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Anatomy of Criticism

Northrop Frye Criticism : NET English Study Guide

Northrop Frye Criticism - NET English Study Guide

Northrop Frye’s Criticism – In-Depth Study Guide for NET English

Northrop Frye revolutionized literary criticism by introducing a structural, archetypal framework that has remained influential. This guide offers a comprehensive summary of Frye's ideas, useful for students preparing for NET English and anyone studying literary theory.

1. Who Was Northrop Frye?

  • A Canadian literary theorist (1912–1991).
  • Known for Anatomy of Criticism (1957), a foundational work in archetypal criticism.
  • Opposed historical, biographical, Marxist, and psychological reductions of literature.
  • Believed in a systematic, universal language of literature based on myths and symbols.

2. Frye’s Critical Framework

Frye's work is centered around the idea that literature functions as a structured system, much like language, made up of recurring patterns called archetypes.

a. Four Essays of Anatomy of Criticism

  • Historical Criticism: Theory of Modes – Focuses on hero’s power relative to environment.
  • Ethical Criticism: Theory of Symbols – Examines levels of meaning and symbolism.
  • Archetypal Criticism: Theory of Myths – Identifies universal story patterns and myth structures.
  • Rhetorical Criticism: Theory of Genres – Studies how literary forms relate to audience.

b. Theory of Modes

Frye classifies literature based on the hero's relative power:

  • Mythic: Hero is superior to others and the environment (e.g., gods).
  • Romantic: Hero is superior to others, not to nature (e.g., epic hero).
  • High Mimetic: Hero is superior to others (e.g., tragedy, epic).
  • Low Mimetic: Hero is like us (e.g., realistic novel).
  • Ironic: Hero is inferior to us (e.g., satire, absurdity).

3. Four Mythoi (Narrative Archetypes)

Frye connects literature’s major plot types to the cycle of nature:

Mythos Season Theme Example
Comedy Spring Rebirth, social harmony A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Romance Summer Quest, triumph, ideal The Faerie Queene
Tragedy Autumn Fall, suffering, isolation Hamlet, Oedipus Rex
Irony/Satire Winter Alienation, parody, futility Waiting for Godot

4. Levels of Symbolic Meaning

Frye’s four symbolic levels explain how meaning deepens across interpretation:

  1. Literal/Descriptive – Surface meaning of words and events.
  2. Formal – Structure and organization.
  3. Mythic/Archetypal – Recurrence of narrative patterns and characters.
  4. Anagogic – Spiritual or cosmic symbolism (akin to religious allegory).

5. Sample NET English Questions

Which of the following is NOT one of Frye’s four essays in Anatomy of Criticism?
  • (1) Archetypal Criticism: Theory of Myths
  • (2) Typological Criticism: Theory of Types
  • (3) Historical Criticism: Theory of Modes
  • (4) Ethical Criticism: Theory of Symbols
Answer: (2)
‘Myth Criticism’ focuses on:
  • (A) A study of myths and mythology
  • (B) Archetypes of spiritual experience
  • (C) Recurrence of archetypal patterns
  • (D) The confluence of different traditions
Answer: (C)
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in Frye’s four ‘generic plots’?
  • (A) The comic
  • (B) The tragic
  • (C) The lyric
  • (D) The ironic
Answer: (C)
According to Frye, the four main narrative genres associated with the seasonal cycle are comedy, ________, tragedy, and irony (satire). Which is the second one?
  • (A) Romance
  • (B) Epic
  • (C) Fiction
  • (D) Novel
Answer: (A)

Why Frye Matters Today

Frye's framework is timeless because it transcends historical and cultural boundaries. His universal patterns help readers recognize deep structures in literature—from Shakespeare to modern novels—making him vital for both academic and interpretive criticism.

Tips for NET Preparation

  • Memorize the four mythoi and their seasonal associations.
  • Understand the distinction between the five modes of heroism.
  • Revise Frye’s theory of symbols and archetypes with examples.
  • Use mock tests with questions on structural and archetypal theory.