Introduction to Literary Theories and Criticisms (Enla 422), 2011
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- C. G. Jung and Joseph Campbell
| 2.3.2 Context-Oriented Approaches
2.3.1.1 Archetypal/Myth Criticism (Mythological) Burris (1999) notes that a mythological / archetypal approach to literature assumes that there is a collection of symbols, images, characters, and motifs (i.e. archetypes) that evokes basically the same response in all people. According to the psychologist Carl Jung, mankind possesses a "collective unconscious" that contains these archetypes and that is common to all of humanity. Myth critics identify these archetypal patterns and discuss how they function in the works. They believe that these archetypes are the source of much of literature's power (Burris). Siegel on his behalf explains this approach as a form of criticism based largely on the works of C. G. Jung and Joseph Campbell (and myth itself). Some of the school's major figures include Robert Graves, Francis Fergusson, Philip Wheelwright, Leslie Fiedler, Northrop Frye, Maud Bodkin, and G. Wilson Knight. These critics view the genres and individual plot patterns of literature, including highly sophisticated and realistic works, as recurrences of certain archetypes and essential mythic formulae. Archetypes, according to Jung, are "primordial images"; the "psychic residue" of repeated types of experience in the lives of very ancient ancestors which are inherited in the "collective unconscious" of the human race and are expressed in myths, religion, dreams, and private fantasies, as well as in the works of literature (Abrams, p. 10, 112). Some common examples of archetypes include water, sun, moon, colors, circles, the Great Mother, Wise Old Man, etc. In terms of archetypal criticism, the color white might be associated with innocence or could signify death or the supernatural. Some Archetypes are taken from Burris (1999) and the rest are found from Siegel’s home page. archetypal women - the Good Mother, the Terrible Mother, and the Soul Mate (such as the Virgin Mary) water - creation, birth-death-resurrection, purification, redemption, fertility, growth garden - paradise (Eden), innocence, fertility desert - spiritual emptiness, death, hopelessness red - blood, sacrifice, passion, disorder green - growth, fertility black - chaos, death, evil serpent - evil, sensuality, mystery, wisdom, destruction seven - perfection shadow, persona, and anima (see psychological criticism) hero archetype - The hero is involved in a quest (in which he overcomes obstacles). He experiences initiation (involving a separation, transformation, and return), and finally he serves as a scapegoat, that is, he dies to atone. Though this approach provides a universalistic approach to literature and identifies a reason why certain literature may survive the test of time and works well with works that are highly symbolic, it makes Literature not little more than a vehicle for archetypes, and this approach may ignore the "art" of literature. Download 333 Kb. Share with your friends:
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