| Labyrinth is an archetype steeped in history and culture.It appears frequently in English fantasy literature,in which its special spatial form and rich literary meaning are showed.The labyrinth refers to the fear of the unknown,the conquering of difficulties,and the process of self-recognition.Archetypes that remained from ancient myth remain fresh and vigorous.The adventure of Theseus and Cretan labyrinth in ancient Greek mythology is believed to be the source of the archetype of labyrinth in modern-contemporary English fantasy literature.Taking Through the Looking-Glass,and What Alice Found There(1871),The Hobbit(1937)and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire(2000)as examples,this paper applies archetypal criticism as a guide to analyze the archetype of labyrinth in the context of hero adventure journey in modern-contemporary English fantasy literature from three factors,the start,the test and the outside help.In the first chapter,from responding to the call,stepping beyond the threshold and entering the labyrinth,people will find labyrinth an emblematic archetype in seeking the truth of life.In the second chapter,as a structural archetype,labyrinth is an embodiment of initiation rite to achieve the pursuit of recognizing oneself.In the third chapter,the emergence of a new myth in the combination with fantasy literature,movies and theme park promotes the labyrinth archetype to a new level.By analyzing the value and structure of labyrinth archetype,people could find it an universal and extended imagery.The study on labyrinth archetype reflects human’s concern on nature and life,which helps to resist spirit crisis in modern age. |
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