Introduction to Literary Theory: Archetypal/Myth/Symbol Criticism

Archetypal/Myth/Symbol Criticism
CarlJung(18751961), Swisspsychiatrist approachtopsychology focusedonexploring:
dreams art mythology worldreligion philosophy

Archetypal/Myth/Symbol Criticism Anarchetypeis:

arche=fromGreekphilosophythe principle,cause,source,ororiginofthings beginningorultimateprinciple type=kind arche+type=originalkind anoriginalmodelfromwhichothersimilar people,objectsorconceptsarecreated, copied,orpatterned

Archetypal/Myth/Symbol Criticism Jungbelieved:

behindeachpersonsunconsciousliesa collectiveunconscious(sharedmemories ofhumanexperienceandancestry) archetypesarerecurringimagesthatcome outofthecollectiveunconsciouswhichpass throughallhumanhistoryandculture

Archetypal/Myth/Symbol Criticism Inliterature,myth,religionandfolklore, anarchetypeisafrequentlyoccurring:

image descriptivedetail plotpattern charactertype
Believedtogenerate profoundemotions sinceitpullsfrom theunconscious memorycausesa strongbutillogical response

Archetypal/Myth/Symbol Criticism Criticalviewthatdescribesandevaluates literatureby:

Lookingattheimagesandpatternsapoem, play,ornovelhasincommonwithother poems,plays,ornovels Tryingtoshowthatcommonimagesand patternsinliteratureareareflectionofatotal humanexperience

Archetypal/Myth/Symbol Criticism Commonarchetypes:

thequest riteofpassage theinnocentchild wiseoldman themartyr thehero

Archetypal/Myth/Symbol Criticism Commonsymbols: DictionaryofSymbolism