General Mythopoeic Knowledge
What is mythopoeic criticism?
A form of structural criticism in that it tracks image patterns and is primarily geared towards myth related literature.
Where does the story take place?
Ancient Greece
Frye's theory of modes divides all of literature into five categories based on our relationship to the hero or protagonist of a story.
In mythopoeic criticism what does the season spring represent?
Comedy
Defeat of winter and darkness
Birth of the hero
Revival and resurrection
Gardens, flowers, youth, etc
What is one strength of mythopoeic criticism/literature?
Gives cues to figure out what’s happening when the text is unconventional or non-realistic (eg. magic realism, science fiction, experimental fiction).
What are the names of the 2 brothers from the text?
Epimetheus and Prometheus.
Where was Northrop Frye Born?
Quebec (Sherbrooke to be precise)
What is a concern for mythopoeic criticism/literature?
Ignores authors intent, social, historical and political values.
Civilizations have their own mythologies, but there appear to be common images, themes and motives which are called______
Archetypes
What was inside Pandora's box the first time she opened it?
All the terrible evils imaginable.
What was Northrop Frye’s career?
U of T Chancellor (1978)
Give an example that was discussed in class of a mythopoeic text that isn't Pandora's box
The novel Old Man and the Sea
What is the main focus of mythopoeic criticism?
On the text in relation to the whole body of literature based on the archetypal structures or patterns.
Which greek god in particular taught Pandora how to be charming and deceitful?
Hermes
What kind of literature was Frye's main focus on?
Western literature
What is intertextuality?
The relationship between texts, especially literary ones.
How is mythopoeic criticism different from Freud concepts?
Unlike Freud’s concepts, myths are collective and communal, and so bring a sense of wholeness and togetherness to social life.
What did the creatures from the box look like? There were 2.
Moths and a dragonfly
Which 3 schools did Northrop Frye attend?
University of Toronto, Emmanuel College, Oxford
What order is the foundation and building blocks of literature in? (from top to bottom) (hint theres 5)
Modern Literature
Victorian Literature
Shakespeare
Greek Plays
Bible and Mythology