The Critical Path and Other Writings on Critical Theory, 1963-1975 (Collected Works of Northrop Frye Book 27)

1. Critical Path: An Essay on the Social Context of Literary Criticism -- 2. Literary Criticism -- 3. Myth and Poetry -- 4. Preface to Bachelard's The Psychoanalysis of Fire -- 5. After the Invocation, a Lapse into Litany -- 6. Criticism, Visible and Invisible -- 7. Structure and Spirit of Comedy -- 8. Norms of Satire -- 9. Allegory -- 10. Verse and Prose -- 11. Varieties of Literary Utopias -- 12. Letter to the English Institute, 1965 -- 13. Reflections in a Mirror -- 14. Design as a Creative Principle in the Arts -- 15. Literature and Myth -- 16. Welcoming Remarks to Conference on Editorial Problems, 1967 -- 17. On Value Judgments -- 18. Literature and Society -- 19. Mythos and Logos -- 20. Myth of Light -- 21. Old and New Comedy -- 22. Sign and Significance -- 23. Literature and the Law -- 24. Search for Acceptable Words -- 25. Times of the Signs -- 26. Rhythms of Time -- 27. Charms and Riddles -- 28. Expanding Eyes.;This volume, which collects Northrop Frye's writings on the theory of literary criticism from the middle period of his career, includes one of Frye's own favourites, The Critical Path (1971). This Volume, A Collection Of Northrop Frye's Writings On The Theory Of Literary Criticism From The Middle Period Of His Career, Features One Of Frye's Own Favourites, The Critical Path (1971). An Important Marker Of Frye's Development As A Critic. The Critical Path Openly Addresses Some Of The Overarching Philosophical Topics That He Had Previously Been Hesitant To Discuss Fully: The Importance Of Literature To Society, The Responsibilities Of Critics, And The Deeper Rationale For Studying Literature. The Texts In This Volume Chart Frye's Transition From An Established Literary Critic To A Ground-breaking Critical Theorist Absorbed With Essential Concepts Of Language, Myth, And Human Culture, And Help To Illuminate Many Of The Ideas And Arguments That Would Appear Later In The Great Code And Words With Power. Accompanied By The Rigorous Annotation For Which The Series Is Renowned, This Scholarly Edition Is A Major Contribution To Frye Studies And To The Field Of Literary Criticism And Theory As A Whole.--book Jacket. 1. Critical Path: An Essay On The Social Context Of Literary Criticism -- 2. Literary Criticism -- 3. Myth And Poetry -- 4. Preface To Bachelard's The Psychoanalysis Of Fire -- 5. After The Invocation, A Lapse Into Litany -- 6. Criticism, Visible And Invisible -- 7. Structure And Spirit Of Comedy -- 8. Norms Of Satire -- 9. Allegory -- 10. Verse And Prose -- 11. Varieties Of Literary Utopias -- 12. Letter To The English Institute, 1965 -- 13. Reflections In A Mirror -- 14. Design As A Creative Principle In The Arts -- 15. Literature And Myth -- 16. Welcoming Remarks To Conference On Editorial Problems, 1967 -- 17. On Value Judgments -- 18. Literature And Society -- 19. Mythos And Logos -- 20. Myth Of Light -- 21. Old And New Comedy -- 22. Sign And Significance -- 23. Literature And The Law -- 24. Search For Acceptable Words -- 25. Times Of The Signs -- 26. Rhythms Of Time -- 27. Charms And Riddles -- 28. Expanding Eyes. Edited By Jean O'grady And Eva Kushner. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [411]-455) And Index. Contents 5 Preface 9 Credits 13 Abbreviations 15 Introduction 19 1. The Critical Path: An Essay on the Social Context of Literary Criticism 45 2. Literary Criticism 162 3. Myth and Poetry 178 4. Preface to Bachelard’s The Psychoanalysis of Fire 183 5. After the Invocation, A Lapse into Litany 187 6. Criticism, Visible and Invisible 191 7. The Structure and Spirit of Comedy 206 8. The Norms of Satire 214 9. Allegory 215 10. Verse and Prose 222 11. Varieties of Literary Utopias 235 12. Letter to the English Institute, 1965 259 13. Reflections in a Mirror 262 14. Design as a Creative Principle in the Arts 272 15. Literature and Myth 282 16. Welcoming Remarks to Conference on Editorial Problems, 1967 300 17. On Value Judgments 302 18. Literature and Society 310 19. Mythos and Logos 324 20. The Myth of Light 326 21. Old and New Comedy 329 22. Sign and Significance 337 23. Literature and the Law 345 24. The Search for Acceptable Words 354 25. The Times of the Signs 375 26. The Rhythms of Time 402 27. Charms and Riddles 413 28. Expanding Eyes 435 Notes 455 Emendations 501 Index 503

This volume, which collects Northrop Frye's writings on the theory of literary criticism from the middle period of his career, includes one of Frye's own favourites, The Critical Path (1971). A highly important marker of Frye's career, The Critical Path openly addresses topics that he had previously been reluctant to discuss as fully, including the importance of literature to society, the responsibilities of critics, and the deeper rationales for studying literature.

Filled with insightful texts that indicate his transition from literary critic to a theorist of language, myth, and human culture, this edition helps to illuminate many of the ideas and arguments that would appear later in The Great Code and Words with Power. Accompanied by the rigorous scholarship for which the series is renowned, this is another valuable contribution to literary criticism and theory.