Anatomy of Criticism
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Frye's four essays are sandwiched between a "Polemical Introduction" and a "Tentative Conclusion." The book evolved out of an introduction to Spenser's The Faerie Queene: "the introduction to Spenser became an introduction to the theory of allegory" Frye allowed (p. vii).
The four essays are on historical criticism, providing a theory of modes; on ethical criticism, providing a theory of symbols; archetypal criticism, providing a theory of myth, and rhetorical criticism's theory of genres.
It lays out Frye's theory on comedy. He presents names for common comic steorotypes. He lays out his Green World Theory. His theory deals mostly with classical drama, and some philosophers say his character types have no bearing on modern times. Yet we see them everyday. Modern sitcoms are full of Frye's 'alazon,' the braggart. Even as young children we are presented with the quintessential example of Frye theory, cartoons. A lot of Frye's theory can revel the strong roots of comic running through Western Civilization. Also read Bergson's Laughter; their theories work well together.
