John Feaster

Publication Date

1966

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Kallich, Martin, 1918-2006||Herbert, Edward T.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of English

LCSH

Frye; Northropages

Abstract

It is generally conceded, even among those who disagree with much of what he has written, that Northrop Frye is one of the most significant of contemporary literary critics. This study is basically a commentary on both his theoretical and applied criticism, and an attempt to provide at least a preliminary evaluation of his influence on the direction of contemporary critical thought. The first chapter, therefore, is a descriptive analysis of Anatomy of Criticism, Frye's seminal work in literary theory, and the work most clearly expressing the principles upon which the whole of his criticism— practical and theoretical—is based. The second chapter attempts briefly to assess the opinions of the critical community toward this work, while pointing out several misconceptions concerning its basic tenets. The third chapter examines Frye's theoretical principles at work in various applied contexts, and suggests a number of the weaknesses inherent in his critical philosophy. Conclusions reached, briefly, are that Frye's theory, though claiming to be synoptic, constitutes de facto exclusion of critical methods not relevant to the study of literary structure, and that Frye's emphasis on structural analysis is often achieved at the expense of humanistic and aesthetic considerations.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

iv, 92 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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