Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays (Princeton Classics Book 70)

**A landmark work of literary criticism** Northrop Frye's __Anatomy of Criticism__ is the magnum opus of one of the most important and influential literary theorists of the twentieth century. Breaking with the practice of close reading of individual texts, Frye seeks to describe a common basis for understanding the full range of literary forms by examining archetypes, genres, poetic language, and the relations among the text, the reader, and society. Using a dazzling array of examples, he argues that understanding "the structure of literature as a total form" also allows us to see the profoundly liberating effect literature can have. "Northrop Frye's Anatomy of Criticism is the magnum opus of one of the most important and influential literary theorists of the twentieth century. Breaking with the practice of close reading of individual texts, Frye seeks to describe a common basis for understanding the full range of literary forms by examining archetypes, genres, poetic language, and the relations among the text, the reader, and society. Using a dazzling array of examples, he argues that understanding 'the structure of literature as a total form' also allows us to see the profoundly liberating effect literature can have."-- Provided by publisher ""Brilliant. ... Frye has wit, style, audacity, immense learning, [and] a gift for opening up new and unexpected perspectives in the study of literature."--The Nation"-- Provided by publisher The description for this book, Anatomy of Criticism, will be forthcoming