores how the
imagination uses myths,
symbols to different
cultures and epochs.
2
Who are the
proponents of
Mythological
Criticism?
5
Sir James George
Frazer
The anthropological origins of archetypal
criticism can pre-date its analytical
psychology origins by over 30 years. The
Golden Bough (1890–1915), written by the
Scottish anthropologist Sir James George
Frazer, was the first influential text dealing
with cultural mythologies.
6
Carl Jung
Jung's work theorizes about myths and
archetypes in relation to the unconscious,
an inaccessible part of the mind. Carl Jung
believed that all individuals share an
“collective unconscious” which means a
common thought between all humans that
lies below a person’s unconscious mind.
7
“
Myths are the culturally
elaborated representations of
the contents of the deepest
recess of the human psyche:
the world of the archetypes.
8
Northrop Frye
Archetypal criticism was at its most popular
in the 1940s and 1950s, largely due to the
work of Canadian literary critic Northrop
Frye. The major work of Frye's to deal with
archetypes is Anatomy of Criticism but his
essay "The Archetypes of Literature" is a
precursor to the book. Frye's thesis in "The
Archetypes of Literature" remains largely
unchanged in Anatomy of Criticism.
9
Big concept
Mythological/Archetypal Criticism a type of critical theory that interprets a
text by focusing on recurring myths and archetypes (from the Greek
archē, "beginning", and typos, "imprint") in the narrative, symbols, images,
and character types in literary work. It dates back to 1934. 10
Femme Fatale: A female
character type who brings
upon catastrophic and
disastrous events.
• Eve from the story of
Genesis
• Pandora from Greek
mythology
Example of
Archetypes/Myths
The Journey: A narrative
archetype where the
protagonist must overcome
a series of obstacles before
reaching his or her goal.
The quintessential journey
archetype in Western
culture is arguably Homer's
Odyssey.
11
Achilles’ heel
Archetypes/Myth
Symbols
Poison apple in Snow
White
12
Mythological
Criticism: A Doll’s
House by Henrik
Ibsen
13
Situational Myths:
Light vs. Darkness
Helmer has Nora living
in the dark which can be
associated with
ignorance.
The light source acts as
a symbol of information
that brings all the
falsehood in Nora's life
of living in the dark to
light.
Tarantella/ Tarantism
The dance tarantella refers to
tarantism. Tarantism is the
myth/psychological illness to
dance hysterically when
bitten by a spider to sweat
out the poison. Nora
performing this dance
symbolizes her inner turmoil
and struggle with the hidden
poison in her life.
14
Character
Archetypes
Character archetypes are repeating
types of characters that show up in
multiple works of literature such as
the Child, the Wise Old Man, The
Devil Figure, the Mentor, Hero, Ruler
and the Trickster.
15
The Trickster
Crosses both physical
and social boundaries.
Tricksters cross lines,
breaking or blurring
connections and
distinctions between
"right and wrong,
sacred and profane,
young and old, living
and dead"
Place your screenshot here
16
Helmer fools Nora into
believing that their love
was real and that she
belongs beneath him.
Helmer is the spider that
gave Nora the poison of
believing that their false
love was real.
Place your screenshot here
17
The Initiates
These are young
heroes who, prior
to the quest, must
endure some
training and ritual.
They are usually
innocent at this
stage.
Nora is
associated with
being a hero to
women suffrage
and as an
example of the
possibilities of
progressing
women's
position in
society.
Place your screenshot here
18
Sidekick/Loyal
Retainer
These
individuals are
like the noble
sidekicks to the
hero. Their duty
is to protect the
hero.
Mrs. Linde changes
Krogstad's heart
thus protecting
Nora from his
blackmailing
scheme and she
gets him to return
Nora's note. She
also tells Nora
"You're just a child"
which acts to make
Nora aware of her
position in her
home.
19
Thanks!

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Litcrit

  • 1. Mythological Criticism By: Hardille Jazz Avenido, Angela Locsin, Victoria Rose
  • 3. Mythological criticism, also known as Archetypal Criticism, is the combination of anthropology, psychology, history, and comparative religion. 1
  • 4. Mythological criticism explores how the imagination uses myths, symbols to different cultures and epochs. 2
  • 5. Who are the proponents of Mythological Criticism? 5
  • 6. Sir James George Frazer The anthropological origins of archetypal criticism can pre-date its analytical psychology origins by over 30 years. The Golden Bough (1890–1915), written by the Scottish anthropologist Sir James George Frazer, was the first influential text dealing with cultural mythologies. 6
  • 7. Carl Jung Jung's work theorizes about myths and archetypes in relation to the unconscious, an inaccessible part of the mind. Carl Jung believed that all individuals share an “collective unconscious” which means a common thought between all humans that lies below a person’s unconscious mind. 7
  • 8. “ Myths are the culturally elaborated representations of the contents of the deepest recess of the human psyche: the world of the archetypes. 8
  • 9. Northrop Frye Archetypal criticism was at its most popular in the 1940s and 1950s, largely due to the work of Canadian literary critic Northrop Frye. The major work of Frye's to deal with archetypes is Anatomy of Criticism but his essay "The Archetypes of Literature" is a precursor to the book. Frye's thesis in "The Archetypes of Literature" remains largely unchanged in Anatomy of Criticism. 9
  • 10. Big concept Mythological/Archetypal Criticism a type of critical theory that interprets a text by focusing on recurring myths and archetypes (from the Greek archē, "beginning", and typos, "imprint") in the narrative, symbols, images, and character types in literary work. It dates back to 1934. 10
  • 11. Femme Fatale: A female character type who brings upon catastrophic and disastrous events. • Eve from the story of Genesis • Pandora from Greek mythology Example of Archetypes/Myths The Journey: A narrative archetype where the protagonist must overcome a series of obstacles before reaching his or her goal. The quintessential journey archetype in Western culture is arguably Homer's Odyssey. 11
  • 14. Situational Myths: Light vs. Darkness Helmer has Nora living in the dark which can be associated with ignorance. The light source acts as a symbol of information that brings all the falsehood in Nora's life of living in the dark to light. Tarantella/ Tarantism The dance tarantella refers to tarantism. Tarantism is the myth/psychological illness to dance hysterically when bitten by a spider to sweat out the poison. Nora performing this dance symbolizes her inner turmoil and struggle with the hidden poison in her life. 14
  • 15. Character Archetypes Character archetypes are repeating types of characters that show up in multiple works of literature such as the Child, the Wise Old Man, The Devil Figure, the Mentor, Hero, Ruler and the Trickster. 15
  • 16. The Trickster Crosses both physical and social boundaries. Tricksters cross lines, breaking or blurring connections and distinctions between "right and wrong, sacred and profane, young and old, living and dead" Place your screenshot here 16 Helmer fools Nora into believing that their love was real and that she belongs beneath him. Helmer is the spider that gave Nora the poison of believing that their false love was real.
  • 17. Place your screenshot here 17 The Initiates These are young heroes who, prior to the quest, must endure some training and ritual. They are usually innocent at this stage. Nora is associated with being a hero to women suffrage and as an example of the possibilities of progressing women's position in society.
  • 18. Place your screenshot here 18 Sidekick/Loyal Retainer These individuals are like the noble sidekicks to the hero. Their duty is to protect the hero. Mrs. Linde changes Krogstad's heart thus protecting Nora from his blackmailing scheme and she gets him to return Nora's note. She also tells Nora "You're just a child" which acts to make Nora aware of her position in her home.