Language, myth, and art in the poetic process of Edith Wharton and ton Chekhov

To be useful as a critical perspective, archetypal criticism needs to be explicitly defined. Without clear parameters, the concept of "archetype" or "myth" tends to assume an amorphous ambiguity that renders it an imprecise tool of literary criticism. Therefore, I survey the various disciplines which contribute to an understanding of the archetype, establish the fundamental importance of Cassirer's explanation of the origin of language to myth criticism, and show how Frye uses these philosophic precepts to establish a practical system of criticism. The archetypal approach gives insight not only into the structure and theme of the prose fiction of Chekhov and Wharton but also into their fundamental world view. Using the works of two writers who were culturally diverse emphasizes that that archetypal metaphor is, indeed, universal.; The second chapter analyzes two of Chekhov's early short stories. They illustrate that archetypal metaphor was important to Chekhov's terse but evocative descriptive style even in the early part of his writing career. Structure and characterization are enhanced through simple but effective use of seasonal, animal, and other natural imagery. Many of these early stories reflect the dual archetypal movement of the cycle and the dialectic in structure, characterization, and theme.; The third chapter continues the exploration of Chekhov's short stories with a study of two works from his later period and reveal Chekhov 's use of techniques similar to those used in the early stories, but refined to reflect more clearly his mastery of ironic ambiguity and reversed expectations.; Chapters four and five examine Wharton's use of archetypal metaphor in her prose works. Chapter four presents two of her ghost stories as examples of Wharton's use of archetypal metaphor in structure, characterization, and theme. Her heroes and heroines search for apotheosis in fulfilling friendships and/or marriage. Natural images of water, light, and earth are central to Wharton's descriptive technique.; The concluding chapter summarizes the importance of archetypal imagery to the structure, theme and characterization of both Wharton and Chekhov's prose fiction. Both emphasize the ambiguous ending, the suggestion of problems without solutions, and the perpetual quest of humankind for emotional and spiritual fulfillment. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.)...