Hello Readers! This blog is a response to the Thinking Activity assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad sir, Department of English, MKBU. In this blog I am going to discuss answers to questions with the help of ChatGPT. Which are related to criticism of Northrop Frye.
About Northrop Frye:-
Born:- 1912
Died:- 1991
Northrop Frye, in full Herman Northrop Frye. He was a Canadian literary critic and literary theorist. He truly considered one of the most influential of the 20th century. His book Anatomy of Criticism one of the most important works of literary theory published in the 20th century. The American critic Harold Bloom commented at the time of its publication that 'Anatomy of Criticism' established Frye as 'the foremost living student of western literature.' Northrop Frye's contributions to cultural and social criticism spanned a long career during which he earned widespread recognition and also recieved many honours. In his most famous essay:- The Archetypes of literature he begins with the sentence that,
Every Organized body of knowledge can be learned progressively; and experiences shows that there is also something progressive about the learning of literature. It means that - it is impossible to "learn literature": one learns about it in a certain way, but what one learns, transitively, is the criticism of literature.
Q. 1 What is Archetypal Criticism?
Answer by Chat GPT
Archetypal Criticism is a type of literary criticism that focuses on the Archetypal motifs and symbols that are present in literature. It is based on the idea that certain symbols, images, and themes are universal, recurring elements in literature, and that they reflect deep-seated human experience and desires. These symbols found in many cultures and have been passed down through the ages. Examples of Archetypes include the hero, the mother, the journey, the quest and the descent into the underworld. These Archetypes are believed to represent universal human experiences and desires that are common to all people, regardless of culture or historical context.
Archetypal Criticism seeks to identify and interpret the Archetypal motifs and symbols in a work of literature, and to explore the deeper meaning and significance that these elements have for the reader's. This approach emphasises the psychological and spiritual dimension of literature, and often draws on the insights of psychology, mythology, and anthropology to illuminate the meaning of a literary work.
Northrop Frye is key figures of Archetypal Criticism. He proposed the idea that the main appeal of literature was it's connection to primitive story formulas. He claimed literature is a kind of displaced mythology that constantly reverts to the same patterns that we see in Ancient mythes. In literature we can identify archetypal geography like garden of Eden or wasteland, character types , heroes and villains and themes like good vs evil.
Q. 2 What is a contribution of Northrop Frye in Archetypal Criticism?
Answer by Chat GPT
Northrop Frye was a Canadian literary critic and scholar who made significant contribution to the field of literary criticism, including Archetypal Criticism. Archetypal Criticism involves analysing literature based on common patterns, symbols and motifs that are universally recognised across cultures, drawing from the work of psychologist Carl Jung and other scholars.
In his book "Anatomy of Criticism", Frye outlined four main Archetypal plots:-
Comedy - Spring
Tragedy - Autumn
Romance - Summer
Irony/ Satire - Winter
Comedy is aligned with spring because the genre of comedy is characterized by the birth of the hero, revival and resurrection. Also, spring symbolizes the defeat of winter and darkness.
Romance and summer are paired together because summer is the culmination of life in the seasonal calendar, and the romance genre culminates with some sort of triumph, usually a marriage.
Autumn is the dying stage of the seasonal calendar, which parallels the tragedy genre because it is, known for the "fall" or demise of the protagonist.
Satire is metonymized with winter on the grounds that satire is a "dark" genre. Satire is a disillusioned and mocking form of the three other genres. It is noted for its darkness, dissolution, the return of chaos, and the defeat of the heroic figure.
These plots represent fundamental structures that recur throughout literature and provide a framework for analysing and understanding narrative works. Additionally, Frye emphasized the importance of understanding the role of myth and symbolism in literature. He believed that myths and symbols serve as a kind of collective language that speaks to universal human experiences and emotions, and that by identifying and interpreting these elements in literature, we can gain a deeper understanding of the human condition.
3. What do Archetypal critics do ? Explain with examples.
Answer by Chat GPT
Archetypal critics analyse literature based on the identification and interpretation of recurring patterns, symbols and motifs that are universally recognised across cultures. These critics believe that these Archetypes, or universal symbols, are deeply ingrained in the human psyche and are therefore reflected in the stories we tell.
Archetypal critics examine literature to identify common themes, images, and symbols that may be associated with Archetypes such as the hero, the villian, the trickster, the mentor, the quest, and the journey. By identifying these Archetypes, critics can gain a deeper understanding of the underlying patterns and themes in literature, and how these relate to universal human experiences and emotions.
Here are some examples of novels that can be analysed through the lens of archetypal criticism:
"The Hero with a Thousand Faces" by Joseph Campbell - this non-fiction book explores the archetype of the hero as it appears in myths and legends from around the world.
"The Lord of the Rings" trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien - this epic fantasy series features many Archetypal characters and themes, including the hero's journey, the mentor figure, the wise old man, and the battle between good and evil.
"The Hunger Games" trilogy by Suzanne Collins- This dystopian series features Archetypal characters such as the hero, the mentor, the villian, and the trickster. The themes of survival, sacrifice, and rebellion also reflect universal human experiences.
"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald- this classic novel can be analysed through the archetypal lens of the quest, ad the protagonist Jay Gatsby seeks to win back the love of his life and reclaim his social status.
"Harry Potter" series by J. K. Rowling- This popular series features many Archetypal characters and themes, including the hero's journey, the mentor figure, the trickster, and the battle between good and evil.
All things considered as Archetypal critics can gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and psychological influences that shape the stories we tell, and the ways in which literature reflects and shapes our understanding of the world.
Q. 4 "Every Organized body of Knowledge can be learned progressively; and experiences shows that there is also something progressive about the learning of literature. Our opening sentence has already got us into a semantic difficulty." Explain the semantic difficulty.
Answer by Chat GPT
The semantic difficulty in the opening sentence is that it suggests two different meanings of the word "progressive ". The first meaning of "progressive" refers to something that can be learned in a systematic and incremental manner. This implies that organised bodies of knowledge can be learned progressively, as can literature. The second meaning of "progressive" refers to something that develops over time, implying that the learning of literature is itself progressive process. In other words, it suggests that one's understanding and appreciation of literature can deepen and evolve as one reads and gains more experience.
Therefore, the semantic difficulty arises from the fact the word "progressive" is used in two different senses in the same sentence, leading to a potential ambiguity in the meaning of the sentence.
Physics is an organized body of Knowledge about nature, and a student of it says that he is learning physics, not that he is learning nature. Art, like nature, is the subject of a systematic study and has to be distinguished from the study itself, which is criticism. It is therefore impossible to "learn literature". One can learns about it in a certain way, but what one learns, transitively, is the criticism of literature.
Similarly, the difficulty often felt in "teaching literature" arises from the fact that it cannot be done: the criticism of literature is all that can be directly taught. So while no one expects literature itself behave like science, there is surely no reason why criticism, as a systematic and organized study, should not be, at least partly, a science. Criticism deals with the arts and may well be something of an art itself, but it does not follow that it must be unsystematic. If it is to be related to the science too, it does not follow that it must be deprived of the graces of culture.
Q . 5 as above - "The relation of Criticism to religion, when they deal with the same documents, is more complicated. In Criticism, as in history, the divine is always treated as a human artifact. God for the critic, whether he finds him in paradise lost or the Bible, is a character in a human story".
Ans. by ChatGPT
This lines suggests that when criticism and religion are analysing the same texts or documents, there is a complex relationship between the two. In Criticism, divine is often treated as a human artifact rather than an otherworldly force or deity. This means that God or other divine beings are seen as characters in a human story, rather than as purely supernatural entities.
For example, when a literary critic analyses a work like paradise lost or the Bible, they may examine the character of God or other divine figures as they would any other characters in the text. In contrast, for many religious believes, God is not simply a character in a story. But a real and active presence in the world. They may see the Bible or other religious texts as divinely inspired and consider them to contains truths that go beyond human understanding.
However, within religious traditions, there can be understanding religious texts. Some may take a moral approach, seeing the stories and teaching as a direct communications from God, while others may take a more metaphorical or symbolical approach, seeing the texts ad containing deeper meaning and insights into human nature and the divine.
Overall, while there can be an overlap between criticism and religion in their treatment of religious texts, their perspectives and goals are often quite different. Critics aim to analyse and understand the texts as works of literature or history, while religious believers may look to the texts for guidance, inspiration, and spiritual insight.
Thinking Activity:- I. A. Richards Practice Criticism - Figurative language
Hello Readers! This blog is a response to the Thinking Activity assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad sir. In this blog I will explain about the poem Brother like Raavan in context to I. A. Richards "The Figurative language".
14. Brother like Raavan by Shintsie Kumar
मुझे रावण जैसा भाई चाहिए!
गर्भवती माँ ने बेटी से पूछा
क्या चाहिए तुझे? बहन या भाई
बेटी बोली भाई
माँ - किसके जैसा? बेटी ने गर्व से
रावण सा, माँ ने जवाब दिया
क्या बकती है? पिता ने धमकाया
माने घूरा, गाली देती है
बेटी बोली, क्यू माँ ?
बहन के अपमान पर राज्य
वंश और प्राण लूटा देने वाला
शत्रु स्त्री को हरने के बाद भी
स्पर्श न करने वाला
रावण जैसा भाई ही तो
हर लड़की को चाहिए आज
छाया जैसी साथ निभाने वाली गर्भवती निर्दोष पत्नी को त्यागने वाले मर्यादा पुरुषोत्तम सा भाई लेकर क्या करूंगी मैं?
और माँ
अग्नि परीक्षा चौदह बरस वनवास और अपहरण से लांछित बहु की कतर आहे तुम कब तक सुनोगी और
कब तक राम को ही जन्मोगी
माँ सिसक रही थी - पिता आवाक था
.....
Shintsie kumar
Problematic things in this poem:-
1. Brother like Raavan / रावण सा / रावण जैसा भाई
Raavan is an antagonist character from Hindu mythology. But In this poem daughter would want a brother like Raavan, who is a symbol of evil or Cruel. Then why does the daughter want a brother like Raavan.
2. कब तक राम को ही जन्मोंगी
Ram is considered as a virtuous character in Hindu mythology. But in this poem daughter said that stop giving birth to more people like lord Ram.
3. हर लड़की को आज रावण जैसा भाई ही तो चाहिए
Poet Intension in this poem:-
1. Ram is a good character in Hindu mythology. But in this poem "Brother like Ravan" the poet satire on a virtuous character Ram. Poet said कब तक राम को ही जन्मोंगी means it suggests that despite lord Ram being considered a virtuous and ideal figure in Ramayana, but his behaviour towards sita raises questions about his character. He misbehaved towards sita and banished her to the forest due to public pressure and doubts about her chastity.
In the present time women or sisters don't want brothers like ram. Who treated them with bad behaviour.
2. Raavan is a considered as a giant or evil character in Hindu mythology. But in this poem "Brother like Raavan" poet said that हर लड़की को आज रावण जैसा भाई ही तो चाहिए. It means here Raavan portrayed as a good character. This line suggests that a brother like Ravan, who is often depicted as a villain, might be a better option than a husband like Ram. Because Raavan, in some versions ofthe Ramayana, is depicted as a powerful king who respected and valued his sister, while Ram is seen as abandoning sita despite her innocence.
In today's world every woman or sister wants a brother like Raavan who can protect her and her family.
Overall, the intention of poet in this poem convey the message that society should strive to have brothers like Raavan, who is depicted as a strong , noble and protective. It also raised question on the morality of the good man, who is supposed to be morally superior, but who is willing to abandon his wife. We can say that it is a traditional beliefs that we see Raavan as a villain and Ram as a hero. Raavan is a complex character with both positive and negative qualities rather than as a villain or bad person. The poem also suggests the need for a revolution of traditional beliefs and accusation placed on women.
Aim of the Poem:-
The poem "Brother like Raavan" poet has feminist perspective as she raises the question of the role women in society. The mother and daughter conversation highlights the expectations and limitations placed on women, with the daughter expressing a desire for a brother like Raavan who is traditionally seen as a villain, but also as a symbol of power and strength, rather than a sister who is expected to conform to societal norms and surrender their personal desires. Overall, the poem expresses a feminist viewpoint by questioning the traditional norms and expectations placed on women and calling for a shift towards gender equality.
Hello Readers! This blog is a response to the Thinking Activity assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad sir, Department of English, MKBU. In this blog I am going to discuss questions related to the waiting for Godot.
Samuel Beckett:-
Born: 1906
Died: 1989
Samual Barclay Beckett was an Irish novelist, playwright, short story writer, theatre director, poet, and literary translator. He was awarded the 1969 Nobel Prize of Literature for his writing. He wrote in both French and English. He is considered one of the last modernist writers, and one of the key figures in what Martin Esllin called the Theatre of the Absurd. His notable works are as below.
Murphy
Watt
Molly
Waiting for Godot
The Unnameable
Endgame
Krapp's Last Tape
How it is
Happy Days
Waiting for Godot:-
Waiting for Godot is a French play and one of the most famous plays of Modern literature. It was originally translated to English by Beckett himself. The subtitle of the play 'The tragicomedy in two acts'. It was originally published in 1952. It is divided into 2 Act. In the play two characters Vladimir and Estragon engage in various useless discussions to pass their time waiting for titular character Godot who is mute and never comes. The play shows the meaninglessness of life, absurdity and boredom in people's lives. This play seems connected to today's time to a great extent. Even watching the waiting for Godot film makes us feel bored. This play is read from various points of view; Existentialism, religion, political, Psychoanalytical and deconstructive. The play is also about man's hopelessness and loss.
Waiting for Godot is considered among the three greatest plays with Hamlet, Oedipus Rex. It appeals to an uncertainty: why are we here? Are we alone in the uncaring universe or not? What are we to do while we are here? How can we know? And, ultimately, what does it matter? For more understanding watch the video below.
Q.1 Why does Backet grow a few leaves in Act II on the barren tree-The tree has four or five leaves?
Beckett has used one single tree in both the acts and makes slight changes by showing two three leaves in the second act. Beckett wants to highlight the indifferent nature. As Nature never waits for anyone, it doesn't matter whether a person is sad or happy, Nature never cares for them. The natural process of the environment never stops for anyone. Similarly in this play Vladimir and Estragon are waiting for Godot, and in this process of waiting they do various things to pass their time, sometimes they feel totally disappointed. Beckett very cleverly highlights the indifference nature of human beings through this tree, as in real society also, when someone is suffering, then the other will be happy or celebrating their happy days, no one cares about the suffering. Humans always remain indifferent towards the suffering of others. So, Beckett grows a few leaves in Act II on the barren tree-The tree has four or five leaves.
Q.2 Can we do any political reading of the play if we see European nations represented by the 'names' of the characters (Vladimir -Russia; Estragon -France; Pozzo - Italy and Lucky - England ) ? What interpretation can be inferred from the play written just after world war II? Which country stands for 'Godot' ?
European nations are represented by the names of the characters, Vladimir represents Russia and Estragon represents France. There is a history of power politics between France and Russia. Many Russians are in favour of France and many against and vice versa. But still they are together just like Estragon and Vladimir. Pozzo represents Italy and Lucky represents England, as in political reading Italy tries to impose their ideas and rule over England. Germany stands for Godot. As Hitlar was ruling in Germany, and the way he excommunicated the Jews from his country is very much significant and relevant to the play. Both the tramps one or another way thrown by their nations. The way they wait for their nations. The way they wait for Godot is similar as the way Jews wait for Hitler to accept them.
Q.3 In Act I , in reply to Boy's question:
"Boy: what am I to tell Mr. Godot, sir?
Vladimir: Tell him... (he hesitates)... tell him you saw us. (Pause). You did see us, didn't you? "
How does this conversation go in Act II? What is the significance?
The change in Act II between the conversation of Vladimir and messenger boy is very much significant. Vladimir tells the to boy to tell Godot that you saw us. In a way Vladimir wants the boy to describes their situation. How they are suffering and how they eagerly want to get rid of it. In human life also, we want God to look at our situation and will do something to make our pain less. We always hope that God will turn our sad days into happy days but this will never happen.
Q.4 In both Acts, evening falls into night moon rises. How would you like to interpret this 'coming of night and moon' when actually they are waiting for Godot?
Vladimir and Estragon are waiting the whole day for Godot. It does not arrive and the falling of night seems to be fall of their hope of Godot coming. And the rising of the moon seems like hope in the dark night which reflects the brighter side and motivates them to wait. They both are waiting for the whole day for Godot but Godot but Godot doesn't visit and in waiting night falls and sun rises, this also reflects that nature is distinct from human life. Human's desire or waiting doesn't affect nature; it will continue doing its work.
Q.5 What is the meaning of the terms 'Apathia, Aphasia and Athambia' in Lucky's speech?"... Divine apathia divine Athambia divine aphasia loves us dearly with some expectations for reasons unknown..."
Meaning of Apathia, Aphasia and Athambia
Apathia:- Apathy, a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern
Athambia:- Impartibility, to be incapable of being upset or not easily excited
Aphasia:- loss of the ability to comprehend or express speech
In Lucky's speech, he says outright god is not concerned with us, and cannot be made to be. He makes this clear by stating that God is divinely apathetic, and therefore, is not interested in us. Then he says that God is calm, and has great self-assurance, indicating that God has no need for humans. He then says that God is aphasia towards us, and cannot communicate with us. These statements go against the popular Christian viewpoint of God. The Christian viewpoint of God is that God is not apathetic with us, and that God is in control of every moment of our lives. It's also a common perspective that God is not imperturbable, as God is vsin, and demands worship. And it is also common belief that God is not aphasia to humans, and that praying is an easy way to communicate with him.
Interpretation of words:-
To begin his speech, Lucky first paints a picture of a pious God that is " personal". He later destroys that image in the reader's mind by describing God using three words: Apathia, Aphasia and Athambia. When he uses the word divine, he is referring to God as God is often portrayed as a divine being. So he is saying that God is apathetic, meaning that he does not intervene. God is imperturbable; he has never been reached or could be reached by living human beings. And God is aphasic, meaning that he is silent and has never spoken and never will, even to prove his very own existence. The three words also represent human society as a whole. Lucky interprets that the human civilization is gradually becoming wrapped in Athambia in aphasia as there is no more voice, just a bunch of meaningless words used to fill up space.
Q.6 'A better solution to the tramp's predicament than to wait-is, suicide ". Is it really so? Why they fail to commit suicide?
There is one feature in the play that leads one to assume there is a better solution to the tramp's predicament, which they themselves both consider preferable to waiting for Godot - that is suicide.
"We should have thought of it when the world was young, in the nineties.... Hand in hand from the top of the Eiffel tower, among the first. We were respectable in those days. Now it's too late. They wouldn't even let us up."
Suicide remains their favourite solution, unattainable owing to their own incompetence and their disappointment at their failure to succeed in their attempts at suicide that Vladimir and Estragon rationalize by waiting, or pretending to wait, for Godot.
The act of suicide is always significant in the idea of Existentialism. The question of our existence in this world always makes us think about why we are living in this world? For what reason? And when we get no answer in reply to this question we think to committing suicide, when we find everything in the world useless and meaningless, then we think of suicide. In this play also when Vladimir and Estragon tired of their work of waiting they think of committing suicide by hanging themselves on tree. But they won't be able to do this because they lack tools.
Q . 7 Explain: "Godot might become an image of what Sartre calls "Bad faith"".
Meaning of Bad faith:-
In the philosophy of Existentialism, bad faith is the psychological phenomenon whereby individuals act authentically, by yielding to the external pressure of society to adopt false values and disown their innate freedom as sentient human beings. Bad faith also derives from the related concepts of self-deception and resentment.
Bad faith is a concept introduced by French Philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre in his work "Being and Nothingness". It refers to the situation where an individual denies their own freedom and responsibility, and instead acts in a way that is inauthentic or in contradiction to their true self.
The suggestion that Godot might become an image of "bad faith" likely refers to the idea that Godot symbolizes a situation or state of being where one is waiting passively for something without actively taking control of their own life. In this way, waiting for Godot could be seen as an example of an individual denying their own life. In this way, waiting for Godot could be seen as an example of an individual denying their own freedom and responsibility, and acting inauthentically.
Q.8 Explain: "One hardly feels the absurdity of some things, on the one hand, and the necessity of those other things, on the other, (for it is rare that feeling of absurdity is not followed by the feeling of necessity), when one feels the absurdity of those things of which one had just felt the necessity (for it is rare that the feeling of necessity is not followed by the feeling of absurdity)".
The statement is discussing the fluctuations between feeling the absurdity and feeling the necessity of certain things. It suggests that it is rare to feel only the absurdity of something and vice versa. The feeling of absurdity and necessity tend to alternate and follow each other.
The statement is interpreted in the context of "Waiting for Godot" as a commentary on the characters 'experiences as they wait for Godot. The absurdity of their situation - waiting for someone who never comes - is followed by a feeling of necessity, as they feel compelled to continue waiting. This creates a cyclical pattern of absurdity and necessity, reflecting the repetition and futility of the characters' lives.
