Archetypal Criticism

This blog is a task assigned by Prof. Dr. Dilip Barad, Head of the Department of English (MKBU), and it brings together two interconnected analyses of T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land.

In the first part, I engage with Archetypal Criticism by using DeepSeek, a GenAI tool, to explore its key principles, its application in literary studies, and how it can be used to analyze The Waste Land. This includes responses to fundamental questions about archetypal criticism and its function.

In the second part, I build on my New Critical verbal reading of the poem, identifying recurring motifs such as animals, birds, seasons, and colors. Through the lens of Northrop Frye’s archetypal theory, I examine how these elements reflect universal patterns of life, death, and rebirth, the interplay of desolation and renewal, and the broader critique of modern fragmentation.

By synthesizing these perspectives, this blog aims to uncover how Eliot weaves archetypes into his poetic vision, crafting a modern myth that echoes both literary tradition and cultural disintegration.

1) What is Archetypal Criticism?
Archetypal criticism is a form of literary analysis that focuses on identifying recurring symbols, motifs, characters, and narrative patterns in literature, which are believed to be universal across cultures and time periods. These recurring elements are called "archetypes," a term derived from the Greek words arche (original) and typos (model or type). Archetypal criticism is rooted in the theories of Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, who proposed that archetypes are part of the "collective unconscious"—a shared reservoir of experiences and memories that all humans inherit.

Archetypal critics analyze texts to uncover these universal patterns and explore how they resonate with human experiences, emotions, and cultural myths. This approach often connects literature to broader psychological, mythological, and anthropological contexts.

2) What Do Archetypal Critics Do?

Archetypal critics engage in the following activities:

Identify Archetypes: They look for recurring symbols, characters, and themes in literature that align with universal archetypes. Examples include the Hero, the Mother, the Trickster, the Journey, and the Quest.

Explore Mythological Connections: They examine how literary works reflect or reinterpret myths, legends, and religious stories. For instance, they might analyze how a modern novel echoes the structure of the hero's journey as described in Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces.

Analyze Symbolism: They interpret symbols and motifs in a text to uncover deeper psychological or cultural meanings. For example, water might symbolize rebirth, while a desert could represent spiritual barrenness.

Connect Literature to the Collective Unconscious: They explore how literature taps into shared human experiences and emotions, suggesting that certain stories and characters resonate because they reflect universal truths.

Compare Texts Across Cultures: They study how similar archetypes appear in different cultural contexts, highlighting the universality of certain narratives and symbols.

3) Exemplify How Archetypal Criticism Is Done?  

To demonstrate how archetypal criticism is applied, let’s analyze a well-known literary work: The Odyssey by Homer.

Step 1: Identify Archetypes

The Hero (Odysseus): Odysseus embodies the archetype of the Hero, a figure who undertakes a perilous journey, faces trials, and returns transformed.

The Journey: The entire narrative is structured around the archetypal journey, which symbolizes personal growth, self-discovery, and the overcoming of obstacles.

The Mentor (Athena): Athena serves as a guide and protector to Odysseus, representing the Mentor archetype.

The Temptress (Circe and the Sirens): These figures embody the archetype of the Temptress, who tests the hero’s resolve and represents the allure of distraction or danger.

Step 2: Explore Mythological Connections

The story of Odysseus can be compared to other hero myths, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh or the story of King Arthur. These narratives share common elements, such as the hero’s quest, supernatural aid, and the ultimate return home.

Step 3: Analyze Symbolism

The Sea: The sea in The Odyssey symbolizes both chaos and the unknown, reflecting the challenges and uncertainties of life.

Home (Ithaca): Ithaca represents the ultimate goal of the journey, symbolizing stability, identity, and belonging.

Step 4: Connect to the Collective Unconscious

The trials Odysseus faces—such as resisting the Sirens or navigating between Scylla and Charybdis—can be seen as metaphors for universal human struggles, such as the tension between temptation and discipline or the need to make difficult choices.

Step 5: Compare Across Cultures

The archetypal journey of Odysseus can be compared to other cultural narratives, such as the Hindu epic The Ramayana, where Rama also embarks on a quest to rescue his wife and restore order.

Conclusion

Archetypal criticism provides a powerful lens for understanding literature by connecting it to universal human experiences and cultural myths. By identifying archetypes, analyzing symbolism, and exploring mythological connections, archetypal critics reveal the deeper psychological and cultural significance of literary works. This approach not only enriches our understanding of individual texts but also highlights the shared stories and symbols that unite humanity across time and space.

After conducting a New Critical verbal reading of T.S. Eliot's , I have identified the following recurring motifs and symbols:

 Animals : Cricket , Dog, Dolphin , Rats, Rat, Cicada, Hermit Thrush, Bats, Cock Spider.

Birds : Hermit Thrush , Swallow , Cock , Gulls , Nightingale. 

Seasons : Summer , Winter , Spring,   Colour : Red , Brown , Golden,  Green , Orange , Red and Gold, Brown , White , Violet etc.   Using these findings as your foundation, interpret through the lens of Northrop Frye's .

Consider these guiding questions: How do the recurring motifs (animals, birds, colours, seasons) reflect archetypal patterns such as the cycle of life, death, and rebirth?

In what ways does the poem employ the archetypes of , , or ?Does the imagery of desolation, water, and renewal align with Frye's notion of —such as the "desert" and "garden" opposites?

How does the use of seasonal archetypes underscore the spiritual and cultural decay/rebirth narrative within the poem?Your analysis should explore how Eliot draws upon these universal archetypes to craft a modern myth and critique the fragmentation of contemporary life. Include specific references to the text to support your interpretation.

This analysis of T.S. Eliot’s poem, guided by Northrop Frye’s archetypal criticism, explores how recurring motifs (animals, birds, colors, and seasons) create an intricate web of archetypes that reflect the cyclical patterns of life, death, and rebirth. Eliot employs these universal patterns to craft a modern myth that critiques the spiritual and cultural fragmentation of contemporary life.

1. The Cycle of Life, Death, and Rebirth

Eliot’s use of animals, birds, and seasons symbolizes the archetypal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. For instance:

Animals and Birds: The Hermit Thrush evokes solitude and spiritual reflection, aligning with death and rebirth themes. Similarly, the Swallow, a migratory bird, symbolizes renewal and return, echoing the rebirth cycle. The cock, a traditional herald of dawn, suggests awakening and resurrection, while rats and bats evoke decay and death, underscoring the darker, desolate aspects of the cycle.

Seasons: Winter represents death and stagnation, spring signals renewal and rebirth, and summer suggests fulfillment and vitality. These seasonal archetypes encapsulate the passage from spiritual desolation to renewal, a recurring theme in Eliot’s work.

Eliot weaves these archetypes into the fabric of his poem, suggesting that even amidst cultural decay, the possibility of regeneration persists. For example, the imagery of the cricket in the poem may signify a lingering echo of life amid desolation, hinting at continuity.

2. Archetypes of the Journey, the Quest, and the Wasteland

Through Frye’s lens, Eliot’s poem can be seen as a depiction of the archetypal journey and quest within the wasteland. The motifs of desolation and renewal are central:

Water and Renewal: Images of rivers, oceans, and rain often appear in Eliot’s poem. These represent spiritual cleansing and rebirth, countering the desolation of the wasteland. For instance, the dolphin, traditionally associated with guidance and salvation, may symbolize a guide through chaotic waters, leading to spiritual renewal.

Desert and Garden Opposites: Frye’s “desert” archetype aligns with Eliot’s portrayal of cultural and spiritual barrenness. The persistent imagery of dryness (e.g., “cracked earth” or lack of water) symbolizes the fragmentation of modern life. Conversely, moments of renewal and vegetation—such as references to spring and the color green—evoke the “garden” archetype, suggesting hope for spiritual regeneration.

3. The Archetype of Cultural Decay and Rebirth

Eliot’s use of seasonal archetypes underscores the spiritual and cultural decline and potential for rebirth:

Colors: Red and gold evoke vitality and decay, capturing the paradoxical beauty and destruction of human civilization. The recurring combination of red and gold signifies a yearning for spiritual richness amidst moral and cultural decay. Brown, white, and violet further emphasize the contrast between decay and purity or renewal.

Seasons and Time: The cyclicality of seasons mirrors the cycles of cultural collapse and renewal. For instance, spring often heralds a return to hope and life, whereas winter embodies the sterility and despair of modernity.

By employing these archetypes, Eliot critiques the fragmentation of contemporary life, emphasizing how the modern world’s spiritual barrenness contrasts with universal patterns of renewal found in myth.

4. The Modern Myth and Critique of Fragmentation

Eliot draws on archetypal patterns to construct a modern myth that reflects the spiritual crisis of the 20th century:

The fragmented structure of his poem mirrors the disjointedness of modern life, echoing the archetype of the wasteland. Recurring imagery of desolation, such as rats and winter, reinforces this critique.

Yet, Eliot also provides glimpses of redemption. The use of universal archetypes—like the dolphin as a savior, the nightingale as a harbinger of song and renewal, and spring as a season of rebirth—offers a pathway out of the wasteland, suggesting that spiritual and cultural renewal is possible.

5. Conclusion

Through recurring motifs and archetypes, T.S. Eliot’s poem aligns with Frye’s notions of myth and archetypal patterns. Animals, birds, colors, and seasons symbolize the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, reflecting a modern myth that critiques the fragmentation of contemporary life. At the same time, Eliot’s juxtaposition of desolation and renewal suggests that even in the midst of decay, there lies the potential for regeneration. This tension between despair and hope underscores the universal and timeless relevance of Eliot’s work.

References:

Barad, Dilip. “Nortahrop Frye: The Archetypes of Literature.” Dilip Barad | Teacher Blog, 29 Dec. 2014, blog.dilipbarad.com/2014/12/northrop-frye-archetypes-of-literature.html.