Frye’s View of Ethical Criticism

Abstract

The     paper evaluates Northrop Frye’s view of Ethical Criticism that rests on his convergence of all the phases of symbols- sign, motif, image, archetype and monad. The paper also establishes Northrop Frye as a synoptic critic who brings varied symbols under one umbrella. Many scholars in the past have laid much emphasis on his  mythical or archetypal aspect of criticism, overlooking the other facets of his theory. In order to establish his criticism as all encompassing, the paper elaborates his theory of symbols as asserted in his pivotal work, ‘Anatomy of Criticism’.