Following his formidable "polemical introduction," Frye set out 4 critical approaches and their corollary theories, upon which he constructed an elaborate typology: "Historical Criticism: Theory of Modes"; "Ethical Criticism: Theory of Symbols"; "Archetypal Criticism: Theory of Myths"; and "Rhetorical Criticism: Theory of Genres." Frye's work has been attacked by critics who see in his approach a dangerous tendency to dehistoricize both literature and criticism; and it has been praised by those who see his as the most powerful arguments to locate "human desire" at the centre of the literary universe.
Frye's long-held view that the Bible stands as the originating document or masterwork of Western literature informs The Great Code (1982) which, with its companion volume Words With Power, may in time supersede Anatomy of Criticism as preeminent in Frye's major works. Anatomy of Criticism has been translated into French as Anatomie de la critique (Paris, 1969) and into German and Italian.
Author NEIL BESNER
Links to Other Sites
Anatomy of Criticism
A review of Northrop Frye's "Anatomy of Criticism" from the "Canadian Literature" website.
Anatomy of Criticism
A synopsis of Anatomy of Criticism by Northrop Frye and contributor Robert D. Denham. From Google Books.
Northrop Frye in Conversation
Excerpts from "Northrop Frye in Conversation" by Northrop Frye and David Cayley. From the Google Book Search website.

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ victory in the 1967 Stanley Cup was a singular event. Who would have predicted that it would not happen again?
INSIDE TCE
