Northrop Frye : religious visionary and architect of the spiritual world

"Even the casual reader will notice a strong preoccupation with religion in the work of Northrop Frye. In his latest book, however, the esteemed Frye scholar Robert Denham shows that it played a far greater role than has been assumed - religion was in fact central to practically everything Frye wrote, Denham's focus shifts the emphasis from Anatomy of Criticism, Frye's most famous work, and places it on those works with which Frye began and ended his career - the early Fearful Symmetry and, fifty years later, his two studies of the Bible and The Double Vision. This reevaluation is based on a close examination of Frye's religiously charged language and aided by Denham's remarkable and unique access to Frye's notebooks The notebooks' contents not only expand on ideas laid out in Frye's published works but also touch on subjects most readers would not associate with Frye, such as his wide reading both in Eastern religious texts and in esoteric traditions ranging from astrology to the Kabbalah."--Jacket Includes bibliographical references (pages 283-345) and index Even the casual reader will notice a strong preoccupation with religion in the work of Northrop Frye. In his latest book, however, the esteemed Frye scholar Robert Denham shows that it played a far greater role than has been assumedreligion was in fact central to practically everything Frye wrote. Denhams focus shifts the emphasis from Anatomy of Criticism, Fryes most famous work, and places it on those works with which Frye began and ended his careerthe early Fearful Symmetry and, fifty years later, his two studies of the Bible and The Double Vision. This reevaluation is based on a close examination of Fryes religiously charged language and aided by Denhams remarkable and unique access to Fryes notebooks. The notebooks contents not only expand on ideas laid out in Fryes published works but also touch on subjects most readers would not associate with Frye, such as his wide reading in both Eastern religious texts and in esoteric traditions ranging from astrology to the Cabala. Denham does not attempt to distill a theology from Fryes work; rather, he seeks to trace the movement of Fryes thought, demonstrating the imaginative use to which he put his wide-ranging reading. The result is a pivotal work, redefining our understanding of one of the most important humanists of the twentieth century. Even The Casual Reader Will Notice A Strong Preoccupation With Religion In The Work Of Northrop Frye. In His Latest Book, However, The Esteemed Frye Scholar Robert Denham Shows That It Played A Far Greater Role Than Has Been Assumed - Religion Was In Fact Central To Practically Everything Frye Wrote, Denham's Focus Shifts The Emphasis From Anatomy Of Criticism, Frye's Most Famous Work, And Places It On Those Works With Which Frye Began And Ended His Career - The Early Fearful Symmetry And, Fifty Years Later, His Two Studies Of The Bible And The Double Vision. This Reevaluation Is Based On A Close Examination Of Frye's Religiously Charged Language And Aided By Denham's Remarkable And Unique Access To Frye's Notebooks. The Notebooks' Contents Not Only Expand On Ideas Laid Out In Frye's Published Works But Also Touch On Subjects Most Readers Would Not Associate With Frye, Such As His Wide Reading Both In Eastern Religious Texts And In Esoteric Traditions Ranging From Astrology To The Kabbalah.--jacket. 1. Interpenetration -- 2. Identity -- 3. Vision -- 4. The East -- 5. The Traditions -- 6. Kook Books And The Occult -- 7. The Dialogue And Its Aufhebung. Robert D. Denham. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [283]-345) And Index. One does not read very far in Frye before realizing that he is a dialectical thinker, his mind repeatedly moving back and forth between opposing poles of reference: knowledge and experience, space and time, stasis and movement, the individual and society, tradition and innovation, Platonic synthesis and Aristotelian analysis, engagement and detachment, freedom and concern, mythos and dianoia, the world and the grain of sand, immanence and transcendence, and scores, no, hundreds of other oppositions.1 There is a preoccupation with religion in the work of Northrop Frye. This book shows that it played a greater role than assumed - religion was central to practically everything Frye wrote. It focuses on the works with which Frye began and ended his career - ""Fearful Symmetry"" and, 50 years on, his two studies of the Bible and ""The Double Vision"".