On The Text Construction Of Frye Myth-Archetype Criticism To Chinese Classical Poetry

Northrop Frye (Northrop Frye,1912-1991) is one of the greatest literature theoretician and critics. His "Myth-Archetype" criticism is mainly stated in his "Anatomy of Criticism". Firstly, "Literature prototype theory" is the centre of the "Myth-Archetype" criticism in the book as a whole. Secondly, through the understanding of the laws of nature and research, comparing the lifecycle with the literature evolution, Frye conclude another important aspect of his theory----"Cycle of Literature". Last, standing on the intimate relationship between literature and tradition, Frye emphasizes the literature is an organic wholeness that the works should be investigated in the whole literature system and the literature tradition, as is his "Overall Literature".Chinese classic poetry is the most stylized characteristics literary type, its imagery altering, the construction of artistic conception and its rhythm, pattern, literary quotation, ceremony and all structure factures present distinct stylized characteristics, which applies to the "Myth-Archetype" criticism. As symbolic and conventional art symbol, image repeatedly appears and varies, which forms the basic content of Chinese classical poetry prototype system. Because of the combination of images, artistic conception creates the same aesthetic experiences situation mode. It is also a archetype mode. In form, poetry stylization features shows in its rhythm, pattern and the means of artistic expression.Using Frye's theory to construct the Chinese classical poems could absorb the length of western theory and inherit the traditional poetics at the same time. It breaks the empirical research method of textual research type by a macroscopically wide cultural perspective, which is of great significance to poetry research. Throughout the messy archetype of Chinese classical poems, it appears the spirit of Chinese national culture origin----"Taoism" and "Harmonious". It is surely that Frye's theory is of great value, but it is not the only way, neither the best way. If regarding it as a magic key, it must lead to the extreme mechanical formal criticism.